With a population of over twenty thousand citizens, Richmond is by no means a small town. Despite its size, however, Richmond somehow toes the line between big city and quaint, charming burg. This is largely due to the geography of Richmond, which allows it to have the appearance of a beautiful hamlet despite the fact that groups of people can be seen nearly everywhere you look.
At any rate, it is difficult to find anybody who would consider Richmond unattractive. Wide open grassy expanses can be found all around the city, and much of this is thanks to the first King Charles, who demanded that some of the natural landscape be cordoned off for hunting. The King has become a de facto environmentalist of sorts in that he made similar orders in many of England's towns so that he could hunt at special private locales wherever he happened to visit. Of course, the thought of maintaining the environment in order to kill the animals that populate it is a bit reductive but such was the mind of the inbred king. At any rate, Richmond Park is of particular interest to both residents and visitors alike and it is both a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" and "National Nature Reserve". In layman's terms, it is a "really pretty and important park".
One might argue that Richmond Park pales in comparison to the natural splendor that is the Terrace Gardens. The gardens were first created in the late 1800s and over the years have grown all the way up to the edge of the River Thames. The pathways are made of gravel and, at the highest part of the walk, one can Windsor in all its glories. Countless photographs and paintings have been made of this scenic spot and Sir Walter Scott even described the view at length in his book "The Heart of Midlothian". Any visitor to Richmond would do well to walk these hallowed roads.
Near the town center one can find the famed Richmond Green. This square plot of land hosts many cricket matches but on the weekends and holidays during the summer it is the spot of choice for hundreds of sunbathers and anyone who wants to relax in general. Very few of these visitors, however, are aware of just how old The Green is. Morris dances and cricket matches have occurred on this hallowed ground since the 1600s and merrymaking in general has been going on for even longer. Make no mistake, however: Though Richmond is filled with lush foliage the city is positively stacked to the brim with top of the line movie theaters, performing centers, office buildings, supermarkets, and much more. Richmond is by no means quaint or small but in fact has all the amenities of any major city. This, though, is what is so fascinating about Richmond. Despite its modern offerings, the city has managed to maintain its classic natural beauty that has persisted long before mankind was around. If only every city in England possessed such a unique charm.
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