The week between Christmas and New Year - almost everyone is on holiday and, unless you are 7 - 12 years old, extremely grateful that the crazy lead up to that one day of insane overindulgence on every side is finally over. Weather, cold and rainy. All those leftovers! Exercise definitely required. We drove up to Richmond and met up with Tessa and David in this still very festive pub.
10 miles southwest of central London, it is almost 60 miles for us, but worth the drive.
One of my Christmas gifts was the book Walking London by Andrew Duncan. Which is why, with a plan, we started off walking through the town, past the Theatre.
And The Cricketers pub, too early to stop though. No spectators either on this freezing morning.
Past the village green where much cricket must have been played. Lots of parks and open spaces here.
Refreshment station.
The sun wasn't warm enough to melt the ice in the shadow of the bike!
Christmas decorations are serious business here ...
I covet this wreath ...
It's a very posh area, we did the gawking touristy thing. It was fun.
Down on to the river bank. The Thames meanders for more than 10 miles through the Borough, linking Hampton Court, Richmond village and Kew Gardens with London. Mud here too. Pulling over onto a smooth green verge is not a good idea.
Imagine the views from this house.
As always on river fronts, lots happening; boats, people, birds.
Basking in the first sunshine in days. It must be a tough life being a bird in winter.
Back up to the High Street. This sign would make me think twice about crossing this bridge.
Isn't this a fabulous? The facade of the Odeon Cinema is Art Deco with 'neo-Egyptian touches'. It was built in 1930 and is a Grade II listed building.
Lots of history to be found in Richmond. It's going to require a return visit though. We walked and walked and walked and still saw only a small portion of what there is on show. I think we did walk off the Christmas extravagances though ...
Heading up the hill to Richmond Park - the largest royal park in London at 2500 acres. Created by Charles I in the 17th Century as a deer park.
We didn't go very far into the park cause we still had to get back down to the river and into the village and we were urgently needing some lunch.
This picture was taken at 3 in the afternoon and this ice was still there, despite the sunshine!
Down the hill, quite steep at this stage.
A grand house in the distance.
Photo Op
All in all, a lovely day out. Now just for that drive home.
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