Discover the architectural
history of Richmond
Join Open City for a walking tour exploring the unique architectural, landscape and urban history of Richmond
This insightful walking tour tells the story of how Richmond developed from a place where the Georgian royalties and upper class gathered, to a suburb where people now work and live.
The tour will look at various housing typologies developed by notables and speculative developers, from Victorian townhouses to mid century houses.
A key highlight is the Grade I-listed Georgian-style Marble Hill house built for a woman in the 1720s. It is the last complete survivor of the elegant villas and gardens that bordered the River Thames between Richmond and Hampton Court in the 18th century.
We will also look at the huge and traditionally-styled Richmond Riverside development which was completed in the 1980s, and see how existing historical buildings were preserved and historical riverfront revived. We will then see the Poppy Factory, one of the area’s few remaining 1930s Art Deco factories which is still being used as a factory.
We will examine the impact of the development of transportation links on the suburban development, from the building of Richmond Bridge in 1777 to the building of Richmond Station in 1864 and the tube link in 1877.
The tour will finish at the viewing point on Richmond Hill with a beautiful view protected by an act of Parliament.
Key information
Meet: Outside La Creperie Bretonne 115 St. Margarets Rd, TW1 2LH, turn right coming out of St. Margarets train station.
The 2nd stop on the tour is Turner’s House on Sandycombe Road.
End: Richmond Hill viewing point TW10
Duration: 2.5 hrs approx
Distance: 3.2km / 2 miles
Route notes: Mostly flat, pavement walking. There some uneven surfaces, parkland grassed surfaces and some brief uphill walks towards Richmond Hill, we recommend wearing comfortable shoes.
Cost: £19.50 / £17.50 / £13.50 / £9.50
Tickets are non refundable and our tours go ahead rain or shine…
We aim to be inclusive and accessible where possible, please contact Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk to discuss your needs, reduced ticket prices and if you require a free carer ticket or have any additional queries.
Meet the tour guide…
Shuang Karen Hu is a resident of Richmond and had many years of experience in law and teaching before she trained as a walking tour guide. Hu is interested in bringing people’s attention to our built environment, thinking about how they were developed and discovering the stories behind them.
Hu is a graduate of the 2025 Golden Key Academy — a masterclass for urban and architectural tour guiding run by Open City. She joined the Open City tours team in February 2026.
Open City's year-round tours programme is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.