This neighbourhood area of Kingston Vale and Putney Village straddles the line between the Boroughs of Wandsworth and Kingston upon Thames. This quiet and peaceful part of town is surrounded on all sides by open and rugged green spaces, including Richmond Park, Putney Heath, and Wimbledon Common. There is also the Richmond Park Golf Course and the Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields for football and rugby, giving residents a wealth of outdoor entertainment options. Located within in the more residential part of the neighbourhood is local favourites, Don Emilio, a popular Italian restaurant, and The Telegraph, a popular gastropub, and even more dining options can be found near the river and in nearby Wandsworth. This locality is a great option for families who want space and well-rated schools, as well as professionals who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of central London, while remaining only a short commute away.

Richmond Park has been around for centuries and has changed very little over the years, and although it is surrounded by human habitation, the varied landscape of hills, woodland gardens, and ancient trees remains. The royal connections to this park began with Edward I in the 13th century, when the area was known as the Manor of Sheen. The name was changed to Richmond during Henry VII’s reign, and in 1625 Charles I brought his court to Richmond Palace to escape the plague in London, turning a large swathe of the rural area into a park for the hunting of red and fallow deer. In 1637, he decided to build a wall and enclose the land, which was not popular with the local residents. Residents and visitors can still see the walls today, although they have been partially rebuilt and reinforced.

Richmond Park is the largest Royal Park in London covering an area of 2,500 acres and from its heights there is an uninterrupted view of St Paul’s Cathedral, 12 miles away.

There used to be a rifle range at Wimbledon Common. It was shut down after a freak accident in the Putney Vale Cemetery. In 1894, regiment volunteers were practicing at the rifle range, while John Ingram was digging a grave at the cemetery. Suddenly Ingram was shot with a stray bullet from the range, died almost immediately, and is buried a few feet away from where he was hit. The range was unsurprisingly closed shortly after.

The neighbourhood is incredibly pricey due to both its sought-after location and its reputation. The luxuries of Kingston Vale and Putney Village are therefore unfortunately not available to everyone, though there are plans in place to create more affordable housing nearby.

As this neighbourhood area is surrounded by protected ancient green spaces, there is not much development scheduled in the neighbourhood’s boundaries. However, the surrounding area has been set to undergo some refurbishment and development. Near East Putney station, Thackeray Developments completed ‘The Assembly Rooms’ in 2020, a new office development of 24,500 sq ft in a refurbished Victorian building that was once a cinema. Also in nearby Wandsworth, there are plans to repurpose a now closed Homebase and redevelop the site to a complex of three buildings ranging from 7 to 15 storeys with basement to provide 343 residential units, 597 sq.m. of retail units, 1647 sq.m. of studio/offices (Class B1), as well as community uses. The development would also feature playspace, landscaping and public realm improvements (including contribution toward the new entrance to Wandsworth Town Station).