Coordinates: 51°27′22″N 0°18′04″W / 51.456°N 0.301°W / 51.456; -0.301

Richmond is a town in south west London, England and is part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is located 8.2 miles (13.2 km) west-southwest of Charing Cross.

The founding and naming of Richmond followed the Tudor building of Richmond Palace early in the 16th century. During this era the town was particularly associated with Elizabeth I. The development of Richmond as a London suburb then began with the opening of the railway station in 1846. It was formerly part of the ancient parish of Kingston upon Thames in the county of Surrey and it became a municipal borough in 1890 that was enlarged in 1892 and 1933. It has formed part of Greater London since 1965.

Richmond is a much sought after residential location, and among the most wealthy areas in the United Kingdom. It is also a significant commercial and upmarket retail centre, and has a developed day and evening economy. The town is located on a meander of the River Thames, with a large number of parks and open spaces, including Richmond Park, and many protected conservation areas. Richmond is noted for its high quality of life, as well as its affluence, and has been assessed as one of the happiest places in which to live in the UK.

London ⁱ/ˈlʌndən/ is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its square-mile mediaeval boundaries. Since at least the 19th century, the name London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of this conurbation forms the London region and the Greater London administrative area, governed by the elected Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is the world's leading financial centre alongside New York City and has the fifth-largest city GDP in the world (and the largest in Europe). London has been described as a world cultural capital. It was the world's most visited city during 2011 and London Heathrow is the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers. London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education in Europe. In 2012 London will become the first city to host the modern Summer Olympic Games three times.