FREE Kew to Richmond Towpath Summer Walk!

By popular demand we are AGAIN taking our group outside this summer, for a lovely summer walk on a Sunday. This excursion will be free of charge. We will at one point find a place to eat late Sunday lunch or coffee/tea after our walk.

Meet us at Richmond train station in the main hall, on street level, by the ticket machines at 12:00 noon on Sunday July 5th 2025.
We will be taking the very frequent bus 65 from Richmond station together so it is important that you are on time. Best thing is to arrive early! (aim for 11:30 perhaps)
The Kew to Richmond Towpath Walk

We are taking you a different route this year (2026): Trade the city bustle for a scenic, historic journey along the River Thames. This stunning trail takes us from Kew Bridge to Richmond Bridge, seamlessly blending royal heritage, wild nature, and vibrant waterside culture. Here is a glimpse of what awaits us on this riverside stroll:
We escape into a peaceful, canopy-shaded path running alongside the iconic Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. On our left, we pass the historic red-brick Kew Palace, and look across the river to admire the grand Syon House and its picturesque, rose-pink boathouse. We'll also track the wild sanctuary of Isleworth Ait and the historic Tudor-era London Apprentice pub across the water.

We'll see the landscape open up into Old Deer Park, where we shall literally walk right across King George III’s 1769 meridian line, marked by historic stone obelisks. Soon after, we'll reach the magnificent Richmond Lock and Footbridge (1894)—a Grade II listed milestone where we can admire intricate Victorian ironwork from the Surrey bank.
We then transition from quiet nature into elegant town life. We pass the striking 1760s Palladian villa, Asgill House, before stepping onto the vibrant, multi-tiered Richmond Riverside promenade. We pass the White Cross Pub — where high spring tides sometimes flood the beer garden, stranding patrons — before finishing our journey at the Tide Tables Cafe under the elegant stone arches of Richmond Bridge, London's oldest surviving bridge over the Thames.

Our warm and welcoming community since 2018
As well as being a Men’s Peer Support Group for Self-Discovery-Share-Discuss, this group has since 2018 also focused on the social aspect, and the fact that we are offering a friendly, safe, welcoming and caring community for gay and bi-sexual men. This is a place where we can meet other men, who at least on some level have a very similar life experience to ourselves. In this group we are encouraged to share and discuss how we experience our lives; but also sharing our differences as well as similarities. We are always more than interested in hearing your view and your understanding of what it is like to be a gay or bi-sexual man in this part of the world, and beyond.

We really look forward to seeing you for a nice relaxing Sunday along the riverside in Richmond. New faces are ALWAYS welcome, as much as our familiar members. Big hug Dan

Where we meet (important):
We meet at 12:00 in the main hall of Richmond Station (zone 4) at street level near the ticket machines. Please be punctual. Watch out for potential engineering works affecting South West Trains. The best rail service from London Waterloo to Richmond is the 11:39, arriving at 11:58. Richmond is also at the western end of the District Line and the Mildmay Line (formerly the Overground). Those who prefer to use the underground (District Line, Richmond branch) should check with TfL for last-minute engineering works. The service that leaves Embankment at 11:06 arrives at Richmond at 11:46. There are toilets on Richmond Station adjacent to Platform 7.

If it rains (please note):
If it is terrible weather with a lot of rain, we may postpone the walk, to the following week to Sunday july 12th, in which case you would be notified the day before. It is therefore important that you sign up for this FREE walk ,so that we can see that you are going to attend and we can write to you.