Imagine that one day you wake up, step out of bed, and decide that you want a change of scenery.  For some reason that you cannot explain, you want to break away from your daily routine, you want to get out of town, and just go someplace new.  Now, upon thinking about where you want to go you realize that you are interested in visiting the UK; the country is filled with towns worth visiting, but you decide that the best place to start is London.  So, you get on a plane, you travel across the Atlantic Ocean and arrive at Heathrow Airport; you have landed in the UK and are ready to begin your break.  Naturally, once you get settled in, you start moving around the city, taken in its history, its beauty, and its culture.

One day you hear about the gorgeous Thames River, and about one of London's most traditional and beautiful boroughs, Richmond Upon Thames.  For some reason you cannot fully understand, you are drawn to Richmond, and so you set out to visit the borough.  Soon enough, you realize that coming to Richmond was the best thing that you could have done.  Why?  Well, simply because the borough had everything you were looking for; it had history, culture, architecture, and above all, beauty.  Upon reaching Richmond you realized that just 15 miles off central London you had found what could very well be the most beautiful, and interesting, area in all of England.

In truth, despite what you may think Richmond truly is one of England's most valuable jewels; the borough exudes beauty, history, and culture, so much so that in the eyes of some it is a cradle of English civilization.

Transport

Well, in getting to Richmond there is no real trouble; given that it is one of London's boroughs, any transport that you might use to reach London will surely get you to Richmond too.  Directions are easy to find in case that you are driving (be it on a car or motorcycle); the borough is only 12 miles off Heathrow Airport, and so you could very easily get on the 490 bus leaving Terminal 5, or take a shuttle to Feltham Station (the station is close airport and can also be used to get to Richmond).  Finally, if you would prefer convenience above all else, you could hire a taxi to drive you to the Borough (either from the airport or from any other part of London); in no more than 30 minutes you should be able to get to the borough, probably less.

Tourism +Accommodation

Given the borough's exquisite architecture, and given that the borough is a fan-favourite for most tourists, Richmond possesses some of the most beautiful hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, etc.; the city offers all kinds of accommodation to please all styles, tastes, and above all, budgets.  For example, if rates are of no concern to you, but luxury and comfort are, you can always find a room at the Petersham Hotel; if you are looking for something a bit more economical, a bit simpler, if you will, you can always find a very welcoming and comfortable B&B.  Finally, if you, by any chance, are interested in getting something more permanent, you can always rent a house or flat close to the river.

Now, in what has to do with tourism per se, the first thing that you might consider doing is checking on Trip Advisor and finding out what Richmond is famous for, what landmarks there are to see, what museums, galleries, events etc. You can just go outside and wonder without planning any actual route; parks, cafes & tea rooms, museums, theatres, shops, and anything else you can possibly think of is bound to pop up somewhere along your walk.  In fact, it is highly recommended that you do this because this kind of seemingly informal tourism is bound to make you experience Richmond, and England as a whole, in a grander way.

Food + Drinks

As far as food and drinks go, it must be said that options are endless.  England is rich in culture and heritage; it is also rich in diversity given that throughout the years immigrants have established themselves in the country (including Richmond, of course).  Apart from this, it is also important for you to know that in order for you to enjoy a good, delicious meal, you do not have to be a millionaire.  As with all else, food and drinks are available at different prices.  A fancy meal will surely be expensive, but if you are not interested in spending too much, do not worry, you can get into any shop, café, or deli, and get a very good meal at a much cheaper price.

Richmond is swamped with bars and restaurants (there are over 100 spread across the borough), so you will surely find something to please your taste and your pocket.  As well, if you are interested in going out and have a good meal accompanied by a beautiful view (let us say, the River Thames), but you are concerned with where you might be able to leave your car, do not worry.  Richmond has a number of car parks and some free parking zones in the evening, so you should have no problems finding one from where you can take a brief walk and reach the place where you wish to eat, drink, and relax.

Sports + Recreation

The English are famous for their love of sports, especially soccer and rugby.  So, if you are a fan of sports you can always engage in either one of those two; other sports that you could easily pick up while in Richmond include tennis, sailing, and rowing (given that River Thames offers the perfect landscape for such sports).  If you are not too big on playing sports you can always visit a stadium and watch professional athletes do it for you.  Fore example, if you are a rugby fan, what better place to watch a rugby match than Twickenham Stadium?

It is also important for you to know that the English are big on working out.  Health Clubs & Gyms abound in Richmond, so if you are one who likes working out you can surely benefit from such establishments.  As well, if you like relaxation over exercise, you can always visit a gym and take a load off in the Jacuzzi or hot tub (commodities that would also be available in a hotel, of course).  Lastly, if you have no particular interest for sports or working out, you can always turn to the borough's offering as far as fine arts go.  England is famous for its theatre productions, and in Richmond you can enjoy some of the most memorable plays ever written at some of the most exquisite theatres in all of England.

If you prefer recreation to sports (meaning you do not like any form of recreation that signifies physical exhaustion), perhaps you might prefer catching a stand-up comedy at the Bearcat Comedy Club.  Like movies?  Richmond does have cinemas, three to be more exact (two of which are run by Odeon), so movies will not be lacking.  Love theatre? Then you have certainly come to the right place.  Theatre offerings are diverse and exquisite; you can choose to watch a hilarious comedy in Richmond Theatre, or one of Shakespeare's dramas in the Mary Wallace Theatre in Twickenham or theatre in the round at the Orange Tree.

Now, if none of these things catch your attention, then you can enjoy the various events that take place throughout the year at and around Richmond; literature, drama, music, and art. Surely, you will eventually find that Richmond is a fun town where you can also take in the richness, diversity, and beauty of the English culture.    As well, you will get a chance to be blown away by the beauty of the River Tames, by the majesty of Hampton Court Palace, or by the treat that is Richmond Park.  There are countless other landmarks and attractions for you to feast your eyes, body, and soul while in Richmond; you can even find peace and tranquillity by walking through the legendary Thames Path if that is what you prefer.