The name “Paradise” is frequently given to roads on the southern side of churches and may well have been the case here as its use would appear to have been of ancient origin. The name was also much used in the immediate vicinity, the 1841 census also including Paradise Row and Place. By 1900 Paradise Vilas had appeared at the corner of St James’s Cottages - the name still appears above a doorway - and Paradise Cottages were reached by a footpath from Paradise Road running between Church Walk and St James’s Cottages. Between 1917 and 1924, Leonard & Virginia Woolf founded and ran The Hogarth Press from Hogarth House (32-34 Paradise Road), originally built in 1748.
Paradise Road runs from the bottom of Mount Ararat Road to Rincon Bar Espanol on the corner of Church Terrace. The first part of the road has four pretty Georgian villas with off-street parking and south-facing gardens. There’s also a doctor’s surgery on this side. Opposite are two blocks of flats, an office block and two semi-detached houses, one being Hogarth House.
The NCP car park joins the two sections of the road and the relatively new Travel Lodge is just a few moments down. In between the two is The Vineyard Passageway, a useful cut-through to the hill via Onslow Road and also the location of the Vineyard Passage Burial Ground.
Further down lies the historic parish church of St Mary Magdalene that has been a place of worship in the centre of Richmond for over 800 years. Whilst significantly altered over time, the church continues to be of great architectural and historical significance. Above all the church continues to play an important part in the religious and social lives of the people of Richmond. There’s standing room only for the Christingle on Christmas Eve.
Just past the church before you get to the River Thames, Paradise Road turns into Red Lion Street where there’s is a row of independent shops and businesses (Raygun comic book shop and Bootcamp Pilates to name but a few), dry cleaners, newsagents, barbers (you may even spot a local resident and Hollywood Actor getting a trim at one of them), bars with live music, an eclectic selection of restaurants and the Odeon cinema. Restaurants include neighbourhood favourite Al Boccon Di’ Vino and newcomer Napoli on the Road. Al Boccon Di’ Vino has a very loyal clientele including many of the Italians living in Richmond. Intimate, traditional Italian restaurant serving multiple courses selected by the chef. Napoli on the Road’s second London restaurant has recently opened its doors. Crowned global pizza-maker of the year at the prestigious 50 Top Pizza World 2023 awards, it’s a great addition to Paradise Road and Richmond’s restaurant scene. Above the commercial premises are a number of one to three bedroom flats.
The Neighbourhood:
In the heart of Richmond town centre, the road is nicely buzzy during the daytime but perhaps surprisingly quiet in the evening. The one way route and 20 mph speed limit, that is in place throughout the borough keeps the road peaceful. Richmond bus station is conveniently located just around the corner on Wakefield Road and the train station with the district line and fast train to Waterloo is only a 4 minute walk away.