Facts about Richmond Upon Thames

Barnes

Barnes is a very affluent area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and is home to some of the most expensive properties in London .

Barnes has some lovely restaurants and pubs with beautiful views over the Thames and is a great place from which to watch the annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race.

The Bulls Head Pub' located on the riverside in Barnes is well known worldwide as a modern jazz venue and has hosted the likes of Manfred Mann and Tubby Hayes to name but a few. More recently The Bull has also helped to launch the career of Jamie Cullum, the English jazz-pop singer.

Shopping in Barnes is within keeping of its village character with some lovely boutiques and gift shops as well as traditional butchers, fishmongers and grocers and is a delightful place to visit and carry out building surveys.

The WWT London Wetland Centre founded in 1946 has its home in Barnes. This 42 hectare centre is home to lots of different bird species, water voles, bats and grass snakes to name but a few and is an area where wildlife can live and breed safely. The centre has a heated observatory, bat house and an adventure playground.

The Olympic Sound Studios' which started life in 1906 as an entertainment centre are in Barnes. The centre was converted into studios in 1966 and The Rolling Stones' were among the first to record here. Names such as Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and Queen have also recorded here.

Barnes is also the home of Bolan's Rock Shrine'. The shrine marks the spot where T-Rex singer Marc Bolan died in a car crash and is a place for fans to visit.

East Molesey

East Molesey This is the home of the magnificent Hampton Court Palace ' which was acquired by King Henry Vlll in the 1520's. The palace was opened to the public by Queen Victoria in 1838 and makes for a fantastic day out. There are so many things to see from the Tudor Kitchens' to the Great Hall' and the 60 acres of beautiful gardens that hold The Maze', the most famous in the history of the world.

East Sheen

East Sheen is a largely residential area in the Richmond upon Thames borough with some lovely leafy streets and large properties. East Sheen is a place where we have carried out many residential building surveys.

Upper Richmond Road is the main shopping area in East Sheen with a good selection of independent shops including some lovely clothing boutiques.

East Sheen has some good bars and restaurants including Seven the Fusion Kitchen' which is run by seven brothers from Afghanistan and serves Afghan, Turkish and Lebanese cuisine.

Palewell Common in East Sheen stands adjacent to Richmond Park and has a pitch and putt course, football pitches and children's play area with paddling pool.

East Sheen is the birthplace of the actor Esmond Knight' who was born in 1906 and also Tom Hardy', another famous English actor who was born here in 1977.

Ham and Petersham

This is a delightful area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and has some lovely Victorian and Georgian homes which are of much interest to us as Chartered Surveyors.

Ham House' which stands on the South Bank of the river Thames was built in 1610 for Sir Thomas Vavasour and was once a series of palaces and grand houses. This was extended in the 1670's and is today open to the public as a rare display of the Stuart' era.

Hampton Hill

Hampton Hill is a busy picturesque village in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and is next to the Royal Bushy Park '.

The lovely Victorian Church of St James' was built in Hampton Hill in 1863.

Hampton Hill has its own state-of-the-art theatre, the Hampton Hill Playhouse' which was completed in 1998.

This lovely village has a good selection of shops on its High Street and a handful of pubs to enjoy. Hampton Hill is a lovely place to take a break when we are surveying properties in the area.

Kew

Kew is a charming residential area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and a place where we have carried out many residential and commercial building surveys.

Kew is home to the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens'. This World Heritage Site is an amazing showcase of living and preserved plants, historical buildings, glasshouses, landscape features and beautiful gardens and is open daily except Christmas eve and Christmas day for the public to enjoy.

The National Archives is based in Kew and holds over 1,000 years of government and public record history.

The Glasshouse' is a well-known restaurant in Kew that opened in 1999 and offers high quality dining.

Mortlake

Mortlake in Richmond upon Thames Borough is well known for being the finishing place of the famous Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.

The beautifully kept Mortlake Crematorium was opened here in 1939 by the Right Honourable Lord Horder and is situated on the South Bank of the river Thames .

Richmond

Richmond itself is a lovely riverside town with some pretty cobbled lanes and alleyways and is home to Richmond Green', a beautiful green space surrounded by mature trees and stunning period houses.

Richmond Park ', is the largest Royal Park in London and covers almost 2500 acres. The park is home to free roaming deer and two shire horses called Billy and Massey' and also many different types of birds. From King Henrys Mound', a viewing area in the park you can see spectacular views of St Pauls Cathedral' 10 miles away. The park also has an ornamental woodland garden, golf courses, playgrounds and the lovely Pembroke Lodge', once the home of the former Prime Minister Lord John Russell' which is now a restaurant and café with stunning views. The park is a beautiful spot to take a break when we are surveying properties in the area.

Richmond is a great place to shop with a choice of high street stores, designer shops, boutiques and antique shops.

Richmond has a good selection of restaurants, wine bars and cafes, many by the river.

The beautiful Richmond Theatre', designed by the architect Frank Matcham was built in 1899 and offers drama, musicals, opera, dance and more. Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel and Michael Redgrave are just a few famous names that have appeared on its stage.

Teddington

Teddington , once known as Tudinton' meaning the settlement of Tudda's people' is a largely residential village that has some lovely Edwardian and Victorian properties which are of much interest to us as Chartered Surveyors.

Teddington has great shopping with some lovely designer and vintage clothes shops.

The famous Teddington Lock' was first built in 1810 and is today the largest lock system on the non-tidal Thames .

Teddington Studios', on the banks of the Teddington Lock produce quiz shows, sitcoms and light entertainment.

Teddington is also home to the Landmark Arts Centre', set in a beautiful 19 th century Grade ll listed building which was once the Church of St Alban the Martyr'. The centre offers arts events for the whole community.

Twickenham

Twickenham is in West London in the borough of Richmond upon Thames and is a town full of history.

Marble Hill House' is a beautiful Palladian villa in Twickenham. It is set in 66 acres and was built for the mistress of King George ll'. The villa gives a great insight into the Georgian period and is open to the public to enjoy.

Strawberry Hill House' in Twickenham is a grade l listed building. This 18 th century gothic castle was built by Horace Walpole' the son of the UK's first Prime Minister and has recently re- opened to the public having undergone a huge £9m repair and restoration project.

The Twickenham Film Studios', originally called St Margaret's Studios' were founded in 1913. Sherlock Holmes The Missing Rembrandt' was made here in the 30's and more recently Last Days of the Dinosaur' by director Michael Tucker.

Orleans House Gallery' is the principal art gallery for the borough. This lovely house is set in secluded gardens and has exhibitions, festivals and special events. The Baroque Octagon Room' here is used for wedding ceremonies and receptions.

Twickenham is known worldwide as being the home of English rugby. The impressive Twickenham Stadium offers stadium tours and the World rugby Museum' tells the history of this once schoolboy' game through paintings, match footage and rugby memorabilia.

Twickenham has a regular farmers market every Saturday selling organic meat produce, cheeses, fresh fruit and vegetables and plants. The market is one of the capitals longest running farmers markets.

Twickenham Museum' is a great place to visit to discover more about the history of Twickenham and admission is free.

As well as all of this Twickenham has many shops, restaurants and pubs to enjoy and is a place where we have carried out many residential and commercial building surveys.

Whitton

Whitton meaning White Farm' was a rural area until the 1920's. The arrival of the railway in 1930 changed that and many new houses appeared.

Whitton is the home of The Royal Military School of Music' based at Kneller Hall'. Founded in 1857 this is seen as the home of army music. This is where the army musicians are trained.