Richmond Park

I never cease to be amazed every time I walk in the vast expanses of Richmond Park. I’m in a wilderness, yet I can see the City of London from here, some 12 miles away in the distance. I read somewhere that there is a ban on building high rise between the Park and the City just to preserve the view. How wonderful if that is true!

Richmond Park with the view to The City

The park stretches for 2500 acres bounded by Richmond, Sheen. Roehampton, Kingston and Ham. Originally created back in the 12 century, it was known then as the Manor of Sheen. Henry VI changed it’s name to Richmond Park and it has stayed intact since then. In the 1600’s, Charles I introduced the descendants of the deer that the park is famous for when he moved the court out of London to Richmond Palace to escape the plague. It’s been the home to many members of royalty since then. Edward VII was born there and Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the future King George V lived there in the 1920’s. The White Lodge, where they lived, is now famous for being the home of the Royal Ballet School (remember the audition scene in the movie Billy Elliott?).

The royal links to the park live on through the Queen’s cousin, Princess Alexandra, who lives in Thatched House Lodge in the Park.

The park is a popular place for bike riders and pedestrians. It also has roads running through it to all of the major gates which has become a bit of a rat run for those wishing to escape the traffic jams on the roads outside the parks. This can cause some friction between car and bike users. On sunny days the roads are full of bike riders and pedestrians need to watch out, as there are quite a few lycra speedsters zooming around at above the speed limit! Some of the hills and corners can be dangerous and several bike riders have been seriously injured and, sadly, a couple have died on some notorious spots.

You can park at one of the carparks near the major gates and there is limited free street parking just outside the park in Richmond. There is also parking at the cafes within the park. Pembroke Lodge has tearooms in a beautiful Georgian building with views right out across Surrey. If you are coming by public transport, the nearest train station is Richmond (Tube, National Rail and Overground). The park is at the top of a decent hill, so if you wish to avoid the walk up, you can either catch a cab from outside the station (about 5 pounds) or walk around the corner to the bus stop outside Waitrose on Sheen Road to catch the 371 bus to Kingston. This will take you to the Richmond Gate. Alternatively, you can walk down to the Thames from the station and walk along the bank of the river and then follow the path that takes you to the foot of the park at Petersham. There is a lovely little kid’s playground at the entrance to the park here. The number 65 bus to Kingston will take you to this entrance and you can catch it from right outside the train station.

The best way to walk the park is to avoid the tarmac paths and roads and head down the grassy paths. Here you can be in the middle of a wilderness centuries old while still being so close to one of the word’s most famous cities. Meander through woods, walk around ponds, swish through long grass or squelch through mud (yes, take waterproof shoes if it’s been raining), this is a place to go to recharge your soul if the grime and noise of the city is getting too much for you. If you are lucky, you will go past one of the many deer herds that roam freely.

Be aware that during rutting season (September – October), the stags can be aggressive. Also, the does hide their babies in the long grass during the birthing season (May – July). If you accidentally get too close to a bub, the aunties will start getting a bit upset and head over your way. If you have a dog, fantastic – the place if full of dog walkers. But make sure they are either on a lead or well trained to return when called and not bark. You don’t want to have to sort out a standoff between your dog and a stag! Generally the dogs come off worse. There are criminal penalties for owners of dogs who chase any wildlife in the park.

Enjoy this treasure in the middle of suburbia.

Thank you to royalty past for establishing such a fantastic park!

Pools in South West London – Pools on the Park Richmond

I’m a keen, but amateur, swimmer and am looking for a regular pool to go to. The first thing I’ve discovered about sporting facilities in London is that they are EXPENSIVE! We enrolled the kids in the local hockey club – 110 pounds fees, 75 for uniform and 5 pounds per game – each!

There are several pools in the Richmond Borough and after my try out at the closest one to me, it looks like I’ll visiting a few more before I find a pool I’m comfortable at and enjoy swimming in.

Pools on the Park is just out of the Richmond Town Centre and has three pools – one indoor, a small indoor training pool used mainly for kids lessons and an outdoor pool used only in summer. The website says that the pools are 33 metres long. It will cost you 4.80 for a casual swim. Yes, 4.80 – that’s $8.20 in Australian dollars! And to get a locker it’s an additional 50 pence, though this is a one off charge as you can keep the token and re-use it. So what do you get for this amount?

Start with a surly girl at the counter. I explained that this was my first time here and could she please direct me to where things were? I got “change rooms through there – you’ll be able to see where the pool is”. Right. Thanks for the help. So I head around the corner to the change rooms and there is a man standing there blow-drying his hair. Confused, I look at the door, but no help there. Then I see a woman and realise that it’s a communal change room. The room has a series of tiny cubicles that you can get changed in and then you can spend a minute trying to figure out how the lockers work (put the token in the box on the inside of the locker door and then it will lock for you).

She was right about being able to see the pool – it’s right next to the change rooms. There are a row of showers you walk through to get to the pool with a request that you shower first. It takes a while for the hot to come through, so expect a cold surprise if you step straight under. The pool is old and was made up into 4 lanes. It could be a 6 lane if all the lanes are roped up. The training pool is full of toddlers having lessons, some enjoying it, some not…

The water was about 24 degrees, so a decent temperature to swim in given that’s it’s 10 outside. But the water wasn’t very pleasant and it was one of those pools that you keep your lips tightly sealed while swimming, so that the minute debris on the surface isn’t swallowed. I swim breaststroke, so I chose the slow lane. I was overtaking the people doing freestyle in the fast lane next door! After 11 laps, I was asked to move out of that lane as two toddlers were starting a lesson in the first 5 metres of the lane in the shallows. I hate having to overtake swimmers as breaststroke is quite a wide stroke and I always end up whacking someone with my leg or arm, so I got out. Back to the showers – they are the only showers it turns out, so you can’t strip off your bathers, unless you get a kick out of personal exposure, since you are in full view of the pool! It’s quite a challenge to get wet bathers off in a tiny cubicle as I found out. There are some parents/child cubicles as well, which are double size. I noticed several elderly people using them as there’s no way they could manage the regular sized ones.

There is a café onsite and a gym and sauna which you can sign up to. There are (very expensive) packages available that allow access to gym, pool and the fitness classes.

This pool is likely to be a great place to visit in summer when the outdoor pool is open and the kids can have a swim and muck around in the sun, while we relax on the grassed area. The location for me is a 5/5, as it is within walking distance of our house. Sadly, on facilities and price it’s a 1/5. I handed in the locker token on my way out…hopefully the next pool I try will be of a higher standard.

Walks in London – Terrace Gardens, Richmond

Recently Sir David Attenborough was asked where his favourite place in the world was and his answer was ‘Richmond’. Indeed, whenever we are asked where we are living, the response to ‘Richmond’ is always along the lines of ‘verrrry nice’. It’s a beautiful part of London. It’s still on the Tube line (OK, I admit it’s the last stop on the District Line), has a villagely, friendly feel about it, but still is a vibrant place to live. For your little known facts, it has the highest life expectancy in the UK and the lowest amount of tooth decay in the under 5’s. I’m sure you wanted to know that. It is also a very pricey place to live.

There are many fantastic walks to do in the area. One of them is along the River Thames to the Terrace Gardens which run up from the riverbank to the top of Richmond Hill.

There is a path around the edge of the River that runs from Richmond. Walk down to the river from the town and turn left and head under the Richmond Bridge. Walk a few hundred metres and you will be at the bottom of the Terraces. It’s not a huge park, but it’s a very beautiful place to visit.

The Terraces are on the site of a former brickworks. Working their way up the Richmond Hill are a series of garden beds and rockeries which have been established alongside sweeping lawns and beautiful trees.  You’ll find sculptures, including a voluptuous Aphrodite nicknamed Bulbous Betty by the locals, as well as a small tropical conservatory. Halfway up the hill is the delightful Hollyhock Café, tucked away in the trees.

Café sign, Richmond. Copyright L Debnam 2013

Hollyhock Café, halfway up Terrace Gardens, Richmond. Copyright L Debnam 2013

It’s a steep climb in places and not recommended for people who require disabled access. I did, however, see Yummy Mummies – or maybe they were the au pairs – getting prams down the hill.

The stepped section seemed to be very popular with local fitness trainers as they exhorted their charges to run up and down the stairs.

The steps beloved by fitness trainers, but maybe not so much by their trainees. Terrace Gardens, Richmond. Copyright L Debnam 2013

I took the more leisurely path option which enabled me to spend time with a rather tame, friendly squirrel that came running when it saw my camera and started posing. Seriously. Everyone wants to be a star…

Make sure you get my good side! Squirrel experienced in posing for the camera, Terrace Gardens, Richmond. Copyright L Debnam, 2013

 There are many benches to rest yourself on, all donated in the memory of someone who loved the area. My favourite is this one towards the top of the hill.

One of the many benches in Terrace Gardens, Richmond, commemorating a local resident who loved this park. Copyright L Debnam, 2013

The top of the hill gives you a sweeping view across South West London across to Windsor. Allegedly, you can see the Castle on a clear day, but I’m yet to verify that!

As it is now autumn in the UK, the trees are starting to change colour, leading to a kalidoscope of autumnal leaves before your eyes (and under your feet). It’s an easy walk back to the Town Centre down Richmond Hill Road. They may not be famous like Richmond Park or Kew Gardens, but the Terrace Gardens are just perfect for a quick walk, rather than a day out.

View from Richmond Hill. Copyright L Debnam, 2013