Located 10 miles south west of Central London, Richmond offers plenty of choice, with its beautiful Royal Park and open spaces, galleries and museums, theatres, excellent restaurants and a buzzing town centre. Here’s how to spend a day exploring the area.

9am

Hop off the train at Richmond station (South West Trains and District line). At the exit, turn left, and it’s a five-minute walk to Richmond’s healthiest destination: Whole Foods, where the Breakfast Hot Bar serves oatmeal, eggs, pancakes, and delicious, freshly prepared juices. Or, if you’re not in the mood to be quite so green, there’s organic coffee.

10.30am

With all your new-found energy, take a 15-minute walk (or 371 bus) to Richmond Park. The 2,500 acres of park and ancient woodland is home to herds of red and fallow deer, and as well as open spaces and tranquil surroundings, you'll find a host of activities, including cycling, horse riding, golf, rugby, kite flying and fishing. For a coffee and great views across the river to Twickenham, head to Pembroke Lodge or Roehampton Café, before heading back to Richmond.

1pm

Time for lunch at La Buvette - Richmond’s premier, independent French restaurant. The informal dining room, with its secluded courtyard, was originally an annexe to St Mary Magdalene Church. It was used as a canteen until 2004 when the restaurant opened.

3pm

Next, some retail therapy. The town offers a generous mix of well-known brands, independent boutiques and designers, and look out for the lanes that run off the main High Street, where you’ll find small specialist and antique shops. Also worth a visit is Riverside Gallery. Located in the Old Town Hall, the gallery features works by local artists and year round exhibitions of paintings, prints and photographs.

If you’d prefer a stroll by the river, head west along the river path towards Terrace Gardens, which first opened as a public park area in 1887. As well as the historical, ecological and educational aspects, large areas of the Gardens have been re-planted with a mix of sustainable and more traditional plants. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a lead.

5pm

After all that fresh air and exercise it must be time for a drink at the Prince’s Head by the Green – always a popular location in the summer months for the views and weekly cricket match. The houses on the edges of the Green are also worth a look, with some fine examples of Georgian and Victorian architecture.

6pm

Time for dinner and the choices are mainly weather dependent. For the best riverside views there’s Goucho, serving the finest Argentine steak (Bife de Lomo) in London. Or, back in the town centre, A’cena is a charming, traditional Italian restaurant with an extensive wine list – it's also handy if you're planning a trip to the theatre.

7.30pm

If theatre is your thing, then there’s a choice between traditional and contemporary: Richmond Theatre has a well-deserved reputation and previews many West End shows, while the Orange Tree Theatre offers a more experimental programme performed ‘in-the-round’.

Alternatively, if you prefer to take advantage of the riverside location and views, try the Pitcher and Piano or The White Cross by Richmond Bridge. Both are very popular during the summer months, and a good place for a nightcap before heading back to the station. The last train into London Waterloo is at two minutes to midnight – so there’s plenty of time.

Further information

Contact Savills Richmond for more details or view available properties for sale in Richmond