Support Us Button Widget

Richmond’s Sister City: Richmond upon Thames, England

Richmond_Riverside,_London_-_Sept_2008

Richmond is a borough of London on the Thames River.

Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

We’re not the only Richmond in the world. In fact, our city gets its name from its first sister city, Richmond upon Thames.

According to Sister Cities International, “A sister city is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries, officially recognized after the highest elected/appointed officials sign off to become sister cities.” The idea is to cultivate international relationships, explore other cultures, and stimulate economic development.

The 2 Richmonds have a long history. The other Richmond became our first sister city in the 1930s — around 2 decades before the official program was established nationally by President Eisenhower.

Richmond upon Thames is a borough of London, located around 10 minutes southwest of the city. We’re both river cities — Richmond, VA was actually named by William Byrd II because the appearance of the James River reminded him of the Thames in Richmond, England.

Kew_Gardens_Waterlily_House_-_Sept_2008

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. | Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

Richmond upon Thames is known for its quaint, appealing outdoor spaces as well as an array of history and arts attractions. The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew may even rival Lewis Ginter — it has one of the largest + most diverse botanical collections in the world. The historic gothic revival Strawberry Hill House is also a timeless tourist attraction.

Richmond upon Thames is connected to us historically + culturally. But we actually have more than one sister cityWindhoek, Namibia; Olsztyn, Poland; Zhengzhou, China; and Ségou, Republic of Mali are Richmond’s other current sister cities. We also explored Saitama City, Japan in a previous conversation.

If you want to keep up with the goings-on in the other Richmond, check out the town’s Facebook page. Virtual adventure is out there.

Poll

Photos courtesy Bries, Umix, Lyfengine, Windmemories

More from RICtoday
Here’s where to grab a slice at 25+ pizza restaurants around the River City
Maymont Community Garden hosted a volunteer-based Mosaic Day to help beautify the backsides of ramps at Texas Beach Skate Park.
Bookmark this page to your favorites tab so you can quickly return and find the top events happening each month in Richmond.
Lend a hand outdoors at these regional volunteer events.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will commemorate the first major section of the Fall Line Trail to open.
There’s a whole lot to love about spending the fall season in Richmond, from pumpkin + apple picking to scare-worthy haunts + classic movie screenings.
Dust off your cowboy boots and work up an appetite — the state fair returns Sept. 26-Oct. 5.
We’re highlighting the best parks Richmond has to offer — complete with playgrounds, biking trails, and river views.
A Manhattan-style penthouse is up for sale in Shockoe Slip, remixing a historically charged relic with high-end modernity.
In honor of The Diamond’s last week in action, we asked our readers to share nostalgic stories that take them back to the stands.