Richmond upon Thames

Richmond upon Thames, outer borough (1991 pop. 154,600) of Greater London, SE England. The borough was created in 1965 by the merger of the municipal boroughs of Barnes, Richmond, and Twickenham. Richmond upon Thames is mainly residential, with more than 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) of public recreation grounds and a wetlands wildlife reserve. The annual Oxford-Cambridge boat race on the Thames takes place almost entirely within the borough. Rugby matches between the two schools are also played there. Famous houses include Hampton Court Palace, the residence of Henry VIII, and Strawberry Hill, the home of Horace Walpole.