In South West London, and a highly desirable place to live, East Sheen sits within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and is known for its leafy streets, its sense of community and its excellent transport links.
Popular with families, professionals, and those looking to retire in style, it has plenty of green space, excellent schools, as well as lots of local amenities. Residents enjoy close proximity to Barnes, Mortlake and Richmond, as well as an array of properties to choose from, from large period homes to contemporary apartments.
What began as a medieval hamlet is now a charming residential suburb, but East Sheen's history is an instrumental part of the area's character today as well.
Creating its own identity
Richmond was originally known as 'Sheen', and unsurprisingly East Sheen took its name from its geographical location in relation to it. When Richmond's name was changed, East Sheen was left as a standalone location. The name 'Sheen', recorded as 'Sceon' around 950, seems to derive from the term 'shelter' - perhaps it was a place for travellers to stop.
Milestone Green
Considered the most likely centre of the original hamlet, Milestone Green still holds pride of place for the suburb. Located at the junction of Sheen Lane with Upper Richmond Road, it features a 1751 protected milestone and remains a community focal point. The location has since been joined by the Mortlake and East Sheen War Memorial, commemorating the local residents who died fighting in the First and Second World Wars.
Making way for more
During the 17th and 18th centuries East Sheen was dominated by a select number of mansions and their vast grounds, but in the 19th century they were divided up to make way for more properties and pretty suburban streets, which have made it the community it is today.
East Sheen offers a wide range of amenities that support a comfortable and active lifestyle for residents of all ages. From independent retailers to outdoor spaces, residents enjoy a varied lifestyle thanks to the mix of local shops and services.
Green spaces
Green spaces are abundant in East Sheen and the surrounding area. It's considered one of the location's greatest assets, from Sheen Common with its bowling green, cricket square, tennis courts and large natural playground; to East Sheen Common, which spans nearly 50 acres of National Trust-managed woodland, open space and sports amenities. Richmond Park – famous for its deer, cycling routes and walking trails - is close by; and Palewell Common and Fields has a range of amenities from a nine-hole pitch and putt course to a Pétanque piste, football pitches, play area, paddling pools, and a cafe.
Sport
Sport and fitness are an integral part of life in East Sheen, with lots of opportunities to enjoy wellness at your own leisure. You might like to play on the tennis courts and sports pitches at Palewell Common, enjoy the cycling routes around Richmond Park, rowing and water sports along the nearby River Thames, as well as lots of local gyms, yoga studios and fitness classes. Shene Sports and Fitness Centre is a hub of the community, while private gyms include the likes of PureGym London East Sheen, and Evolution Fitness London.
Entertainment and culture
While quieter than central London, East Sheen enjoys close proximity to a variety of culture and entertainment, whether you feel like a night at the theatre or community events. Richmond Theatre is not far away, hosting a wide range of shows, as is The Orange Tree Theatre. For the cinema, there's the Odeon East Sheen, or for art galleries you might like to pop into Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham, or Barnes Fine Art Gallery - to name a few. The area also hosts popular community events, not least the Art House Open Studios Festival.
Eating out
East Sheen has a diverse dining scene in the immediate and surrounding area, from independent cafés and brunch spots to casual dining and takeaways. Well-known chains include the likes of Pizza Express, while neighbourhood favourites include Grilandia East Sheen for Lebanese fare, Roebuck on Richmond Hill, Pickle & Rye on Upper Richmond Road, which is also close to Hare & Hounds, or The Plough for a hearty pub lunch.
Shops
The high street in East Sheen is brimming with a variety of shops, from supermarkets like Waitrose and Tesco Express, through to independent boutiques and speciality shops for retail therapy. Popular stores include Cavan Bakery for superb fresh baked goods; Micro Beers - the area's very own tap room; Sheen Bookshop, Valentina Delicatessen, and Forge 1860 - recognised by Guinness as the world’s oldest bicycle brand.
Healthcare
East Sheen is well served by healthcare providers, including GP practices, dental clinics as well as nearby hospitals. It is also within easy reach of central London and the world-class facilities it has to offer.
Local GP practices
Residents can access several GP surgeries in and around East Sheen, offering NHS primary care services. These practices provide routine appointments, preventative care and referrals to specialist services. For example, there's Richmond Medical Group, Sheen Surgery, Dr Jezierski & Partners, The Richmond Doctor, and Dr Johnson & Partners.
Local hospitals
There are a number of hospitals around East Sheen. Nearby NHS hospitals include Kingston Hospital, Molesey Hospital, and Queen Mary's Hospital, while private hospitals include Parkside Hospital and New Victoria Hospital.
Local dentists
A number of NHS and private dental practices operate in East Sheen and the surrounding area, providing general and specialist dental care. Clinics include Sheen Dental, The Park Dental Clinic, Dental Expressions, and Richmond Dental Centre.
Education
Education is one of East Sheen’s strongest draws, with a selection of highly regarded state and independent schools for all age groups making it a popular place for families to settle.
Primary schools
Primary schools in and around East Sheen offer supportive early years education and a strong sense of community. Institutions include East Sheen Primary School, Sheen Mount Primary School, and Thomson House School while surrounding areas including Barnes and Mortlake also have a number of popular schools.
Secondary schools
Secondary schools in East Sheen and close nearby offer a variety of choices from state to independent options. Furthermore, the wider Richmond borough has a number of highly regarded secondary schools. Examples include Richmond Park Academy, and Tower House School for boys.
Specialist or higher education
For those looking for higher education options in and around East Sheen, there's a number of choices, while students can also travel into central London. For example, there's Richmond and Hillcroft Adult and Community College, while Richmond American University London, University of Roehampton, and St Mary's University, Twickenham are close by.
East Sheen and the surrounding Richmond area have several schools with specialist Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) support as well, such as East Sheen Primary School, Hampton Hill Junior School, Heathfield Infant and Junior School, and Teddington School.
Transport
East Sheen is well connected by road, rail and bus, making it a popular as well as practical choice for commuters, as well as those looking to enjoy a work/life balance and access to the culture and entertainment of central London.
Driving in
Driving in East Sheen is easy, although many areas feature 20mph zones due to its highly residential nature, and there are parking restrictions. The A205 South Circular runs through East Sheen, providing access to central London, the M3 and M25 motorways, and Heathrow Airport.
Walking and cycling
One of East Sheen's great attractions is that it's a wonderful place to walk and cycle for both travel and leisure. It offers immediate access to Richmond Park and East Sheen Common, and there's also a lot of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure with more planned.
Travelling by train
While East Sheen does not have its own train station, it's well connected to National Rail services, with Mortlake Station close by providing direct travel to London Waterloo in around half an hour.
Travelling by bus
There are a number of bus routes running through East Sheen, such as the 33, N33, 337 and 493 linking to Richmond, Hammersmith and Putney.
Travelling by boat
With its proximity to Richmond, residents in East Sheen can opt for a cruise down the Thames on River Boat services from Westminster Pier, Kew Pier, Richmond Landing Stage and Hampton Court Landing Stage.
Air travel
East Sheen is ideally located for accessing Heathrow Airport, which is around 40 minutes away by car, as well as Gatwick Airport, which is accessible by road and rail.