Petersham Nurseries, London

#beginagainTravel

Jun 21

When we planned our recent trip to London, there was no doubt in my mind about where our first stop would be. We booked lunch at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond well in advance to ensure we had a reservation at the Restaurant. It was not my first time at Petersham Nurseries; I was a regular when we lived in Surrey, taking every opportunity to shop, eat, and enjoy their workshops. I equate Petersham Nurseries as one of those places that is ‘too cool for school,” a lifestyle brand for the eclectic heart who loves art, antiques, gardens, and one-of-a-kind furniture. Add delicious food, a beautiful setting, and soulful energy, and you have my kind of place, a place where I can expect the unexpected.

Speaking of unexpected, Mr. H and I nearly jumped out of our seats when Michael McIntyre and his wife sat down a few tables away from us for lunch. Michael is an English comedian who manages to send our family into shrills of laughter before he has even said his first word. We enjoyed watching him from the first week we moved to London ten years ago, and that love is still going strong from Tahilla Farm. He is like comfort food in our family; every time we gather, we all agree it is Michael McIntyre time, and we always start with The Man Draw. If you are wondering if we ran up to his table and blurted out everything I just wrote…we didn’t. We were perfect models of restraint, taking cues from fellow English patrons who did the same. But I did manage to text message our kids throughout lunch. They were as excited as we were.

Let me back up to how we got there.

We walked down the lane from our hotel, The Stafford, to take the Tube from Green Park station to Richmond via Victoria. If you take the tube to Richmond, I suggest you go to the information booth to confirm the directions to Petersham Nurseries. We took a 20-30 minute stroll (allowing extra time for photographs) along the Thames Path. We walked through Petersham Meadows, a 24-acre water meadow along the River Thames in Petersham. If it is your first visit to the area, I highly recommend you stop in at Ham House and Gardens, a National Trust property just beyond Petersham Nurseries. It is perfect for an afternoon wander. A special note, between April and October, the meadow is visited by a grazing herd chosen for their character and suitability to graze a site with many visitors. So remember, Mind the Cows.

I will leave you with a few photos….ok, a lot of photos. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to write to me. I am happy to answer questions!

From my travels to Petersham Nurseries in Petersham, London. I highly recommend a visit!