Contents
- Essential and maintenance services
- Medical and dental services
- Education
- Local societies and activities
- Places of worship
- Cubs, Scouts, Guides and Brownies
- Arts and music
- Sport and leisure
- Shopping
- Entertainment
- Somewhere to stay
Introduction
Welcome to Kew. We hope, whether you are already a resident, moving to Kew or simply interested in the area that we can provide some useful information.
The Kew Society, a local amenity and conservation group and a registered charity, has over 1000 members. We monitor planning applications and other matters affecting the area, commenting as necessary. We also have periodic social events that are a good place to meet residents.
Local amenities and conservation are taken very seriously: in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames as a whole there are about 1,100 listed buildings and some 65 conservation areas. If you are lucky to own a listed gem, you will doubtless be aware of what that entails but conservation areas, "one step down", are perhaps less well known. There are three conservation areas in Kew: the area of Kew Green, Lichfield Road, and Lawn Crescent. The Kew Green area covers not only over the housing surrounding the Green itself but extends to the east as far as the railway and Mortlake Road and then down Kew Road (though modern buildings are excepted).
While general planning requirements apply to all properties, the purpose of listing buildings and designating conservation areas is to ensure that the unique or special characteristics of an area, which enure to the advantage of all, are not detrimentally affected by one-off developments or building projects. In addition to consideration according to general planning rules, special consents may be needed. The Council Planning Department will advise you on your particular situation.
A useful introduction to the Borough of Richmond upon Thames and what it has to offer is the Borough's web site. The Council also produces an Official Guide, available from the Information Centre in the Old Town Hall in Whittaker Avenue, Richmond.
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Getting Around Kew & Richmond
Widely available from newsagents and supermarkets is the "A-Z" plan of Hounslow, Richmond, Feltham and Twickenham, which includes the area of Kew and western Barnes (with a street index). The Borough also publishes a leaflet entitled "Exploring Richmond upon Thames by Public Transport", which gives you an idea of the various road and rail services in the area.
The Borough's "Cycling in Richmond upon Thames" shows reasonably safe routes to explore the Borough and its many interesting features on two wheels. Marked cycle routes help you get around safely and, off the road, there is also the Thames Path. Footslogging is often the best way of finding out about a new neighbourhood.
The Society of Voluntary Guides offers a number of guided walks around Richmond and Kew - there is one specifically around Kew, starting at the Green - at a cost of £2 for an adult (£1 concession). For further information, contact (020) 8977 2806 or (020) 8894 2962.
A number of bus routes link Kew and Richmond. The 391 (originating in Fulham Broadway and passing through Hammersmith and Chiswick) crosses Kew Green before turning towards Kew Village and Richmond via Sandycombe Road. The 65 (originating at Ealing Broadway) also crosses Kew Green but carries on down Kew Road direct to Richmond (and eventually terminates at Kingston). Connections to other destinations may be made at the Richmond bus station.
Three railway routes serve Kew: the District Line, Silverlink and South West Trains. The District Line is the main route into London and Kew Gardens station is one stop down the line from Richmond, where the line originates. Silverlink is the old North London Line and also starts at Richmond. It can be a useful alternative for getting into Central London or to destinations such as Hampstead which would otherwise mean changing. Maps for both lines are available at Kew Gardens Station. South West Trains run from Kew Bridge station, actually on the other side of the river, just across Kew Bridge. Trains run from here to Waterloo (you can change to the Victoria line and Citylink at Vauxhall) and, in the other direction, to Brentford and Staines.
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Locating Basic Information
(at The Borough's website), also gives masses of basic information, such as bin collection days, in a searchable form. Although often busy, there is access to the internet from the local libraries where much other information is also available in paper form.
There is a comprehensive database of information, provided by the Borough, which covers a huge range of data extending beyond Council matters and that is the "infoRICH" database. This may be accessed through the main Borough site by going to www.richmond.gov.uk/inforich. An independent on-line source will also be found at www.kew-online.co.uk.
The Kew Library is housed at 106 North Road TW9 4HJ ( (020) 8876 8654) in the parade of shops on the eastern side of the Kew Gardens railway station (accessible from Kew Village either via the station underpass or via the footbridge). The opening hours are a little complicated: it is open from 10 till 1 on Tuesday morning, on Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 2 till 6, and on Saturday from 10 till 1 and from 2 till 5. It is closed on Monday and Thursday. The Library has "Linkline", a computerised local information service accessed through self-service terminals. The information on-line, apart from a catalogue of the Library's holdings, includes council services, voluntary groups, local organisations, transport, leisure, sport, education and health services. In addition, the library offers a wide range of services and holds a lot of current information on local activities and societies and other matters such as planning applications (in which The Kew Society takes a particular interest). For those new to the London area, there is a wealth of information on where to go and what to see. To get a taste of the locality, the Library contains a number of books specifically on Kew. The Borough Reference Library and the Information Centre are in the centre of Richmond, off Hill Street, at the Old Town Hall, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond TW9 1TP ( (020) 8940 5529) or (020) 8940 9125.
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Specific Information
Essential and maintenance services
If you are in urgent need of house maintenance or repair services of one sort or another, a local booklet entitled "The Richmond Book" (published by Compass Publishing) is available free - call (020) 8680 1077. It contains lots of useful names and addresses for a variety of services. You will also find coming through your letter box from day to day a plethora of advertising flyers regarding building and decorating and maintenance services and your neighbours may be able to give advice.
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Medical and dental services
There are several GP practices serving Kew:
- Dr Lawrence & Partners are at 1 Kew Gardens Road ((020) 8940 1048).
- Dr Turner & Partners are at 77 North Road ((020) 8876 4442).
- Dr Bates & Partners at 36 Pagoda Avenue ((020) 8948 4217).
- The Kew Medical Practice at 14 High Park Road ((020) 8487 8292).
There are also local dental practices:
- Kew Dental Care are at 105 North Road ((020) 8878 78833).
- Dr Jason Burns at The White House Dental Clinic, 320 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DU ((020) 8940 3444 or (020) 8940 5222). (www.molars.com)
There are a number of chemists shops in the village near the railway station:
- Lloyds Chemist at 9 - 21 Station Parade ((020) 8940 5800) (open 10.00 - 2.00 on Sundays).
- Q Pharmacy at 3 Station Parade ((020) 8940 0698).
- And further afield at Sainsburys on Manor Road.
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Education
Newcomers to Kew with school age children will probably have made arrangements for their children's onward schooling at primary and secondary level. Nevertheless, parents might find it useful to consult the lists of schools which are available at the Kew Library, covering both independent and state sector schools, nurseries and playgroups.
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Local societies and activities
While there are very many clubs, societies, interest groups and other organisations in Richmond and nearby, you might like to know about some of those in or very near to the Kew area. If contact details of those described here are not printed in this section, they will be found at the end. The Borough's database, infoRICH, contains a vast number of organisations.
Predominant, from our point of view, naturally, is The Kew Society - but you have already found us! We are keen to welcome new members and do please make get in touch.
The Kew Neighbourhood Association is a service provided by volunteers to anyone who needs help with, for example, transport, shopping, relief of carers, meals, "wheelchair walks", befriending, light gardening and other simple tasks. The Association, a registered charity, is always pleased to hear both from new volunteers as well as from anyone needing help, and operates from St Luke's House at 270 Sandycombe Road.
St Luke's House itself is a non-profit making educational centre providing activities for all ages. A hall is available for local events, concerts, etc. Contained within it is the Kew Studio, a non-profit making community venture offering artists (professional and amateur) an open studio, etching workshop, tuition and a gallery. On a different level, for children aged 5 to 11, is "Crafty Kids" which meets after school two afternoons a week. The classes enable children to learn a wide range of creative skills including pottery, mosaic and glass painting, as well as making games and toys and are planned to enable each child to progress at his or her own level of ability.
St Luke's in the Avenue Club, in The Avenue, Kew, provides a variety of daytime services, particularly for the elderly (including lunches), and recreational activities for all in Kew. A hall is available for hire. (Halls may also be hired at two other churches: at the Barn Church and at St Winifred's.)
A rewarding organisation to join is the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens. For a modest annual sum, a Friend may enter the Gardens freely at any time (and may take in friends too). Bundled with membership is the benefit of free admission to fifteen other botanic and specialised gardens (such as the University of Oxford Botanic Garden) up and down the country. On a similar theme is the Kew Horticultural Society. The Society organises horticultural shows and runs social events with a horticultural theme.
The national archives at the Public Record Office (PRO) are very accessible (in Ruskin Avenue off Mortlake Road). New residents interested in the PRO might consider becoming a Friend of the PRO. In addition to putting Friends more closely in touch with the many activities of the PRO, Friends are entitled to discounts on admission to various talks and exhibitions and on books and materials on sale in the Bookshop. For inquiries about records, services and opening times, call (020) 876 5200.
On matters historical, do not forget also other organisations with a bearing on Kew and its history, for example, the Museum of Richmond, found in the same building as the Reference Library in Whittaker Avenue (see above) and the Richmond Local History Society. If you want to read more about local history, the Kew Bookshop in Station Parade (just by Kew Gardens Station) has a selection of books on local history and the locality generally.
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Places of worship
The major religions and denominations all have places of worship in the locality though not all are to be found in Kew itself. Details may be found in infoRICH and a list may be consulted in the Kew Library.
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Cubs, Scouts, Guides and Brownies
Kew has several Brownie, Guide, Cub and Scout troops. The Scouts also embrace Beavers and Venture Scouts. Contact names are at the end.
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Arts and Music
The Borough Council supports the Richmond upon Thames Arts Council, which publishes a comprehensive calendar of events, including lectures, walks and talks, musical events, theatre and exhibitions, together with details of musical, vocal and operatic groups in the area. Becoming a "Friend of the Arts" costs only £10. The Council itself has an Arts Section which you can call on (020) 8831 6137 about arts events, festivities and activities in the Kew area.
The Council also publishes a list of societies in the area, too numerous to mention individually, concerned with the arts, music, literature, historical studies and like matters. Musical groups in the Kew area include the Kew Sinfonia, the Kew Wind Orchestra, and the Kew Young Musicians (an independent music school for children).
For Thespians, experienced or aspirant, there are the Q2 Players.
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Sport and Leisure
The Richmond area has extensive sports and leisure facilities, including Sports Centres offering a comprehensive range of activities. One Sports Centre near to Kew is the Sheen Sports Centre on the Upper Richmond Road in East Sheen. The closest public swimming pool is at "Pools on the Park" in the Old Deer Park on the A316 road. The Council's Sports Development Team can give information about learning particular sports, where to play them and which to club to join: call the Sports Development Team. For general inquiries about leisure facilities, call (020) 8940 8351. The Borough also operates a "LeisureCard" facility which gives a range of sports discounts, and discounts also at restaurants, shops, theatres, and so on - call (020) 8831 6106.
Richmond in general, and the Kew area in particular, has many sports clubs. The Priory Park Bowls and Tennis Club embraces tennis, bowls and social activities. Nearby is the Pensford Tennis Club. The best thing to do is to go to these clubs at the weekend and make yourself known and which section you would like to join.
Kew's public tennis courts are in the small park called Westerly Ware, behind the Greyhound pub on Kew Green; its entrance is by the east side of Kew Bridge. In the summer, the activities of the Kew Cricket Club will be readily apparent at the weekend on Kew Green - call (020) 8940 9155 or go along at weekends.
Other sports clubs are nearby though in Richmond itself, such as the Richmond Cricket Club in the Old Deer Park on Kew Road where, in addition to cricket, you will find the Richmond Lawn Tennis Club, the Richmond Hockey Club, and the Richmond Squash Club. Facilities are also provided for Bowls and Archery and new members are always welcome. The London Welsh Rugby Club, a First Division club, is also nearby in the Old Deer Park (and membership is not restricted to Welsh people). Richmond (Rugby) Football Club, no longer a professional premier division side, continues as an amateur club playing at the Richmond Athletic Ground, along with the London Scottish Rugby Club. The nearest golf club is the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, also in the Old Deer Park, and there is a public course in Richmond Park between the Roehampton and Robin Hood Gates.
The Borough publishes a colour brochure on horse riding in Richmond Park and the Libraries have a list of riding stables in the vicinity. For a change of scene, there is also riding a little further away on Wimbledon Common.
Something for parents of young children: while much of the larger Green is taken up by Kew Cricket Club, there is plenty of room left and the smaller (but extensive) Green on the east side is much used by children for ball games and general running around. It is safe for small children under supervision even though the road leading to Kew Bridge is usually heavy with traffic. Westerly Ware, just mentioned, contains a small playground with swings and so on. On North Road, which runs down from the station on the east side of the railway, there is also a recreation ground with a small playground.
There are many children's activities too numerous to mention here but two publications provide a lot of information about what is available. One is Parents' Local, Richmond and Kingston edition: contact Parents Local Series at PO Box 38 Twickenham TW2 5YH or call (020) 8755 4855. The other is The South West London Parents' Directory for which call Jan Sullivan on 01243 527605.
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Shopping
While there are some shops near Kew Green, Kew does actually have a "village" in the area of Kew Gardens railway station and a further parade of shops nearby on Sandycombe Road. Most of the basics will be found there, including a butcher, a health food shop, a Tesco Express, a bookshop (where you can choose from a selection of books on Kew and Richmond), two pharmacists, several newsagents, a gardening shop, a flower shop, gentlemen's and ladies' hairdressers, a dentist, a pub, an off-licence, a post office, several cafés and restaurants (including one Michelin starred) and others. But parking can be difficult. Kew Retail Park is nearby on the Mortlake Road with (at the time of writing) tenants including Marks & Spencer, Boots, Next, Gap and TK Maxx.
Slightly further afield are full supermarkets: Waitrose stores not too far away in East Sheen (on Upper Richmond Road) and in Richmond itself (on Sheen Road), which conveniently gives you limited free parking for other shopping in the town centre. There is a Safeway in East Sheen and a Tesco Metro in Richmond. There is a Sainsbury's store in nearby Manor Road off the A316.
In Manor Road also are Homebase & Currys stores, potentially very useful when moving into a new house! Richmond itself sports many High Street names and has some good bookshops also, some hidden away in side streets.
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Entertainment
Richmond offers plenty of entertainment. The Richmond Theatre (on the Little Green) frequently presents pre-West End productions (as well as a very good Christmas pantomime for the kids). The Orange Tree, a theatre in the round, frequently offers more "experimental" fare and is very highly regarded. We have three cinemas within easy reach - the Odeon and the Odeon Studio offer films on general release whereas the Richmond Filmhouse is more of an 'art house', showing releases not readily found elsewhere in the district.
A variety of cuisines is on offer in Richmond and Kew restaurants and a comprehensive list will be found at the Kew Library, detailing location, cuisine, facilities and general price range. There are seven pubs and restaurants around Kew Green itself, in addition to pubs, restaurants and cafés in the Kew village area.
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Somewhere to stay
Not enough beds to cope with guests on special occasions? Fortunately, there is a good selection of hotels and Bed and Breakfasts in the Richmond/Kew area to cope with these occasional needs. A full current list is available at the Information Centre premises (see above) and a booking service is also available there.
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Essential Services & Useful Telephone Numbers
Every effort has been made to ensure that these telephone numbers are correct at the time of going to press, but they are liable to change.
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| Heathrow Airport | (020) 8759 4321 |
| Gatwick Airport | (01293) 535 353 |
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| Richmond Council | (020) 8891 1411 (switchboard) |
| Recycling hotline | (020) 8891 7058 |
| Refuse collection | (020) 8891 7329 |
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| Kingston Hospital | (020) 8546 7711 (Full Accident and Emergency) |
| Queen Mary's | (020) 8789 6611 |
| Roehampton | (limited emergency services) |
| Health Information Service | (0800) 665 544 |
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| Richmond Police Station | (020) 8247 7225 (8 am - 8 pm, seven days a week, excluding Bank Holidays. When closed,'999' for emergencies or otherwise (020) 8948 1212). |
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| Electricity (emergency) | (0800) 096 9000 |
| Gas (emergency) | (0800) 111 999 |
| Water (emergency) | (0645) 200 800 |
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| Age Concern | (020) 8940 8118 |
| Citizens' Advice Bureau | (020) 8940 2501 |
| Council for Voluntary Services | (020) 8940 6235 (provides information about 200 local voluntary groups). Its volunteers bureau helps new volunteers find suitable organisations within which to work. |
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Local Organisations: Contact Details
The Barn Church Hall - for reservations, contact Marjorie Pepper on (020) 8876 1590
Brownies and Guides - contact Mary Noyes on (020) 8255 6924: for Cubs and Scouts - contact David Isaac on (020) 8940 2484.
Crafty Kids - contact Meena Bond or Deborah Reed on (020) 8241 7660
Friends of the Arts - contact Patricia Caunter, Members' Co-ordinator, Richmond upon Thames Arts Council, The Vestry House, 21 Paradise Road, Richmond TW9 1SA ( (020) 8940 7217)
Friends of the Public Record Office - contact (020) 876 3444 or e-mail friends-pro@pro.gov.uk or go to their website at www.pro.gov.uk/yourpro/friends.htm
Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens - contact Debra Lewis on (020) 8332 5922
Kew Cricket Club - contact C Spratley on (020) 8940 9155
Kew Horticultural Society - contact June Neale on (020) 8940 3636
Kew Neighbourhood Association - contact Ziz Nowicki at 270 Sandycombe Road, Kew TW9 3NP ( (020) 8948 8054)
Kew Sinfonia - contact George Chessman on (020) 8991 7131
Kew Studio - contact (020) 8332 2122
Kew Wind Orchestra - contact John Morrison on (020) 8940 0444
Kew Young Musicians (an independent music school for children) - contact Catrin Mogilner at 14 Priory Road, Kew TW9 3DF
Kew Youth Club - contact Pam Ibrahima at St Luke's in the Avenue
London Scottish Rugby Football Club - contact Alan Mackay on (020) 8748 3606
London Welsh Rugby Football Club - contact Ron Holley on (020) 8940 2368
Pensford Tennis Club - contact (020) 8948 2884
Priory Park Bowls and Tennis Club - contact (020) 8940 6684 (bowls) or (020) 8892 9763 (tennis)
Q2 Players - contact Lawrie Coombes at the Kew Scouts Association, Station Avenue, Kew Gardens and on (020) 8644 6626
Richmond Badminton Club - contact John O'Shea on (020) 8940 5907
Richmond Cricket Club - contact Chris Austin on (020) 8607 9664
Richmond Hockey Club - contact the Secretary on (020) 8940 1851
Richmond Local History Society - contact Johanne Coombes, 10 Courtland Avenue, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 3NT
Richmond Park Golf Club - contact Pat Ryan on (020) 8876 1795
Richmond Sports Development Team (020) 8831 6133
Richmond Squash Rackets Club - contact the Secretary on (020) 8940 1604
Richmond Lawn Tennis Club - contact Sue Cole on (020) 8940 8046
Rotary Club Kew Gardens - contact Paul Ravenhill on (020) 8893 4266
Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club - contact the Secretary at (020) 8940 1894
Royal Richmond Archery Club - contact Ruth Hung on (020) 8876 3310
St Luke's House - contact (020) 8940 2791
St Luke's in the Avenue Club, The Avenue, Kew (020) 8948 8807)
St Winifred's Church Hall - for reservations, contact Fred Morgan on (020) 8878 1883
Shene Sports and Fitness Centre Park Avenue, East Sheen SW14 8RG (020) 8878 7578
Seiki Juku Karate - contact (079) 5125 2349 or (079) 4055 1906
