Chestertons' Guide to East Sheen

East Sheen’s History

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.

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.