Waterloo To Richmond: Easy Step-By-Step Guide (2023)

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Looking for the best ways to get from Waterloo to Richmond? You’re in the right place! Waterloo is the perfect starting point in Central London when travelling to Richmond, and this post explains how to travel between the two!

So why travel from Waterloo to Richmond? Well, Richmond is known for being one of the prettiest and most quintessential parts of the city.

From side alleys decorated with colourful bunting and fairy lights, century-old pubs, riverside restaurants and boat rides to iconic attractions such as Kew Gardens and Hampton Court, Richmond is a must for anyone wanting to feel like they’ve escaped to the countryside.

But if you’re new to London, or are just visiting for a few days, navigating the tubes/trains/buses and other modes of transport (did you know you can travel by boat?!) can be overwhelming. And that’s where I come in!

So, let’s discuss all of the possible ways to travel from Waterloo to Richmond and start planning your amazing trip to London!

Still have a question about travelling from Waterloo to Richmond? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!

🇬🇧 Other Southwest London posts:

• Best Pubs in Richmond, London: A Local’s Guide
• Wimbledon To Richmond: Step-By-Step Guide
• Putney To Richmond, London: Step-By-Step Guide

Waterloo to Richmond: A Summary

The journey between Waterloo and Richmond in London is roughly 10 miles (16 km), depending on the way you are travelling between the two. 

If you are driving between Waterloo and Richmond, it will take around 50-60 minutes. However, driving in London can be chaotic, and it can take a lot longer with traffic!

The quickest and most popular way to travel between the two locations is by a 15-minute train journey from Waterloo. Waterloo is one of the biggest stations in London; with overground trains running to locations all over Southwest London and beyond.

In summary, there are four main ways to get from Waterloo to Richmond London. These options are:

• Train (recommended)
• Tube
• Bus
• Car/taxi

Walking between the two locations is possible, but will take over three hours. So unless you want an exceptionally long walk to Richmond, I’d avoid walking!

Cycling is also another option, and takes just over an hour. If you want to hire a bike in London, I recommend using this company if you’re staying for more than a few days. It’s a lot easier to book a bike for a block duration rather than hiring Santander (Boris) bikes multiple times (they are such a faff!)

But if you’re only in London for a short time, we have both Santander and Lime bikes for hire all over the city!

⚠️ 🌳 Note that Richmond Park is not near Richmond train station. Keep reading or skip to the section ‘getting to Richmond Park‘ if that is what you are looking for.

1) Waterloo to Richmond by train

The easiest way to reach Richmond from Waterloo is via the mainline train (note; this is NOT the London Underground).

From Waterloo mainline station, check the boards to find a train running to Richmond. Trains run throughout the day; leaving every 10-20 minutes or so. The platform also changes frequently, so be sure to double-check the electronic boards and the TFL/Google Map updates on your phone if you are unsure.

From Waterloo, the train journey to Richmond is around 15-17 minutes. Trains are modern, clean and comfortable, so sit back and relax!

🏉 Travelling on a rugby day? Expect the trains to be full of sports fans travelling to Twickenham Station. Everything from vintage rugby shirts and fancy dress goes. Carriages will be full of fans singing, chanting and drinking beer. Don’t board a train that passes through Twickenham if you’d like to avoid this!

🦉 TOP TIP: In London, we refer to the London Underground as the ‘tube’, and the mainline overground lines as the ‘train’. Your contactless card can be used on both (unless you are travelling to a city outside of London i.e. Brighton, where you’ll need to buy a specific ticket).

2) Waterloo to Richmond by tube

Getting from Waterloo to Richmond via the tube is a little long-winded, but not impossible. It will take at least 50 minutes (which is 30 minutes longer than the train, so I don’t recommend it unless there are delays or issues with the mainline trains).

If you do need to get the tube from Waterloo to Richmond for any reason, you will need to:

• Walk to the Jubilee Line (the grey line) inside Waterloo Station. It is down the escalators and near McDonald’s.
• Board a tube towards Stanmore, and depart at Westminster.
• Change for the District Line tube (the dark green line) at Westminster.
• Board the tube to Richmond. Note you must get a District Line that is labelled ‘Richmond’. All others have separate routes that will not go to Richmond.

Remember you can use your contactless card to pay for the London Underground. You only need to tap in once (at Waterloo) and tap out once (at Richmond). Oyster Cards can still be used, but are no longer needed.

3) Waterloo to Richmond by bus

Taking the bus from Waterloo to Richmond is a last resort. This is only if all trains are delayed, and there’s no possible way to get the tube.

Why? Well, the bus between Waterloo and Richmond can take over 2 hours (or more if there’s traffic). TFL route planner will help with the best bus routes at the time you are visiting, but if you want an ‘easy’ route, I recommend:

• Boarding the 77 towards Tooting Station from Waterloo/York Street bus stop
• Departing the bus at Clapham Junction bus stop M, and changing to the 337. This takes you all the way to Richmond.

For buses in London, you need to pay with either your contactless card or Oyster card. They do not accept cash.

4) Waterloo to Richmond by car

Alternatively, you can drive between Waterloo and Richmond, or jump in a taxi. If you’re fortunate enough to have hired a car in London, you can easily drive between Waterloo and Richmond in under an hour, unless you get stuck in the dreaded London traffic.

The drive will take you from Waterloo, and via Chelsea and Hammersmith to reach Richmond. It’s worth looking on Google Maps before doing the journey to check which is quicker.

Parking in Richmond can be chaotic, so make sure you have a car park in mind before heading off. Our favourite place to park is near Richmond Green, as there are usually spaces at the side of the green most times of the day.

Ubers in London are readily available within minutes. They’re safe, cheap and easy to use. Or, if you’d like to experience a traditional Black Cab, you can hail one from the side of the road, or order one on the Gett app.

Getting to Richmond Park from Waterloo

As previously mentioned, Richmond Park is not in the same location as Richmond Station. From Richmond station, you will either need to walk for around 20 minutes or jump on a bus.

Option 1: Get a train to Richmond Station, then board the 371 bus towards Kingston. Depart at the American University (near Richmond Hill), and walk 5-10 minutes to the Richmond Park entrance.

Option 2: Get a train to Putney station. From there, board the 85 bus towards Kingston, and get off at Robin Hood Lane (stop P). From there, it’s a 5-minute walk to the Richmond Park Roehampton entrance.

More information on Richmond Park coming soon.

Where to stay in Richmond

If you want to stay in Richmond whilst visiting London, here are some of my favourite accommodations and top picks:

• Comfortable modern apartments: located just 500m from Richmond town centre. The perfect space for solo travellers or couples! ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• The Selwyn: for a beautiful hotel stay in Richmond. ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

• Richmond Riverside Apartment: for couples or small groups wanting to stay along the River Thames in a modern and well-located apartment! ➡ CHECK PRICES NOW!

Waterloo to Richmond: FAQs

1) How long is it from Waterloo to Richmond?

The mainline train from Waterloo to Richmond takes only 17 minutes.

2) How long does it take to get from Richmond to Waterloo by tube?

The tube (Jubilee and District line) takes around 50 minutes. If you are travelling from Waterloo to Richmond, your best bet is the mainline train. This takes only 17 minutes and is direct from Waterloo.

3) Is there a tube from Richmond?

Yes. The District Line (London Underground tube) is in Richmond.

4) What train line goes to Richmond Station?

Richmond is on both the mainline overground line (Southwestern Rail) and the District line (the dark green London Underground line).

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If you’ve been putting off researching the best travel insurance companies, I get it, it takes a long time. But it’s my job to make your travels as easy and as successful as possible, so that’s why I’ve done all the hard work and research for you!

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Waterloo to Richmond: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about travelling from Waterloo to Richmond! When you’re planning a trip to London, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at real-life travellers wanting authentic and down-to-earth information. 

I’m currently balancing travelling around the world and living in London with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more London content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇬🇧 Other Southwest London posts:

• Best Pubs in Richmond, London: A Local’s Guide
• Wimbledon To Richmond: Step-By-Step Guide
• Putney To Richmond, London: Step-By-Step Guide
• 16 Fun Things to do in Richmond, London (By A Local)