The gardens contain a decorative stone bridge crossing a sunken pathway that once allowed residents to walk from the house to the river without crossing the public road.
The central Italian marble fountain features a sculpture of a boy with a dolphin, imported to the site in the early 20th century.
The estate was once home to the Comte de Paris, the pretender to the French throne, during his exile in the late 19th century.
The gardens were acquired by the local council in 1924, effectively preserving them for public use.
The riverfront area is subject to tidal shifts, allowing visitors to see the exposed foreshore of the River Thames at low tide.
York House Gardens is a public riverside park in Twickenham featuring an ornate 19th-century Italianate fountain as its centerpiece. The gardens are part of the grounds of the former York House, an 18th-century mansion that serves as the administrative headquarters for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The site includes a distinctive 'naka-zono' bridge, a remnant of the property's historical links to international residents. The grounds offer direct access to the tidal Thames towpath. Formal lawns are punctuated by mature trees and neoclassical statuary. Visitors can observe the transition from manicured ornamental beds near the house to more informal, naturalized areas along the riverbank.
The view from the top of the stone bridge looking back toward the fountain and the mansion.
Walk through the pedestrian tunnel under Sion Road to see the connection between the formal gardens and the river terrace.
Check the tide tables before visiting if you wish to walk along the Thames foreshore accessible from the garden steps.
The gardens are best enjoyed in combination with a walk along the Thames Path toward nearby Richmond or Teddington.
Do not mistake the municipal office building entrance for the public garden access points.
Visitors are expected to remain on designated paths and keep dogs on leads; climbing on statues and fountains is prohibited.
