The River Thames Visitor Centre (the first boat up-river from Richmond Bridge) is a 'not for profit' project which aims to raise river awareness by providing educational material and a meeting place for all interested groups and people. It hopes to provide an advisory body for those wishing to enjoy the river: a club around a wide variety of social activities such as music, art, literature as well as a champion in respects of all activities concerned with the river, its banks and environs.

The River Thames Visitor Centre, also the headquarters of the Richmond Environmental Information Centre (REIC), is a good vantage point to see the winners of the Great River Race, an annual event in September, which started in 1988.

The race starts early in the morning at Millwall Riverside, London Docklands. It progresses to Tower Bridge, Westminster Bridge, all the way to Richmond Bridge, finishing at Riverside below Ham House, Richmond. A variety of boats take part including Celtic Longboats, Historic Ships, Boats and Skiff Teams.


London Borough of Richmond upon Thames