London area guide to Richmond
“A Sunday Kind of Love” could be written about Richmond. Sunday is a time of limbo, it marks both the end of the week and the transition into the next, and there is no better way to spend it than to amble around. Richmond makes it easy, with its green spaces, views of the river and places to grab a bite to eat.
Morning
I’d say a Sunday in Richmond should always begin with shaking off Saturday night, I normally do this with a boost of caffeine from my fave coffee spots. A black americano and whichever pastry looks the flakiest that day, if you’re ordering.
Richmond’s cafés are aplenty. Dharma does speciality coffee on George Street and displays pastries in a glass case like the pieces of art they are. It offers everything from a cortado to an iced drip, making it a go-to spot for year-round coffee enjoying.
Down the road, you’ll find Knoops, for the chocoholics. Pick your drink and then pick your sweetness, from milky white chocolate to 100% extra dark, just like being in the Wonka factory.
Kapucin on Hill Rise also serves a mean cup of coffee, using beans from roasteries all across Europe. Enjoy a cappuccino or go for a different kind of buzz and pick up a kombucha or a Dalston's Cherryade.
Richmond Park
Having a wander with your coffee is a must. Richmond Park makes me think, “It’s nice to get out of the city sometimes”, except it’s just at the end of the District line. Green spaces like this are a special treat, a haven to explore. Coffee in hand and nowhere in particular to be, Richmond Park is a Sunday escape.
Reconnecting with nature will bring you back down to earth if the coffee didn’t do it. Richmond Park has been home to red and fallow deer for centuries and there is an oak tree here thought to be 750 years old.
A short walk out of the park is Petersham Nurseries where you can shop, eat and enjoy. The lifestyle shop has an eclectic range of items, including vintage and unique decorative pieces, and the Garden Nursery helps the green-fingered elevate an outdoor space. Indulging in a layered afternoon tea is also a must, if only for Petersham Nurseries’ scones and seasonal jams.
You’ll also want to explore Duck Pond Market on Heron Square. Every weekend since 2010, stallholders have been setting up shop and serving baked treats, selling their wares and building a community of makers.
Brunch & lunch
All that walking and exploring will build up an appetite, so it’s time to talk about food.
Arguably the best meal of the day, Richmond does brunch very well. Peggy Jean sits on the Richmond Riverside, where you’ll dine in a restored Jesus College Oxford barge and enjoy a Dirty Daisy brunch, or its award-winning banana bread sandwich.
Brunch & Brew is a family-run affair that’s dog-friendly and tastebud-friendly. Enjoy everything from pancakes to fritters to a chef’s special bagel, and wash it down with locally roasted coffee from Curious Roo Coffee Roasters. Then there is Butter Beans, a Kiwi-inspired spot where you can grab and go, or sit and savour.
Danieli is a gelateria and Italian cafe and its ice cream by the scoop is a must when in Richmond, especially the Bakewell Tart gelato – an almondy ice cream swirled through with cherry compote and biscuit pieces, you’ll have to stop yourself from getting 10 scoops.
No 1a Duke Street also has an extensive menu to take you from brunch to Sunday lunch, with a focus on sustainability. It uses “wonky” veg that would otherwise have been discarded in its drinks and dishes – so if you get a carrot with a right angle, just know it’s good for the planet.
Dinner
When it comes to dinner, there is a mix of independent and chain dining spots to enjoy in Richmond. Well-loved classics include Brindisa for a selection of tapas with flavours to transport you to the Spanish Costa del Sol but with views of the Thames.
Cocotte does all-day dining, but the rotisserie chicken – marinated for 24 hours in a secret blend of herbs and spices – is the warming dish that Sunday calls for.
Offering Indian dishes inspired by ancient and modern bazaars, the Cinnamon Bazaar menu transports you to bustling markets through flavour with its street food-style dishes.
The woodfire pizzas at Napoli on the Road are a bit of a Richmond legend. From classiche to signature pizze, the menu is ever-evolving and ever-delicious.
Riverside
If you prefer a Sunday filled with activities over a slow schedule, try stand-up paddleboarding on the Thames. Paddle Richmond offers lessons and paddleboard hire for you to take to the waves and practise your balancing act.
Pubs & bars
Finishing the week with a tipple is one of my favourite ways to spend a Sunday evening. This is a quick-fire round of “the best pubs in Richmond and why”: The White Cross because it’s a community landmark with riverside views, Rock & Rose for cocktails, Stein’s if you like “bigger the better” beers, The Sun Inn for trad pub vibes, Lass O’Richmond Hill specialises in ales, and The Cricketers for drinks on the green.
Luxury
If you’re feeling very luxurious, or looking for a green retreat without leaving Zone 4, treat yourself to a spa day at Harbour Hotel on Richmond Hill. “A wellness oasis” to help you relax from city stresses or, in other words, a deep tissue massage to ease the back ache caused by sitting like a prawn at your desk most days.
From a facial to give you that morning glow to the Ultimate One Night HarSPA experience, relax in an environment that offers a slice of Countryfile while staying put in London living.
Etta James was looking for a love that would “last past Saturday night”, and this love affair with Richmond is sure to stand the test of time.
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