2024 Update

Sorry, but the River Thames Visitor Centre (RTVC) is temporarily closed. This is not because we have to be closed; it is because the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (LBRuT) Council has been unreasonably harassing the Visitor Centre for over 12 years now, and we have just had enough.

We won two planning Appeals, one in 2017 and the other in 2021, and we just thought it was time to stop being bullied. We now have a planning Agent who has spent the last year preparing and applying for planning permission for essentially what we already have because the LBRuT has been dishonest about what they had granted.

We hope to have decisions on these applications within the next few months, but we fear this will lead to even more planning Appeals. If you have enjoyed your visit to the RTVC in the past and wish to come again and mess about on the water, then please show your support by writing to Cllr.G.Roberts@richmond.gov.uk, Cllr.J.Cardy@richmond.gov.uk and copy in email@riverthamesvisitorcentre.com.

Many thanks, as this will help us provide a better visitor experience in the future.

See you soon.

Towards the new season

Please click Hours in the menu above to check our opening times to avoid disappointment.

Welcome to the RTVC - A pioneer in social enterprise

The River Thames Visitor Centre is a 'Social Enterprise' project which aims to provide a location on the River Thames for the benefit of the general public, to raise environmental awareness, support exhibitions & educational material and a waterside social gathering place for interested groups and people.

It also provides a base for its work on the protection and enhancement of Richmond upon Thames, the home for River User Group RUG for its work on the the Tidal Thames and the location for UKgenius, a social, environmental and economic innovation project, EcoSHEQ environmental consultants and The Institute of Life, providing training to help people be prepared for life. www.lifeism.uk

Please enjoy the use of this website and its information. As always we will be updating and developing additional features throughout the coming year.