A delightful little village located above a bend in the Thames, Richmond is a favourite weekend outing for Londoners, who come in great numbers to relax or canoe on beautiful summer days.

During the Regency period, this street was one of London's most elegant. Enclosed by gates in the North, this Square was flanked here and there by houses designed by the Adam Brothers. Only one Adam house (No.46) escaped demolition. G. Val Myer designed the concave façade of the headquarters of the BBC in 1931. The BBC Experience recalls a host of radio programmes and gives an insight into the work achieved by this great British institution.

Founded in 1977 by the Tradescant Trust, the Museum of Garden History was moved to St Mary-at-Lambeth Church, which was rebuilt in 1851 and restored in 1981 (14C tower). The museum features an exhibition of gardening tools and, in the cemetery, the reconstruction of a 17C garden. You can also see the tombs of the gardeners of King Charles I, who lived at Lambeth in the 17C. Admiral Bligh of Bounty fame is also buried here; he lived at 100 Lambeth Road.

Since 1990 the galleries have been located in the rooms of Somerset House a Palladian inspired palace by Inigo Jones that has a narrow facade on to the Strand. The sumptuous collection comes mainly from private bequests. The Impressionist paintings are shown alongside artists from the Italian school (14 to 18C) and British artists of the 18 to the 20C.