Bridge House Gardens

Place to come to watch people watching people. See and be seen. The gardens are nothing special, but a path down to the River, historical yes. Rich in history. Nowadays, it has free chairs under the huge tree, and the beauty of this spot, the Tides Cafe (under the arch of Richmond Bridge). They also share this special place. Don't be intimidated in thinking it belongs to them. It is a shared space. You can order their delicious food and snacks and drinks (including wine) or bring your own. The afternoon views of the river, sunset and above all, the bustling life below the 2 meter high wall you stand on. You do get a singer or two, to add a background to the atmospheric area. Please note the cafe takes their chair after closing, but still a place to stay into the night. Open 24hrs.

Love it

A beautiful corner of Richmond next to the river.

WHERE ARE YOU WILLIAM?

William walks the Thameside path
to skirt the Whitecross public house
beside the bankside boats
some covered by their winter canvas coats
and strewn with planks and dollies
some sitting on their two-wheel trolleys
waiting for the spring to feel
Thame’s warmer water flow beneath the keel.

Facing winter's waning sun,
eyes shielded to the glory of this scene:
the river's mirror-flow reflecting stream of light
from noon's fast fading glow
soon yielding to the cold-moon night,
William's eyes cast low.

He stoops beside a rowing shell
within an upright skiff, both scattered
with a jumbled mess of river planks
and sundry bits of winch and empty cans
discarded litter from the office lunch
all thrown and messed within the hull.

Reaching down to rummage litter in this boat
All damp and drowned within its rain-filled sump,
William spies a bottle,
which, when lifting to the sun his precious prize
reveals a drop or two of amber dregs,
like gold from silty river beds
made sun-bright treasure to his eyes
soon tucked beneath his coat.

In shame he takes his find
and makes the lesser path behind
the arch where shadows grant his hope
of draining all to thirsty throat
and drowning out his troubled mind.

With bottle held in trembling grip
Will tilts this nectar to his lips,
with care to spill none to the ground
til no more drops are found
and then he slings this empty vessel
to make an echoed river splash
beneath the bridge's shadowed arch
to sink and meet more river trash.

And never more was glory marred
than by man's hopeless misery,
Nor all God's good so greatly barred
as by Will's shamed iniquity.

A lovely walkway to the river with a nice cafe In it . Usually clean and tidy but a big till, use the steps if it's wet!

Nice gardens by the river

A small public park by the Thames.