Down by the river in Richmond

Richmond has changed a lot since I grew up there but I still enjoy going back to catch up with family and friends. I always saw it as a pretty regular kind of place, where normal families went about their business and took it’s pleasures for granted.

These days it’s the kind of place that you can only afford to live if you have a well paid job in the city and is a favourite with business people moving from overseas with their families to spend a few years working in London.

As teenagers, my sister had a friend who lived on a houseboat, which seemed rather adventurous and exotic. Now it’s the kind of place where people buy a house and then send in the builders for 6 months to refurbish it to their own taste.

However, when I was back visiting last week, I went down to the river and found something of the old Richmond I used to know. The sun was reflecting off the water, on one of those perfect autumn mornings. The locals were going about their business, cycling along the tow-path, walking dogs or just relaxing in the sunshine. The boatbuilder’s door was ajar and inviting business, just in case you should need a new rowing boat to take you up the Thames.

If you walk down the steps by Richmond Bridge you can get a coffee from a great little cafe called Tide Tables which is housed in one of the arches, then sit on the terrace and watch the boats go by.

You can see my photos of Richmond on Flickr here.

Other posts on Richmond

Friday Photo – The view from Richmond Hill
The View from Richmond Hill

www.flickr.com heatheronhertravels’ Richmond photoset

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