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| •Richmond •London •Cotswolds |
.. | RICHMOND Our painting tour is a mix of town and country. The first part of the tour (days 2, 3 & 5), will take place in the southeast area of England just 10 miles west of London in the Royal Town of Richmond-Upon-Thames. While in this area, we shall visit two palaces and paint beside the River Thames. One day will also be spent sightseeing and painting in the City of London, and the remainder of our time will be spent in the Cotswolds painting the countryside, villages, and historic palaces and gardens. Click on the links to the left, to explore our proposed venues. Pictured above, Viaduct over the Thames at Richmond, photo by Sarah McDaid |
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| . | . | Richmond-Upon-Thames Situated just 10 miles west of the center of London, Richmond is a bustling town which has retained much of its original 300 year old historic character and an abundance of palaces, parks and gardens. The town extends from the banks of the River Thames up onto the surrounding hill which offers spectacular views over the River and landscape. Richmond Park, a former royal hunting ground, is close by as is Kew Gardens, another former royal estate and now a botanical garden. Richmond's location makes it a superb choice for our tour, being just 7 miles east of Heathrow airport. It has wonderful amenities; shops, restaurants, and easy access into the heart of London, via a 35 minute ride on the ''Tube" (subway).
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Richmond-Upon-Thames, Coat of Arms.
Photos above by Sarah McDaid & J. Cook |
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Richmond Hill overlooking the river Thames; a view that has inspired such great artists as Turner and Sir Joshua Reynolds, literary figures like Walter De La Mare and Virginia Woolf and composers Purcell and Holst. All have made their mark on the area's colorful past. |
... |  View from Richmond Hill In 1733 William Byrd founded the town of Richmond, Virginia, USA so named because the view over the river reminded him of this scene. Throughout the last couple of centuries, artists have flocked to Richmond Hill, including the American Jasper Francis Cropsey. |
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| We will be staying at the elegant four-star Richmond Gate Hotel which comprises four eighteenth-century buildings at the top of Richmond Hill, just a couple of minutes from Richmond Royal Park and overlooking the Thames. Decorated in antique furnishings and classic decor, it offers a full range of amenities including a restaurant, bar, health club, and pool.
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. |  Richmond Gate Hotel |
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Ham House, Richmond An outstanding Stuart House built in 1610, and enlarged in the 1670s. Ham is famous for its lavish interiors and spectacular collections of fine furniture, textiles, and paintings, as well as the 17th century formal gardens, currently being restored to their original glory. Sketching is permitted in the house and painting in the grounds. |
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The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is located in Richmond. Originally the site of two royal residences in the 18th century. Kew was founded in 1759 by Princess Augusta*, (wife of Frederick, Prince of Wales) an avid gardener and mother of George the III, as an addendum to Kew Palace. The grounds were first laid out by 'Capability Brown' a famous English Landscape Gardener, in the 18th century and have subsequently been added to by later generations of architects and designers. The Royal Botanical Gardens have since expanded to swallow the palace grounds entirely. Today the garden extends along the banks of the Thames and contains over 60,000 species of plants covering some 300 acres.
* The city of Augusta, Georgia was named in her honor.
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Entrance to the Kew's Palm House
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