Autumn is when I slow down, and this year I spent a Saturday in October in Richmond with a friend. There are wild deer, a hillside view that Parliament protects by law, and a stretch of the Thames where the whole town seems to come out on a sunny afternoon.
So how long do you need? One full day covers the best things to do in Richmond, London: the town, Richmond Hill, the deer in Richmond Park, and the river. If you have more time, add a half day for Isabella Plantation, Petersham Nurseries or Ham House, and leave an hour for the shops back in town. Everything for that is in the bonus section at the end.
At a glance
- Best for: a slow day out of central London, deer, walking, a long lunch
- How many days: one full day, plus a half day if you want the gardens and Ham House
- Budget: free to walk; you’ll mostly spend on brunch, tea and cake. Ham House is £18 per adult (£19.80 with Gift Aid)
- Best season: autumn for the deer and the colours, early May for the Isabella Plantation azaleas
- Getting there: South Western Railway from London Waterloo to Richmond, about 20 minutes on the fastest trains. The District line and the Overground also stop at Richmond
What’s in this guide
- Map
- One day in Richmond: the route
- Things to do in Richmond if you have more time
- Getting to Richmond and getting around
- Where to stay
- What I’d skip
- FAQ
- Watch the video
- Useful links
Map
Dark numbered pins are the one-day route in order; purple pins are the extras if you have more time. Tap a pin for directions.
One day in Richmond: the route
This is the route we walked, in the order that works on foot: town first, up the hill, through the park, then down to the river for the evening.
9:30 — Richmond Green and the Ted Lasso spots
From the station it’s a five-minute walk to Richmond Green. If you watched Ted Lasso, you’ll recognise the Prince’s Head on the corner: it plays the Crown & Anchor in the show. There’s also a Ted Lasso shop nearby selling AFC Richmond kit, which is funny because the club doesn’t exist. Tudor kings had a palace by this green, and Elizabeth I died there in 1603. Only the gateway is left.
Cost: free. Time: 30 minutes. Tip: come early. By lunchtime on a sunny Saturday the Green fills up.
10:15 — Brunch at Hollyhock, Terrace Gardens
Hollyhock is a tiny vegetarian café hidden inside Terrace Gardens, halfway up Richmond Hill. You walk down a garden path to find it, and the terrace looks out over the trees. We had the spinach and feta pie and the roasted veggie and cheese quiche, and both were really good. A crow sat on the fence and watched us eat the whole time.
Open: daily from early morning until dusk. Time: 45 minutes. Tip: it’s small, so be considerate with photos inside. The garden is the better backdrop anyway.
11:15 — Richmond Hill viewpoint
Keep climbing and the road opens onto a wide bend of the Thames, with fields and trees running to the horizon. This is the only view in England protected by an Act of Parliament (1902). Turner and Reynolds both painted it, and Richmond, Virginia got its name because the bend of the James River reminded its founder of this view.
Cost: free. Time: 20 minutes. Tip: the terrace benches face the view, so grab one and stay a while.
11:45 — Wild deer in Richmond Park
Richmond Gate is at the top of the hill. Richmond Park is the biggest of London’s Royal Parks, around 2,500 acres, and Charles I walled it in as a deer park in the 1630s. About 600 red and fallow deer still roam free.
The first time we saw them, a group grazing in the long grass, it honestly felt like a safari, twenty-odd minutes from Waterloo. You don’t need a plan to find them. Walk the open grassland near the gate and keep looking.
Cost: free. Time: two hours, more if you keep walking. Tip: September and October are rutting season. The stags are aggressive, so stay at least 50 metres away and use a zoom lens. Dogs must be on a lead from May to July, when the deer give birth.
13:30 — Tea and cake at Pembroke Lodge
Pembroke Lodge is a Georgian house inside the park with a tearoom, a terrace and gardens. The philosopher Bertrand Russell grew up here. We had tea and cake on the terrace. The crows here are bold: leave a plate unattended and they’ll go for it.
Time: 45 minutes. Tip: the terrace is the best seat; inside gets busy at weekends.
14:15 — King Henry’s Mound
A short walk from Pembroke Lodge, in the garden. Look through the gap cut in the hedge and you’re looking at St Paul’s Cathedral, ten miles away. The line of sight is protected too. The legend says Henry VIII stood here waiting for the signal that Anne Boleyn had been executed. Historians say it never happened.
Cost: free. Time: 10 minutes. Tip: the dome is tiny with the naked eye. Bring binoculars or zoom in on your phone.
14:45 — Duck Pond Market, Heron Square
Walk back down the hill into town. Duck Pond Market runs every weekend in Heron Square by the river, with food stalls, a coffee van, and small makers selling prints and crafts. One stall sells prints of London Underground maps.
Cost: free to browse. Time: 30 minutes. Hours: Saturday 11:00–16:00, Sunday 10:30–16:00. Tip: those Georgian-looking buildings around the square were built in 1988, designed to look old.
15:30 — Richmond Riverside and Richmond Bridge
End the day by the Thames. On a sunny afternoon the riverside is full: people drinking outside the pubs, buskers playing by Richmond Bridge, rowers going past. The bridge opened in 1777 and is the oldest surviving Thames bridge in London. Sit on the steps and stay until the light goes.
Cost: free, plus a drink. Time: as long as you like. Tip: the little ferry upstream is Hammerton’s Ferry, which crosses to Marble Hill for £2. Its main season ended on 31 October; in winter it only runs on some weekends, 10:00 until dusk, so check the timetable first.
Things to do in Richmond if you have more time
None of these were in the video, but if you have another half day, these are the places I’d add.
Isabella Plantation (enter from Broomfield Hill)
A woodland garden inside Richmond Park, with ponds, streams and paths through azaleas and rhododendrons. Early May is the famous time, when the azaleas are all out, but the maples turn red in autumn too, and the heathers give it colour in winter. Broomfield Hill Gate is the easiest way in. By bus, take the 85 or K3 to Ladderstile Gate and follow the waymarked trail, about 15 minutes. By car, Broomfield Hill car park is about 400 metres from the entrance, but you can only reach it through Kingston Gate. Dogs have to be on a lead inside.
Cost: free. Time: one to two hours. Tip: it’s deep in the park. On foot from Richmond Gate it’s roughly 3.5 km, about 45 minutes.
Petersham Nurseries Restaurant
A garden centre in a Victorian glasshouse in Petersham, with a restaurant among the plants. Booking ahead is essential for the restaurant; the Teahouse is the casual option. It’s at Church Lane (TW10 7AG), about a 20-minute walk along the river from the station, or take the 65 bus.
Book: through the restaurant page; it serves lunch most days and dinner Thursday to Saturday, so check times when you book. Tip: book well ahead for weekends.
Ham House and Garden (National Trust)
A 17th-century house on the Thames, a short walk from Petersham Nurseries, so they pair well. In November the garden is open 10:00–16:00, and the house can only be seen on guided tours. From 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 it’s decorated for Christmas.
Cost: £18 adult (£19.80 with Gift Aid), free for National Trust members. No booking needed. Time: two hours. Tip: the walk from Richmond along the Thames Path is about 1.5 miles and nicer than the bus.
Shopping in Richmond town
Leave an hour at the end of the day for these four, all within a few minutes of the station.
- Søstrene Grene (83–84 George Street): the Danish home store. Prices are really reasonable, and it’s full of decorations, kitchen things and small homeware. Open Monday to Saturday 9:00–19:00, Sunday 11:00–17:00.
- LingerMart (15 Sheen Road): a really good Asian supermarket, with a lot of great Taiwanese products. They often have fresh fruit imported from Taiwan (mangoes!), plus plenty from the rest of Asia. The owner is lovely, too.
- Gelateria Danieli (16 Brewers Lane): Italian gelato in a narrow lane between George Street and the Green. It’s open all winter too, when the thick hot chocolate makes more sense. Open daily from 10:00, until 18:00 Monday to Thursday and 19:00 Friday to Sunday.
- Danieli On The Green (13 The Green): the same family’s chocolate shop on Richmond Green, with chocolates they’ll gift-wrap and hot chocolate in winter. Open daily 10:00–18:00.
Getting to Richmond and getting around
From central London: the fastest option is South Western Railway from Waterloo, about 20 minutes on the quickest trains (closer to 35 minutes on slower ones). The District line and the Overground also end at Richmond, which is handy from west or north London. Richmond is in Zone 4, so contactless works.
From the station: everything on the one-day route is walkable. Richmond Green is five minutes away; Richmond Gate is 15–20 minutes uphill. Inside the park there are no buses, so wear proper shoes.
By car: Richmond Park has car parks (Pembroke Lodge, Broomfield Hill, and others), but town parking is limited and weekend traffic is slow. The train is easier.
Where to stay
Most people visit Richmond as a day trip from central London, and that’s what I’d do. If you want to stay, The Petersham on Richmond Hill is close to the view and the park gate.
What I’d skip
I’d skip trying to fit Isabella Plantation, Ham House and the main route into one day. The park is bigger than it looks on a map, and you’d spend the afternoon rushing past the parts worth sitting in. Pick the main route, or pick the Petersham side, and do the other another time.
I’d also skip going looking for stags up close during the rut. The photos that come out of Richmond Park every October make it look easy, but those animals can charge, and a long lens gets you the same picture.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Richmond, London?
One day is enough for Richmond Green, Richmond Hill, the deer in Richmond Park, Pembroke Lodge and the river. Add half a day for Isabella Plantation, Petersham Nurseries or Ham House.
Is Richmond Park worth visiting?
Yes, especially for the deer. Around 600 red and fallow deer live free in the park, about 20 minutes by train from Waterloo, and walking in is free.
Where are the deer in Richmond Park?
They move around, but they’re often on the open grassland. We found a herd within a few minutes’ walk of Richmond Gate. Stay at least 50 metres away, especially in September and October.
How do I get from central London to Richmond?
Take a South Western Railway train from Waterloo (about 20 minutes on the fastest trains), or the District line or Overground to Richmond station.
What is the best time of year to visit Richmond Park?
Autumn for the deer and the colours, early May for the azaleas in Isabella Plantation.
Watch the video
I went to Richmond to rewind, and by the time we sat down by the river, nothing felt urgent anymore.
Useful links
- Richmond Park, The Royal Parks
- Isabella Plantation, The Royal Parks
- Pembroke Lodge
- Hollyhock Café
- Duck Pond Market
- Petersham Nurseries Restaurant
- Ham House and Garden, National Trust
- Søstrene Grene
- LingerMart on Instagram
- Gelateria Danieli
- Hammerton’s Ferry
- South Western Railway
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