The London borough of Richmond upon Thames is the “happiest” place to live in Britain, according to an annual survey by property listings website Rightmove. This ranking measures how residents feel about their area based on 15 key factors, including a sense of togetherness in the community, a feeling of belonging that the place fosters and access to green spaces.
With fast transport links to central London, and approximately half the borough given to parkland or open space, it’s easy understand why it’s a popular place to live. This is reflected in the house prices, however. The average asking price for a home in Richmond is more than £1m.
Of course, you can experience its charms without a huge mortgage. I visited for the weekend, and found plenty of diversions for an autumn or winter break.
Walking through a portion of 2,500 acres of parkland on a clear, 5°C morning, something caught my eye. To my left, about 20 metres away, I spotted a pair of antlers. Then another, and another. A dozen or so red deer had congregated in a patch of tall grass. A couple of them watched me steadily; others munched away on the ground.
Behind the herd was a thicket of threadbare trees. Beyond that, I could make out the BT Tower and the Walkie-Talkie building of London’s skyline.
Red deer populate Richmond Park (Photo: Getty)I crossed the road to King Henry’s Mound, named for Henry VIII, who is said to have stood there during hunts, and while awaiting the signal confirming Anne Boleyn’s execution. It has a protected view all the way to the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral in the east. Looking west, I could see the National Trust property Ham House.
After a morning of fresh air, Richmond’s George Street – fringed by independent shops and restaurants – is an attractive spot for a coffee.
Alternatively, the Tea House at Michelin-recommended Petersham Nurseries is a 20-minute stroll from the mound. Further afield are Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace and the Palladian Villa Marble Hill House (closed for winter).
Punctuate winter walks with pub stops (Photo: Getty Images)However, the peace of Richmond’s nature-filled park is under threat from plans for a third runway Heathrow. Parts of the borough are already beneath flight paths – take-off and landing noise affects several of its wards. But Richmond Park itself would also fall under a flight path if the third runway is built.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has yet to back the plans for Heathrow’s expansion. However, Chancellor John Healey said at the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting in Bangkok last week: “the case for a third runway at Heathrow has always been a case for growth”.
Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat MP for the Richmond Park constituency, is among those who oppose the project. She told The i Paper in 2025: “A third runway would lead to hundreds of thousands more flights each year, which would result in severe environmental and social consequences.
“My constituents who live under the flight path experience high levels of noise pollution.
“While planes currently do not fly over Richmond Park, proposals for airspace modernisation could change this.
“[The park] is one of the quietest locations in London, but with the increase of flights that a third runway would bring, this proposal could lead to the end of the park as a tourist destination.”
Richmond Park is a haven for cyclists (Photo: Getty Images)But Richmond upon Thames remains, for now, one of Greater London’s most calming places to visit.
I stayed at Bingham Riverhouse, a hotel in two 17th century Georgian townhouses, overlooking the Thames. Its executive head chef, Vanessa Marx, moved to the borough.
The restaurant at Bingham Riverhouse offers riverside views, and a library of books (Photo: Helen Cathcart)She said in 2025: “I love living, and working, in Richmond. It’s just a few steps to woodland, or the river, or a vast space for some inspiration – all of which are also wonderful spots for foraging produce that we can add to dishes”.
The hotel is a place for people to congregate (many punters at the bar seemed to be from the area, and it has a membership programme for remote working, exercise classes, discounts and events), as well as a more affordable alternative to many central London accommodation. At the western end of the District Line, it’s just 25 minutes to South Kensington and its museums. It also has a railway station.
In Bingham Riverhouse’s high-ceilinged bar, pairs of friends sipped on the hotel’s signature mushroom martinis (made with mushrooms from a rooftop in Wimbledon). The earthiness mixed surprisingly well with the bitter jolt of espresso. Several generations of a family tucked into the sharing menu (the beer bread with whipped butter was my highlight) at one of the trestle tables in the restaurant.
Rooms at Bingham Riverhouse cab include copper bathtubs(Photo: Helen Cathcart)Upstairs, a riverside bedroom offered morning views of runners and people walking small dogs. The scene could be taken in while soaking in a copper tub. The decor also included plush details such as pink velvet cushion covers and arm chairs, 60s-style phones and thick, wool throws.
A short stint in Richmond, even of a few hours, feels like a retreat from the rush, grime and crescendo of London’s central boroughs. Vannessa summed up its appeal: “You get the best of both worlds, city, and countryside”. And, for now, its park’s wildlife – which includes 11 species of bat and 144 species of bird – are relatively undisturbed by how close it is to the UK’s largest airport.
Getting thereThe writer was a guest of Bingham Riverhouse. Richmond is on the District Line of the London Underground and its railway station is served by London Overground, South Western Railway and London Northwestern Railway.
Staying thereBingham Riverhouse’s en-suite bedrooms start from £210 per night, including breakfast. binghamriverhouse.com.
More informationvisitrichmond.co.uk
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