This bank holiday weekend, I wanted to take a break from the hustle and bustle of London for a day trip. After considering a few places, I decided to head to Richmond for a day trip that was equal parts boutique shops and cheery pubs, and nature-filled walks with views of parks and rivers. I wanted to share my itinerary—although I feel like I did a lot in one day, I kept my pace slow, as I didn’t want to rush through all the experiences Richmond had to offer!

This itinerary would be perfect if you want a quiet day in an interesting part of the city; if you want to explore nature without leaving London; and if you want a day of low-pressure exploring without the need to stick to a strict schedule.

What I Brought in My Bag (in addition to the regular things):

• Hand sanitiser (I saw no fewer than 10 dogs on this day; at the riverside, in the cafés, at the park, and in the pub. Lots of opportunities for petting the puppies, so disinfectant is a must!)
• A bottle of water (this day has a lot of walking; you’ll need the water!)
• A small notebook and pen, or a novel
• A canvas bag, for any impromptu shopping
• Sunscreen. This one I actually forgot, because it was a very overcast day, so I thought I wouldn’t need it. I was wrong, and came home a little pinker than when I left!

Morning: Boutique Shopping, Bookshop, and Riverside Walk

To start, take the train from Clapham Junction to Richmond Station; it’s only an 8-minute journey if you get a non-stop train, and as it’s in zone 4, Oyster cards and contactless cards will be charged £3.20 for the journey.

Come out of Richmond Station—which is worth taking a look around at, because in 2019 it underwent a renovation to bring back its original 1937 design, and the signs and dark wood features are cool.

Coming out onto the street, turn left and head down the high street. You’ll see a lot of small shops; coffee shops, restaurants, hairdressers, and—my favourite—charity shops. I stopped and lingered in the Oxfam and the Cancer Research UK before heading to my first stop: The Open Book Bookshop.

I loved this shop! It’s been an independent bookshop since 1987, and although it looks small from the outside, the inside is deep, with a large range of book topics (history, sci-fi, crime—you name it!) but a curated selection of distinctive titles. They also had cute cards and stationery; it was the perfect place to browse, buy, and linger at the beginning of my day.

Next on the itinerary was a walk along the river; continue heading south-east, and turn right on Water Lane to get to the famous Richmond Riverside. When you hit the water, go left, and get ready to see the famous arched Richmond Bridge:

This is such an enjoyable walk. On the water, I saw so many small-engined boats anchored away from the shore, and many people rented kayaks to paddle down the bridge. There was also a bike rental shop, for those who might want to take this path a little quicker.

What you’re walking on past the bridge is called the Richmond River Thames Towpath, and as you walk down the river, you’ll come across many gardens, benches, and restaurants facing the water.  They all seemed a little posh for me; fairy lights, wood-burning fireplaces, …and high prices. So instead of stopping for lunch somewhere costly, I stepped into a caf: Eileen’s at Buccleuch Gardens Café.

Lunch by the Thames

I really liked this place; cheap and cheerful, with homemade desserts in the window and a small ice cream selection for hot days. I paid roughly £12 for a drink and a hot sandwich with salad (which wouldn’t even get a starter at the expensive restaurants on the water!). Plus, it wasn’t very busy, so I didn’t mind taking up a table for a while (lingering is important when the day is full of walking!).

Afternoon in Richmond Park

I love this park; it’s amazing that such a large green space exists so close to the city. I’ve been to Richmond Park twice before, and always got to see deer when I was there, so I was keen to see them again. And after a few hours, I did—but not before checking out the Isabella Plantation.

I always wince at the word “Plantation” (it carries a very, very different connotation in North America than it does in Europe) but this floral garden was gorgeous; even on a grey day, there were so many flowers in full bloom that took my breath away. And on the other side of the fence was the Pen Ponds Café, where I wanted to pick up a warm drink—and this is where we saw the deer!

I was told that the deer are most commonly seen early in the morning or the late afternoon; I got lucky seeing them mid-afternoon, near the café. They’re super relaxed around people—they grazed quite close to the road, and cars moving slowly didn’t seem to bother them. You need to stay about 50m away at all times (because you never know what they might do as herd animals if they sense danger) but even at a distance, it’s clear how majestic they are! After I took a few pics, I got a hot drink at the Pen Ponds Café, and journalled for a bit about my experience. This is such a helpful way for me to pause, and not give in to the ever-creeping impulse I have to always be thinking about what’s next. Taking a pause after a long walk—and having the opportunity to warm my hands on a hot tea—was a great way to think about what I wanted next. And at that point, I figured that maybe going home to rest was the right move, so I started heading back to the main entrance.

An Evening Drink with Views of Richmond Hill

I took a separate route to get back to the station, and decided to pop in to a pub that was recommended to me: The Roebuck.

The pub was recommended to me by a local—inside was a cosy space filled with dark oak furniture and blankets on the backs of chairs, warmly-lit by large gold exposed lightbulbs to show off the wooden beams and textured wallpaper. Inside was crowded, and I was grateful to get a corner table; but the real appeal of the Roebuck is the outdoor space. If you request a plastic cup, you can take your cocktail across the street, where the view of Richmond Hill is stunning:

This really felt like the most gorgeous view of Richmond I’d had so far—sprawling green hills and a wide view of the Thames were gorgeous, but this was the first time that I saw people using the green space; playing games with children, laying out picnics. You can get the sense that the people who live in Richmond really love it.

I grabbed a bench and enjoyed the view while I rested my legs. After I was done, I walked the 20 minutes back to the train station for a well-earned rest on the journey heading home. In total, I was gone roughly 7.5 hours, and my smartwatch reported over 23,000 steps. So if you’re looking for a shorter (or less active) day, I hope you’ll pick and choose from the activities I’ve suggested!

All in all, this was a great day, and a lovely way to move through one of London’s prettiest boroughs. Richmond felt like a place where slow travel really paid off; I didn’t feel as though I needed to “keep up, move faster” or I’d miss out. This was exactly the type of day that reminds me why slow travel works so well in London. I’d highly recommend it!