Richmond Palace

Richmond Palace is a former Tudor residence along the Thames, of which three buildings remain today: the Gate House, the Wardrobe building, and the Trumpeter's House. These structures stand at the edge of Richmond Green and give a sense of the complex's former scale.

Henry VII built the palace after the fire of its predecessor Shene Palace in 1499 and gave it his own Yorkshire title. After the death of Charles I, Parliament sold the property in 1649, after which most buildings were demolished and the materials reused.

The name Richmond comes from Henry VII's original title as Earl of Richmond in Yorkshire, which he gave to his new residence. The Gate House still displays his coat of arms and shows the architectural preferences of the Tudor period.

The buildings are easily visible from the Thames riverbank, and visitors can freely view the outer facades and the adjacent green space. The site is centrally located in Richmond and can be reached on foot within a few minutes from the town center.

Henry VII's daughter Margaret Tudor married James IV of Scotland here, a union that later led to the uniting of the English and Scottish crowns. This diplomatic marriage took place in a chapel that no longer exists today.