London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Encyclopedia
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough
in South West
London
, UK, which forms part of Outer London
. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames
.
. The borough is residential and home to some of the most affluent districts of London such as Barnes, Richmond and East Sheen
. The main suburban developments are Hampton
and Teddington
in the south, Twickenham
, St Margarets
and Whitton
in the central area west of the River Thames
, with the more central districts of Richmond, Kew
, Mortlake
and Barnes following the loop of the river.
Parks take up a great deal of the borough and include Richmond Park
, Bushy Park
, Kew Gardens
, and Hampton Court Park
. There are over 100 parks and open spaces
within its boundary and 21 miles (33.8 km) of river frontage. 140 hectares within the borough are designated as part of the Metropolitan Green Belt
.
The borough is also home to the National Physical Laboratory
and the attractions of Hampton Court Palace
, Twickenham Stadium
and the WWT London Wetlands Centre
draw both domestic and international tourism.
In December 2006, Sport England
published a survey which revealed that residents of Richmond upon Thames were the 2nd most active in England in sports and other fitness activities. 29.8% of the population participate at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes.
from Middlesex
with the Municipal Borough of Richmond and the Municipal Borough of Barnes
from Surrey
; council offices were centred at York House
in Twickenham. The name 'Richmond upon Thames' was coined at that time; it is now commonly but inaccurately used to refer to Richmond only.
by the National Rail
services of South West Trains
. The London Underground
, District Line
, serves Richmond
and Kew Gardens stations: both are also served by London Overground
trains on the North London Line
.
33,
65,
72,
110,
111,
190,
209,
216,
265,
267,
281,
283,
285,
290,
337,
371,
391,
411,
419,
430,
465,
481,
485,
490,
493,
H22,
H37,
R68,
R70,
X26
and night routes
N9
and
N22.
for the borough, and has responsibility for 52 schools.
, as designated by Sister Cities International
, Inc.:
Richmond, Virginia
USA Fontainebleau
, France
Konstanz
, Germany
London borough
The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. Inner London comprises twelve of these boroughs plus the City of London. Outer London comprises the twenty remaining boroughs of Greater London.-Functions:...
in South West
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK, which forms part of Outer London
Outer London
Outer London is the name for the group of London Boroughs that form a ring around Inner London.These were areas that were not part of the County of London and became formally part of Greater London in 1965...
. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
.
Settlement
It can been seen from a map that the borough is not entirely urbanised – there are some large areas of open space within the borough boundaries, including the large urban park Richmond ParkRichmond Park
Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...
. The borough is residential and home to some of the most affluent districts of London such as Barnes, Richmond and East Sheen
East Sheen
East Sheen, also known as 'Sheen', is an affluent suburb of London, England in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It forms part of the London post town in the SW postcode area....
. The main suburban developments are Hampton
Hampton, London
Hampton is a suburban area, centred on an old village on the north bank of the River Thames, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in England. Formerly it was in the county of Middlesex, which was formerly also its postal county. The population is about 9,500...
and Teddington
Teddington
Teddington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, on the north bank of the River Thames, between Hampton Wick and Twickenham. It stretches inland from the River Thames to Bushy Park...
in the south, Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, St Margarets
St Margarets
-United Kingdom:*St Margarets, London*Stanstead St Margarets, Hertfordshire*St Margarets, Herefordshire*St Margaret-at-Cliffe, Kent*St Margaret's Hope, Orkney Islands-See also:*Saint Margaret *St. Margaret's Church...
and Whitton
Whitton, London
Whitton is a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, situated 10.7 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in Central London...
in the central area west of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
, with the more central districts of Richmond, Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
, Mortlake
Mortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
and Barnes following the loop of the river.
List of districts
- Barnes
- Cole Park
- East SheenEast SheenEast Sheen, also known as 'Sheen', is an affluent suburb of London, England in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It forms part of the London post town in the SW postcode area....
- FulwellFulwell, LondonFulwell is located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames between Twickenham, Teddington and Hampton Hill. The name is first mentioned circa 1450 and probably derives from Full or Foul Well....
- Ham
- HamptonHampton, LondonHampton is a suburban area, centred on an old village on the north bank of the River Thames, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in England. Formerly it was in the county of Middlesex, which was formerly also its postal county. The population is about 9,500...
- Hampton HillHampton HillHampton Hill is a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, bounded approximately by Fulwell Golf Course to the north, Bushy Park to the east and the Longford River to the south and west...
- Hampton WickHampton WickHampton Wick is a Thames-side area, formerly a village, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in London, England.Famous for its market gardens until well into the twentieth century, it is now commuter-belt territory, housing developments having been built on these areas...
- KewKewKew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
- MortlakeMortlakeMortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
- North SheenNorth SheenNorth Sheen, an area of London, England in the former Municipal Borough of Richmond ,was incorporated into Kew in 1965 when the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames was created....
- PetershamPetershamPetersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
- Richmond
- St Margarets
- Strawberry HillStrawberry Hill, LondonStrawberry Hill is an affluent area of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Twickenham. It is a suburban development situated 10.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It consists of a number of residential roads centered around a small development of shops and serviced by Strawberry...
- TeddingtonTeddingtonTeddington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, on the north bank of the River Thames, between Hampton Wick and Twickenham. It stretches inland from the River Thames to Bushy Park...
- TwickenhamTwickenhamTwickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
- WhittonWhitton, LondonWhitton is a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, situated 10.7 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in Central London...
Attractions, parks and open spaces
Richmond Park
Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...
, Bushy Park
Bushy Park
- External links :***...
, Kew Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
, and Hampton Court Park
Hampton Court Park
Hampton Court Park – sometimes called the Home Park – is adjacent to Hampton Court Palace and Gardens in southwest London, United Kingdom....
. There are over 100 parks and open spaces
Richmond upon Thames parks and open spaces
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames lies to the south west of the conurbation. A large part of the borough is taken up with parks and open spaces, including some which attract both domestic and international tourism such as Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Kew Gardens, and Hampton Court Park;...
within its boundary and 21 miles (33.8 km) of river frontage. 140 hectares within the borough are designated as part of the Metropolitan Green Belt
Metropolitan Green Belt
The Metropolitan Green Belt is a statutory green belt around London, England. It includes designated parts of Greater London and the surrounding counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey in the South East and East of England regions.-History:The...
.
The borough is also home to the National Physical Laboratory
National Physical Laboratory, UK
The National Physical Laboratory is the national measurement standards laboratory for the United Kingdom, based at Bushy Park in Teddington, London, England. It is the largest applied physics organisation in the UK.-Description:...
and the attractions of Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
, Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
and the WWT London Wetlands Centre
WWT London Wetlands Centre
WWT London Wetland Centre is a wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the Barnes area of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, by Barn Elms....
draw both domestic and international tourism.
In December 2006, Sport England
Sport England
Sport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
published a survey which revealed that residents of Richmond upon Thames were the 2nd most active in England in sports and other fitness activities. 29.8% of the population participate at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes.
History
The borough was formed in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of TwickenhamMunicipal Borough of Twickenham
Twickenham was a local government district in Middlesex, England from 1868 to 1965.Twickenham Local Government District was formed in 1868, when the civil parish of Twickenham adopted the Local Government Act 1858. The district was governed by a local board of 27 members.The Local Government Act...
from Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
with the Municipal Borough of Richmond and the Municipal Borough of Barnes
Municipal Borough of Barnes
Barnes was a local government district in north west Surrey from 1894 to 1965.It was formed as an urban district in 1894 and became a municipal borough in 1932....
from Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
; council offices were centred at York House
York House, Twickenham
York House is an historic stately home in Twickenham, England, and currently serves as the Town Hall of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames...
in Twickenham. The name 'Richmond upon Thames' was coined at that time; it is now commonly but inaccurately used to refer to Richmond only.
Politics
| Conservative | Lib Dem Liberal Democrats The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the... |
Labour | Others | ||
| 2010 | Conservative | 30 | 24 | - | - |
| 2006 | Liberal Democrat | 19 | 35 | - | - |
| 2002 | Conservative | 39 | 15 | - | - |
| 1998 | Liberal Democrat | 14 | 34 | 4 | - |
| 1994 | Liberal Democrat | 7 | 43 | 2 | - |
| 1990 | Liberal Democrat | 4 | 48 | - | - |
| 1986 | Liberal/SDP Alliance | 3 | 49 | - | - |
| 1982 | Conservative (minority) | 26 | 26 | - | - |
| 1978 | Conservative | 34 | 18 | - | - |
| 1974 | Conservative | 36 | 10 | 8 | - |
| 1971 | Conservative | 37 | 3 | 14 | - |
| 1968 | Conservative | 54 | - | - | - |
| 1964 | Conservative | 41 | - | 12 | 1 |
Transport
The borough is connected to central LondonCentral London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
by the National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
services of South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
. The London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
, District Line
District Line
The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
, serves Richmond
Richmond station (London)
Richmond station is a National Rail and London Underground station in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London which is managed by South West Trains....
and Kew Gardens stations: both are also served by London Overground
London Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
trains on the North London Line
North London Line
The North London Line is a railway line which passes through the inner suburbs of north London, England. Its route is a rough semicircle from the south west to the north east, avoiding central London. The line is owned and maintained by Network Rail...
.
List of stations
The other stations are:- BarnesBarnes railway stationBarnes railway station is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south London, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains....
- Barnes BridgeBarnes Bridge railway stationBarnes Bridge railway station is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains...
- FulwellFulwell railway stationFulwell railway station, on the Shepperton branch line, is at Fulwell in the Richmond on Thames. It is in Travelcard Zone 6. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains.- History :...
- HamptonHampton railway stationHampton railway station, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is on the Shepperton branch line. It is in Travelcard Zone 6. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains.- Services:...
- Hampton WickHampton Wick railway stationHampton Wick railway station is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 6. The suburb of Hampton Wick is on the opposite bank of the River Thames from Kingston upon Thames and lies at the eastern end of Hampton Court Park...
- MortlakeMortlake railway stationMortlake railway station is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south London, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains. Postal district and boundary changes over many years mean that Mortlake Station now serves the area...
- North SheenNorth Sheen railway stationNorth Sheen railway station is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south London, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station, on the eastern edge of Richmond, is named after the North Sheen area which, in 1965, was absorbed by Kew. It was opened by the Southern Railway in 1930...
- St Margarets
- Strawberry HillStrawberry Hill railway stationStrawberry Hill railway station is in Strawberry Hill in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by South West Trains...
- TeddingtonTeddington railway stationTeddington railway station is located in Teddington in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 6. The station is operated by South West Trains, as are all trains serving it.-Station layout:...
- TwickenhamTwickenham railway stationTwickenham railway station is in Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains.-History:...
- WhittonWhitton railway stationWhitton railway station is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south London, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains. The ticket office is staffed 7 days a week during the day time. There are no ticket barriers or gates, but...
Buses
London bus routes33,
65,
72,
110,
111,
190,
209,
216,
265,
267,
281,
283,
285,
290,
337,
371,
391,
411,
419,
430,
465,
481,
485,
490,
493,
H22,
H37,
R68,
R70,
X26
and night routes
N9
and
N22.
Education
Richmond upon Thames is the local education authorityLocal Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
for the borough, and has responsibility for 52 schools.
Sister cities
Richmond has three sister citiesTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
, as designated by Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
, Inc.:
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
USA Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Konstanz
Konstanz
Konstanz is a university city with approximately 80,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland. The city houses the University of Konstanz.-Location:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
External links
- Richmond upon Thames Council
- Richmond & Twickenham Times online
- Richmond Online Communities website
- Totally Richmond website
- Visit Richmond
- Your Richmond
- Library Local History Notes on houses and persons mentioned.
- Hampton & Richmond Borough Football Club
- Richmond Theatre
- Free Richmond Virtual Simulation