Richmond Harbour Hotel & Spa

Planning to break a sweat between treatments? HarSPA & Club has you covered, with a Technogym, an extensive cardio suite and a spin studio. Its fitness studios also host classes including HIIT and Les Mills sessions, so it’s worth asking what’s on when you book. And once the hard work’s done, the pool, sauna and hot tubs are waiting to soothe those muscles.

But with Richmond Park a few minutes’ walk away, it seems a shame to stay indoors. Lace up your trainers and tackle the Tamsin Trail, a traffic-free loop of around seven miles that circles the park, with the resident deer for company. Cyclists love the park’s sweeping roads, and on Saturday mornings runners flock to nearby Bushy Park for its Parkrun, the very place where the global phenomenon began back in 2004.

Prefer to take to the water? The Thames is at the bottom of the hill, where you can hire a stand-up paddleboard and see Richmond’s riverside from a whole new angle. For something gentler, follow the Thames Path past the water meadows at Petersham, or wander through the Isabella Plantation, a woodland garden hidden inside Richmond Park that bursts into colour when the azaleas bloom each spring.

The Gate Kitchen, Bar & Terrace is where Richmond locals come to eat, drink and be merry – and once you’ve visited, it’s easy to see why. With its open kitchen, hanging plants and hip, bohemian vibe, this all-day restaurant has the kind of buzz you’d usually have to head into town for.

Each space has its own personality. Settle into the Moroccan-inspired lounge for a pre-dinner livener or afternoon tea, or grab a table in the bustling main restaurant. And when spring and summer roll around, the al fresco terrace feels like stumbling on a secret garden. It’s the perfect spot for a long, lazy lunch (with one of The Gate’s signature negronis to follow, of course!).

On the menu, expect comfort food with modern twists, made with fresh, locally sourced seasonal produce. Sundays call for the indulgent roast, while spa-goers can keep things light at HarSPA & Club’s wellbeing juice bar and café, where cold-pressed juices are the order of the day.

It sure does. HarSPA & Club’s heated 20m indoor pool is long enough for a proper swim, so you can clock up a few lengths before sinking into the hydrotherapy pool or heading out to the hot tubs in the spa garden.

Our tip? Little ones (aged three and over) have dedicated swim times daily from 8.30am to 10am and 4.30pm to 6pm. If you’re after a kid-free dip, aim for the hours in between.

It does, and it’s the perfect excuse to turn a spa day into a spa stay. Rooms and suites blend cosmopolitan style with countryside character, fitting for a hotel with Richmond Park on its doorstep. Choose from cosy doubles and twins to more spacious Executive rooms and suites.

Every room is fully air-conditioned (a lifesaver on steamy London summer nights) and comes with Bramley toiletries and complimentary gin. Book an Executive room and you’ll find complimentary sherry waiting too. Cheers to that!

For overnight stays, check-in is from 3pm and check-out is by 11am. For spa days, arrival times depend on the package you’ve booked, so it’s best to check your booking confirmation.

It’s right at the top of Richmond Hill in south-west London, beside Richmond Gate, one of the original entrances to Richmond Park when Charles I enclosed it in 1637. Step out of the door and you’re in London’s largest Royal Park, with deer grazing among the ancient oaks. Wander a few minutes the other way and you’ll reach the famous terrace view, looking out over the Thames as it winds through Petersham Meadows.

The location feels more like a village than a city, and you only need to head down the hill to find Richmond’s independent boutiques, riverside pubs and cafés. 

There’s no formal dress code, but guests are asked to look presentable and you may feel more comfortable in smart-casual. Basically, save the fluffy robe for the spa and swap it for something a little more polished before heading to The Gate!

The hotel is actually made up of four Georgian properties, dating from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, that were joined together over the years. It’s now Grade II listed, which explains its elegant stucco facades and columned balconies, as well as the charmingly quirky layout inside. Formerly known as the Richmond Gate Hotel, it joined the Harbour Hotels family in 2018.

It’s in pretty illustrious company, too. Just along the hill is Wick House, built for the painter Sir Joshua Reynolds, while nearby Downe House has been home to playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan and, much later, Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall.

Little ones are welcome, though the spa is mostly a grown-up affair. Treatments are for guests aged 18 and over, and under-18s can’t use the sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool, hot tubs or gym. Children aged three and over can splash about in the pool daily from 8.30am to 10am and 4.30pm to 6pm, as long as they’re with an adult.

There aren’t any family rooms, but some rooms connect, so there’s space for everyone. Children are well catered for at The Gate too, with a dedicated children’s menu full of family favourites.

And there’s plenty to keep young explorers busy nearby. Go deer-spotting in Richmond Park, head up into the trees on the Treetop Walkway at Kew Gardens, or get lost (on purpose) in the famous maze at Hampton Court Palace.

As the hotel is housed in a historic Georgian building, it isn’t fully accessible. However, some rooms have walk-in showers and can be reached by lift. 

In the spa, the pool is accessed via steps with a single handrail, and there’s no hoist or ramp. If you have a disability, reduced mobility or any additional needs, it’s best to contact the hotel before your visit so the team can discuss how to support you.

Sorry! With the exception of service dogs, pets can’t stay at the hotel. But if you’re out for a walk with your four-legged friend, you’re welcome to pop in for a drink. Dogs can join you in the lounge or on the terrace, though not in the restaurant (service dogs excepted). Consider it the perfect pit stop after a stomp around Richmond Park – just remember to keep them on a lead around the deer.

Sorry, it doesn’t. But golfers are in luck, because Richmond Park Golf Course is just a short drive away on the other side of the park. It’s a public pay-and-play venue, so there’s no membership needed, and there are two 18-hole courses to choose from. There’s also a driving range if you just fancy a few swings. Tee times need to be booked and paid for online in advance, and you can hire clubs if you’re travelling light.