Living in Richmond upon Thames

Richmond upon Thames is the only London borough on both banks of the Thames, and it has more parkland and river frontage than any other part of the city. It includes Richmond, Twickenham, Barnes, Kew, Teddington, Hampton, East Sheen, Ham and Petersham, each with its own village or town centre.

The borough's green spaces are exceptional. Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Park, Old Deer Park and Barnes Common all lie within or on its boundaries. Hampton Court Palace, Ham House, Marble Hill House and Strawberry Hill House are major historic houses, and Twickenham Stadium is the home of English rugby.

The borough is affluent, family-oriented and known for strong schools, and rents and property prices are among the highest in outer London. Aircraft approaching Heathrow pass over much of the borough, particularly Richmond, Kew and Barnes, which is worth checking when choosing a street.

Transport is mainly rail-based. The District line and Overground terminate at Richmond, South Western Railway trains serve most of the borough's towns, and Kew Gardens has both District line and Overground services. There is no Underground in Twickenham, Teddington or Barnes, and journeys to east London are long. Council tax sits towards the top of the London range, and rents match the setting. People pay it for the river, the royal parks and villages such as Teddington and Kew that feel far removed from the city while remaining a train ride from Waterloo.