Richmond-upon-Thames: The cream of the crop

Welcome to an outstanding place to stay

Touted by many as the most attractive borough in London, Richmond-upon-Thames has been popular with the rich and famous, as well as royalty, for centuries.

With excellent transport links to the centre of the capital, Richmond-upon-Thames is a brilliant candidate for a choice of place to stay during the summer games.

Despite the 15 miles between Richmond-upon-Thames and the centre of London, travel from one to the other takes a mere 15 minutes by fast train service. These are available from the frankly amazing Waterloo train station, which represents the busiest station in the whole of the United Kingdom.

When arriving in Richmond-upon-Thames, it’s bizarre to think that you’re still in Greater London. The difference between central London and your new surroundings is stark. Instead of the dense, concrete, high-rise hustle and bustle, things are lot more relaxed.

The Thames meanders through the middle of the borough, with the town centre of Richmond along the way. Also on its banks is Hampton Court Palace, a grand building with strong links to Henry VIII, as well as Kew Gardens. Millions of tourists from all over the world flock to this part of London every year, and it’s not hard to see why.

Olympic events near Richmond-upon-Thames

The nearest Olympic venues to Richmond-upon-Thames are Wimbledon, Earls Court and Hyde Park. Wimbledon, known around the world for its grass courts on which some of the finest games in the world is played, is providing the backdrop for the 2012 tennis tournament.

With the recently-installed, retractable roof, there should be no interruptions to the edge-of-your-seat action that is no doubt in store. Staying in Richmond-upon-Thames and attending the tennis at Wimbledon will provide a truly regal experience to anybody who wishes to experience some of the best that London has to offer.

Earls Court will play host to the men’s and women’s volleyball events. This long-established exhibition centre will be highly accessible, especially from Richmond-upon-Thames in the west, avoiding traffic coming out of the city centre. This convenience will only add to our enjoyment of the Games.

If the triathlon or marathon swimming events sound more exciting to you than tennis or volleyball, Hyde Park is where you’ll want to be. These incredible tests of fitness and physical stamina will be on display at this location, also easily accessible from your base in Richmond-upon-Thames.

Best London holiday accommodation

What else is there to do in Richmond-upon-Thames?

Richmond-upon-Thames is an absolute chocolate box of things to do and see. If anything, you’ll be overwhelmed by the choice of amazing attractions to decide between. That said, this is rarely a bad situation to be in!

As mentioned above, the historically important Hampton Court Palace is one of the main attractions in the borough, with its stunning grounds and mystifying outdoor maze. Also not to be missed are the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Here, the Princess of Wales Conservatory stands near the Palm House, Temperate House and exotic Pagoda. These buildings, along with many others, house one of the finest and most extensive collections of botanical samples in the world.

The London Wetland Centre, a 40-hectare expanse of wetlands that have been created in the heart of one of the world’s busiest capital cities, boggles the mind. Along with Richmond Park, the largest in London, this makes Richmond-upon-Thames one of the city’s greenest boroughs. The park features 2,500 acres of National Nature Reserve-designated land with hills, grassland and woodlands which provide a home for herds of fallow and red deer. Cycling and horse riding, as well as more exotic activities, are all available within these grounds.

Getting to Richmond-upon-Thames

There are a huge number of different options for transport to Richmond-upon-Thames. For a start, you can fly in. Heathrow Airport is a little more than 10 miles away. Public transport, in the form of buses or the Underground, is available to make this journey as short and trouble-free as possible.

Taxis are also an option, and take around half an hour. Gatwick airport is further away, but also reasonably accessible. Train is the best option for this. The City of London, Stansted and Luton Airports are also a possibility.

From Paris or Brussels, the Eurostar can be taken to Kings Cross St Pancras. From there a short train ride, followed by a quick trip on the underground, is required. The Eurotunnel and ferries also provide options for travelling across from mainland Europe. By car, the M3, M25 and M4 are the best providers of access to the area. Of course coaches are available from all over the country too.