From the top of Richmond Hill, the Thames bends below you through meadows and trees, and on a clear day you can see far across the river valley towards Windsor. This view is so admired that it was protected by an Act of Parliament in 1902, the only view in England with that honour, and painters like Turner and Reynolds came here to capture it. It is a fine place to end a long day, looking back towards the west where you have been.
Richmond has a royal past. Henry VII built a palace here and named the town after his earldom of Richmond in Yorkshire, and Elizabeth I died in that palace in 1603. Only a gatehouse and some old walls remain, close to the green, but the name stuck. Richmond Bridge, opened in 1777, is the oldest surviving bridge over the Thames in London, and the riverside below the hill, with its terraces and pubs, is one of the most pleasant spots in the city.
Richmond Park is the other big draw. It is the largest of London's royal parks, a huge area of grassland, ancient oaks and ponds, with herds of red and fallow deer roaming freely. Motorcycles are allowed on the park roads, but the speed limit is low, the roads close to traffic at night, and the deer and cyclists have right of way in all but name, so ride gently. In autumn, during the rutting season, the stags roar and clash, and it is wise to keep well away.
The ride in from Dorset usually comes along the M3 and A316, a straightforward run into the suburbs. The last stretch is urban, with traffic lights, roundabouts and plenty of cars, especially on weekend evenings when everyone is heading home. Watch for cameras and bus lanes, and if your bike is older, check the London emission rules.
Richmond has plenty of cafés, pubs and restaurants, fuel on the main roads and good train links into central London. Park up near the green or on the hill, take a short walk to the viewpoint and let the light settle over the river before you head into the city.