Richmond-Kew, London: neighborhood guide

Richmond-Kew sits in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, the only London borough on both banks of the Thames. The river loops around most of it, and several large royal parks — Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Kew Gardens and the Old Deer Park — press in on the built-up area. The result is a district that feels more like a Surrey town with a London postcode than a piece of the inner city.

Richmond was a separate town until 1965 and still reads that way: a compact centre around The Green and Hill Street, a theatre, a long riverside path, and a high street of independent shops and restaurants rather than chains. Kew, just north across the river, is quieter and known for the Royal Botanic Gardens and its Victorian housing. Barnes, at the eastern edge of the borough, is a village-like pocket by the Thames.

Twickenham, Hampton Wick and Bushy Park are also in the borough, north of the river, and Hampton Court Palace sits at its western end. Postal addresses here often still say Surrey or Middlesex, which tells you how separate the area feels from the rest of London.

Stay here if your London days are built around parks, the river, Kew Gardens or Hampton Court, or if you are travelling with children and want space and quieter evenings. Richmond also works well as a base for a longer stay: you get a real high street, a riverside walk at the end of the day, and a train to Waterloo in 20–30 minutes.

Do not stay here if this is your first London trip and you plan to be in Westminster, the City, South Bank or the West End from morning to night. The District line into central London takes 30–35 minutes, and coming home after a show means a long ride. South Kensington-Chelsea, Westminster or the South Bank put you closer to the sights; the City of London suits a short business trip.

A middle option: stay in Richmond-Kew for three or more nights and treat one or two days as central-London days by train, rather than commuting in twice a day.

Richmond's centre has the widest choice: pubs and restaurants along Hill Street, George Street and the riverside, plus cafés around The Green. Kew has a smaller cluster near Kew Gardens station and along Kew Road, mostly cafés, delis and neighbourhood restaurants. Barnes adds a few riverside pubs.

For a cheap meal, look at the pubs and cafés rather than the riverside terraces, which charge for the view. Book ahead for weekend dinner in Richmond, when the high street fills up. If you are self-catering, the supermarkets and food shops in Richmond town centre cover the basics; Kew is thinner on late-opening groceries.

Vegetarian and vegan options are common in Richmond's cafés and modern restaurants; smaller traditional pubs may have only one or two meat-free dishes. Check menus before you commit to a long walk.

Richmond station is the hub: South Western Railway trains from London Waterloo take 20–30 minutes and run roughly every 15 minutes, and the District line runs from the same station into central London in 30–35 minutes. London Overground (Mildmay line) trains from Stratford via Willesden Junction, with a branch from Clapham Junction, terminate at Richmond and also stop at Kew Gardens and Gunnersbury.

Kew Gardens station sits in Zones 3 and 4 on the District line and London Overground; Gunnersbury is Zone 3. Kew Bridge and Twickenham stations are served by National Rail trains out of Waterloo. Buses include the 33, 110 and 337 to Richmond bus station, and the N10 night bus from King's Cross.

From Heathrow, a taxi takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic and costs about £50 or more. By tube, take the District line east to Turnham Green, then change for the westbound District line to Acton Town and change again for the Piccadilly line to Heathrow; a second option runs via Ealing Broadway and the Elizabeth line. Both need two changes, so allow extra time with luggage.

By car, come in on the M3 towards central London on the A316 past Twickenham, or leave the M4 at Junction 2, cross Kew Bridge and continue past Kew Gardens. On-street parking around The Green is expensive — about £5 per hour with a £60 penalty for overstaying (check). The Old Deer Park car park off the A316 and the smaller Friars Lane car park near the Old Palace are usually cheaper.