The Microhood: Richmond

What’s it got that we love?
A panoply of artistic greats, from JMW Turner to Mick Jagger, have settled here. A river runs through it. And it has the only view protected by an act of parliament. We’re talking about Richmond, and those who live here are fortunate. With green spaces – including the largest of the eight Royal Parks – grand parades, Thames-side pubs and good schools, it’s small wonder Richmond has been dubbed the “happiest place to live” in Great Britain. 

Daniel Hutchins, head of residential sales at Savills in Richmond, loves it. “I was born and bred here,” he says. “The best way to describe it is town meets country – you’re only 20 minutes from Waterloo.” Plus, it has what he calls a “potpourri of properties”, from exceptional mansions to cottages knee-deep in hollyhocks. “Tudor, Georgian, Victorian – it’s all here,” he says.

Life is good in Richmond, which is “why people don’t move away”, Hutchins says. In September, a senior branch of Thomas’s, the school where the Prince and Princess of Wales sent their children, opened here, and buyers are already moving into the area because of it, Hutchins notes.

The view from Richmond Hill painted by JMW Turner in Thomson’s Aeolian Harp has not changed much in almost 220 years. You can still watch the sun go down, then walk through the Terrace Gardens towards the riverside and Grade I listed Richmond Bridge, which is, says Hutchins, “the oldest surviving bridge over the best part of the Thames”. 

Small wonder that Richmond has so much aristocratic history. Edward III built a palace here in the 14th century, Henry VII redrew it in the 16th, and Charles I added Richmond Park – 2,500 acres of hunting grounds that are still home to herds of deer. Two wonderful buildings, 17th-century Ham House and Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park, demonstrate that historic charm. 

And don’t forget Richmond’s place in rock history, says Hutchins, whose father was the Beatles’ PR Chris Hutchins. “The Crawdaddy Club, where the Stones started, was here, the Who’s Pete Townshend lived here … and when I was young, I’d regularly see Ronnie Wood in the Old Ship.” 

How’s the shopping?
Excellent and upmarket. Quirky stores include giftshop Lark and – one of the prettiest – florist Bramble & Moss on Hill Rise. Petersham Nurseries must be the grandest garden centre ever, with homewares and objets d’art. And the Duck Pond is an artisan food and craft market – and a great hangout. 

Nose around the lanes off Richmond Green and you’ll find all kinds of independent shops: Titfertat hats, The Alligator’s Mouth children’s bookshop and Kooks Unlimited cookware shop are particular favourites. 

Hang out at…
The riverside pubs, including one that floats: Peggy Jean at Riverside Green. The White Cross has one of the finest views of the bridge and, says Hutchins, “good food; great crowd”.

The Sun Inn is a rugby pub and the Prince’s Head featured in the US comedy series Ted Lasso: “One American client bought a house here because of it, and there’s a shop selling Ted merchandise.” 

For coffee, Hagen, Kapucin and Long Black all compete with punchy espresso blends; Knoops has hot chocolate and milkshakes; and Hollyhock Cafe is a veggie-friendly stalwart with a Thames view. 

Food-wise, Richmond shines. Petersham Nurseries is still the biggest name, while Scott’s has great seafood and jazz nights. There’s a branch of The Ivy too, but Hutchins’s tip is Al Boccon Di’vino, “a fascinating place that’s like being in someone’s front room with no menu”. By the river, Gaucho is “carnivores’ heaven” while Ottolenghi and Sticks’n’Sushi are fast-rising favourites. There’s culture, too, at the Orange Tree Theatre and Richmond Theatre, the latter hosting West End drama in fin-de-siècle grandeur. 

Where to buy?
“Because of its history, Richmond is a real blend of different styles,” says Hutchins, and the stock ranges from sweet cottages to Victorian terraces, Edwardian mansions and contemporary refurbs. Grand streets including Richmond Hill, River Lane, Sudbrook Lane and The Green are popular with buyers, while The Alberts, towards Sheen, is a conservation area full of cute two-up, two-downs. There are high-end new developments, too: the Grade II listed Star & Garter, once a hospital, offers luxury apartments with concierge services. The Richmond Bridge Estate has a mix of flats and townhouses, while Richmond Square offers apartments around a landscaped courtyard. 

DANIEL HUTCHINS, HEAD OF RESIDENTIAL SALES, SAVILLS RICHMOND
DHutchins@savills.com

Read the In Focus: Prime Central London – Autumn 2025 report in full