Nighttime view of highway going past Richmond train station

We love Richmond

Life at VCU

All about Richmond

First things first. We fondly refer to Richmond as RVA.

People love this city. Because it’s awesome. And Virginia Commonwealth University is in the middle of it all.

What others say about RVA

The city is our classroom

VCU’s downtown Richmond location provides loads of unique educational opportunities for our students. From service-learning projects to internships at local businesses to visits to state government offices, our students are constantly learning from the city they call home.

The city is our playground

Going to college in the city is completely different from going to a school with a more isolated, traditional campus. There’s so. much. to. do. And Richmond isn’t just any city. It’s got character. A state capital with an unlikely mix of qualities — historic, artsy, food-obsessed, Southern, diverse, laid-back — it has just the right dose of grittiness to give it an edge.

  1. Arts and culture
  2. Cityscapes
  3. Food
  4. Recreation
  5. Events
    • Exterior of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

      VMFA
      The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is internationally recognized for its ambitious special exhibitions drawn from the world’s finest public and private art collections, as well as for its permanent collection and architecture.

    • Exterior of the National

      The National
      On the Register of Historic Places, the National began life in 1923 as a vaudeville venue and now offers year-round concerts by nationally known rock and alternative bands.

    • A Shakespeare play being performed outside

      Shakespeare at Agecroft
      Every summer, the Richmond Shakespeare Festival takes place outdoors in the lovely setting of historic Agecroft Hall, parts of which were shipped from its original location in England to Richmond in the 1920s.

    • Musicians playing on the street

      First Fridays
      Steps from campus, First Fridays lights up the Arts District with bustling crowds taking in lively entertainment and art exhibits on the first Friday of each month.

    • Dancers leaping through the air

      Richmond Ballet
      Dancers with the internationally acclaimed Richmond Ballet perform in The Rite of Spring, by Salvatore Aiello. Photo by Sarah Ferguson.

    • Exterior of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture

      Virginia Museum of History and Culture
      The Virginia Museum of History and Culture, which combines a history museum, research library and educational facilities, offers a collection of nearly nine million items telling the story of Virginia.

    • Altria Theater at night.

      Altria Theater
      Located across the street from Monroe Park and nestled into VCU’s Monroe Park Campus, the historic Altria Theater hosts a large variety of events including Broadway productions, comedians and concerts. Photo courtesy of Altria Theater.

    • Gallery space inside the Institute for Contemporary Art showing bright-colored spools of thread attached to the walls

      ICA
      VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art opened in 2018 and presents an ever-changing slate of exhibitions, performances, films and special programs. Admission is free.

    • A cyclist rides a bike along the Canal Walk.

      Canal Walk
      The bike- and pedestrian-friendly Canal Walk stretches 1.25 miles in downtown Richmond and offers canal cruise tours.

    • VCU MCV Campus skyline at night

      MCV skyline at night
      VCU's MCV Campus is home to state-of-the-art medical facilities and educational buildings in the heart of downtown Richmond.

    • Tredegar Lincoln statue

      Tredegar Lincoln statue
      This statue, located at Tredegar Iron Works, commemorates the historic visit of President Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad to Richmond in 1865 to tour the Capital of the Confederacy after it had been burned.

    • Exterior of Virginia State Capitol

      State Capitol
      The Virginia State Capitol, designed in 1785 by Thomas Jefferson and Charles Louis Clerisseau, was completed in 1800 and remains in use by lawmakers today.

    • A person reclines in a chair in front of a lit-up fountain at night

      Monroe Park at night
      The 7.5-acre park on the east end of VCU's Monroe Park Campus reopened after extensive renovations in 2018.

    • Exterior of Main Street Station

      Main Street Station
      Richmond’s downtown train station, where passengers can catch Amtrak trains that take them to destinations such as New York, Boston and Virginia Beach, has been one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks since it opened in 1901.

    • Graves at Hollywood Cemetery

      Hollywood Cemetery
      Designed in 1847, Hollywood Cemetery is the final resting place of two American Presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler. A popular tourist destination, the cemetery's paths wind through 135 acres of valleys and hills.

    • Exterior of the Science Museum

      Science Museum
      The Science Museum of Virginia, housed in a former train station designed by the famous architect John Russell Pope, sits grandly just outside the Fan, a neighborhood consisting of late 19th- and early 20th-century homes.

    • Carytown restaurants and shops at dusk

      Carytown shopping
      The Carytown shopping district boasts a wide array of boutiques and eateries for every taste, many of them independently owned, as well as a 1928 theater where moviegoers can catch second-run films for $4 a ticket.

    • Richmond skyline with fall foliage

      Fall foliage/river/skyline
      Richmond shows its vibrant colors during the peak of fall foliage.

    • Cobblestone street and historic buildings

      Shockoe Slip
      In the shadow of Richmond’s Financial District, Shockoe Slip bustles with independent restaurants, shops and small businesses lining its cobblestone streets.

    • Woman sitting in park looking at view of James River

      Libby Hill Park
      When William Byrd II formed a new town on the falls of the James River in 1737, the vista from the northern bank — seen here from Libby Hill Park in Church Hill — reminded him of the view in England’s Richmond upon Thames, a suburb of London. He named the new town Richmond.

    • Pedestrians walk past Lift Cafe

      Lift
      Located on Broad Street between VCU’s two main campuses, Lift is a coffee shop and cafe selling locally roasted organic and fairly traded coffees.

    • People dining in the cafe at Can Can

      Can Can
      Can Can Brasserie is a French restaurant and bakery constructed to look and feel as if it has been lifted from the Left Bank of Paris, circa 1900, and dropped into the heart of Carytown.

    • People dining at 821 Cafe

      821 Cafe
      Located near the intersection of West Cary and South Cherry streets, local restaurant 821 Café serves as a popular hangout for VCU students.

    • Pedestrians walk past the Daily Kitchen

      The Daily Kitchen & Bar
      The Daily Kitchen & Bar, located in Carytown, focuses on health-conscious, environmentally friendly and socially responsible foods, and offers many vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and paleo options.

    • Exterior of Urban Farmhouse

      Urban Farmhouse
      The Urban Farmhouse Market & Café in Shockoe Slip offers a rustic, airy interior and a menu of seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.

    • People eating at a Food Truck Court

      Food Truck court
      The Richmond Food Truck Court co-op routinely gathers in various locations around the city to provide delicious and innovative fare outdoors.

    • Baseball stadium

      The Diamond
      Fans at The Diamond take in a late-season baseball game between the New Britain Rock Cats and the Flying Squirrels, Richmond’s own Double-A team.

    • People walking down bike path

      Bike trail
      The 52-mile Virginia Capital Trail for bicyclists and pedestrians links Richmond to Jamestown and Williamsburg.

    • Woman walking over stepping stones in pond

      Maymont pond
      At Richmond’s Maymont estate, visitors can explore Italian and Japanese gardens, a mansion museum, arboretum, carriage collection, native wildlife exhibits and more.

    • Two men kayaking in rapids of James River

      Kayaking rapids
      The James River offers thrilling kayaking and paddleboarding adventures on its Class III and IV whitewater rapids.

    • Pond in front of a greenhouse

      Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
      Recognized as one of the top gardens in the U.S., Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens offers 50 acres of natural beauty and includes a large glass conservatory, a rose garden, an interactive children's garden and more.

    • Belle Isle pedestrian bridge

      Belle Isle pedestrian bridge
      The Belle Isle pedestrian bridge, suspended under the Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge, provides access to the popular 65-acre James River island known for its mountain biking, running, sunbathing and hiking.

    • Students in woods wearing hiking backpacks

      Hiking and camping
      There are plenty of options for hiking and camping in the Richmond area and nearby, from the James River Park System to Pocahontas State Park.

    • Four VCU students play pingpong in the park

      Pingpong
      A concrete pingpong table in Monroe Park allows students and other park-goers to test their skills.

    • A cyclist rides past the Jefferson Hotel along East Franklin Street

      Bike lanes
      Richmond has made recent efforts to be more bike-friendly, and many streets have bike-designated lanes, including Franklin Street near the state capitol.

    • Tents and crowds of people at the Richmond Folk Festival

      Folk Festival
      Held each October, the Richmond Folk Festival routinely draws crowds of more than 200,000 to the riverfront to take in an incredible lineup of international performers.

    • VCU Health team members staff a booth at PrideFest

      VA PrideFest
      A day of festivities on Brown’s Island each September, the VA PrideFest is the largest celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in the commonwealth.

    • Runners in marathon

      Monument Avenue 10k
      Broad Street fills with participants for the annual Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k, Richmond’s popular road race that also helps raise money for the VCU Massey Cancer Center.

    • People attending the Watermelon Festival on Cary St.

      Watermelon Festival
      The Carytown Watermelon Festival offers great sales, interesting activities and, of course, sweet and juicy. 

    • A large group of people stands on and in front of the stage at the Byrd Theatre

      French Film Festival
      Every year, VCU and the University of Richmond host what is billed as the largest French film festival in the U.S., and many actors and filmmakers present their work and engage the audience in Q&A sessions after the screenings.

    • Holiday lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

      Dominion GardenFest of Lights
      Each year during this holiday tradition, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is decked out in more than half a million twinkling lights and creative holiday displays.

    • Runners crossing the finish line

      Richmond Marathon
      Known as "America's Friendliest Marathon," the Richmond Marathon takes place each November and winds through Richmond, passing historic architecture, river views and parks along the way.

    • Spectators watching extreme sports at festival

      Dominion Riverrock
      An athlete performs at Dominion Riverrock, a three-day outdoor sports and music festival on Brown’s Island.

    • Boats in the James River decorated with dragons

      Dragon Boat Festival
      Human-powered, 40-foot canoes decorated with ornate Chinese dragon heads race along the James River during the annual Dragon Boat Festival.

    • Man reaching for drink at food festival tent

      Broad Appetit
      At the annual festival Broad Appétit, Richmonders and out-of-towners alike sample the best dishes that the city’s restaurants have to offer, while also enjoying art and music.

Quick Facts

1737 year founded

Capital of Virginia

1.2 million+ population in Richmond metropolitan area

Patrick Henry made his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech here

A river runs through us

Richmond is the only city in the country with Class III and IV rapids roaring through downtown. But if you’re looking for a calmer form of recreation, the James River offers that, too, from fishing and swimming to hiking the trails of the river’s park system or sunbathing on the rocks. It’s an outdoor lover’s playground.

Richmond gets to work

Not only is Richmond a great place to live, it’s also a great place to work, and many of our graduates stick around and start their careers here, whether it’s at the state government, a Fortune 500 company or a startup. Here are some well-known companies where our students have found employment. *Number in parentheses indicates Fortune 500 ranking.

  • Altria (#165)
  • Arko Holdings (#498)
  • Capital One (#108)
  • Carmax (#174)
  • Dominion Energy (#257)
  • Genworth Financial (#434)
  • Markel (#289)
  • Martin Agency
  • Owens & Minor (#361)
  • Performance Food Group (#112)
  • Westrock 

Our neighborhoods

  • Historic row houses

    Carver

    North of VCU, the Carver neighborhood was settled by Eastern European immigrants in the 1840s and became a thriving African-American community by the turn of the 20th century. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this neighborhood has a diverse population, which includes many VCU students. Carver's neighborhood association joined VCU in establishing the Carver-VCU Partnership in 1996 to address long-term community development.

  • Pedestrians walking past musician playing violin on Cary St.

    Carytown

    Carytown is an urban retail district lining Cary Street at the southern end of the Museum District. The area caters to a diverse clientele with a plethora of independent boutiques and eclectic eateries offering a wide range of styles and prices. It is also home to one of the city’s beloved institutions, the Byrd Theatre, a restored movie palace that has operated continuously since 1928 and shows second-run films for $4 a pop.

     

  • Park with view of Richmond skyline

    Church Hill

    Overlooking downtown Richmond, Church Hill is the oldest intact residential area in the city. Here you can find historic St. John’s Church, where Patrick Henry gave his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech. The neighborhood boasts the Chimborazo Medical Museum, which recounts Chimborazo Park’s history as a Civil War hospital, beautiful townhomes displaying a variety of architectural styles and a slew of hip, critically acclaimed eateries.

  • Brick row houses with fall foliage.

    The Fan

    Bordering the west side of campus, the historic Fan neighborhood features a mix of architectural styles such as Colonial Revival and Queen Anne and spans 85 blocks laid out in a fan shape. A popular place for VCU students to live, the neighborhood has many restaurants and shops that cater to a variety of tastes. It is also home to the iconic and controversial Monument Avenue, where protests resulted in the removal of Confederate statues in summer 2020.

  • Historic brick row houses

    Jackson Ward

    In the center of downtown lies Jackson Ward, a historically African-American neighborhood and National Historic Landmark District. Home to 19th- and 20th-century urban row houses, where many VCU students live, the neighborhood also boasts a museum dedicated to Maggie L. Walker, the first woman to charter and serve as president of an American bank. First Fridays, Richmond’s long-standing monthly art walk, includes galleries located in Jackson Ward.

  • Exterior of an old brick warehouse

    Manchester

    Manchester is an industrial and residential area directly south and across the James River from downtown Richmond. Currently an area of rapid growth, the neighborhood is seeing numerous old warehouses and industrial structures transformed into interesting, attractive spaces for work and living. You’ll also find art galleries, a local brewery and the Manchester Wall, a 60-foot granite climbing wall.

  • People dining outside the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

    Museum District

    The Museum District, sometimes known as West of the Boulevard, is located just west of the Fan district and north of Carytown. It is anchored by the contiguous six-block tract of museums along the west side of Boulevard, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Virginia Historical Society, hence the name. You’ll also find a smattering of small restaurants, food shops and boutiques among its charming streets.

  • Two women walking past shops

    Near West End

    To the western edge of the Richmond city limits, the Near West End offers a peaceful suburban neighborhood just minutes from downtown. Here you’ll find the University of Richmond, as well as the Libbie and Grove shopping district, which includes cafés and restaurants, in addition to upscale clothing and home boutiques.

  • Woman walking two dogs in park

    Northside

    Consisting of multiple historic neighborhoods north of Broad Street, Northside offers homes in a wide variety of architectural styles, ranging from quaint bungalows to opulent Ginter Park mansions. The area also includes Joseph Bryan Park, Richmond International Raceway and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, as well as the campuses of Virginia Union University and Union Presbyterian Seminary.

  • Woman watering plants in front of historic house

    Oregon Hill

    Located close to the James River and just south of VCU, Oregon Hill originated as a working-class Victorian neighborhood. A tight-knit community, the neighborhood works to keep its identity with directed restoration and revitalization efforts. Here, you’ll find several popular restaurants, as well as the park-like Hollywood Cemetery, the final resting place of two American presidents and six Virginia governors.

  • Two people walking past outdoor dining area at restaurant

    Scott’s Addition

    After spending most of the 20th century as an industrial area, in recent years Scott’s Addition has experienced a rebirth. Many former warehouses have been converted to loft-style apartments, restaurants, coffee shops and an ever-increasing number of breweries, cideries and even a meadery. Several shops sell antiques and vintage wares, and the Bow Tie movie theater, housed in a refurbished warehouse, is in easy walking distance.

  • Cafe on a cobblestone street

    Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom

    Located downtown, these neighborhoods are two of the city’s oldest. Shockoe Slip boasts cobblestone streets, restaurants, shops and the Shockoe Design District. Traveling eastward, Shockoe Bottom’s deep economic roots are seen in its huge tobacco warehouses, factories, shop fronts and the 17th Street Farmers’ Market. Formerly neglected warehouses have been renovated, and the area is now a hub of restaurants, nightlife, apartments and businesses.

  • Houses with green lawns

    Westover Hills and Woodland Heights

    Located directly south of the James River, across the Nickel Bridge from the city’s Fan District, these areas began as trolley-car neighborhoods in the early 1900s. Here, you’ll find well-established restaurants and businesses, as well as Forest Hill Park, now home to a popular weekly farmer’s market. The neighborhoods offer a number of houses with river views, as well as a variety of trails within the James River Park System.

Road trip!

We think you’ll love it here. But if you need the occasional getaway, there are lots of great places to visit less than a two-hour drive from Richmond, from sandy beaches to the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains.

Lincoln Memorial

Washington, D.C.

Head north two hours to the nation’s capital and check out the White House, monuments, free museums, top-notch restaurants, plays at the Kennedy Center and more. Read more
Colonial hats

Colonial Williamsburg

Get your history fix by making a one-hour drive to Williamsburg and immersing yourself in 18th-century American life. Read more
starfish in the sand

Virginia Beach

Grab your swimsuit and some sunscreen and spend your day in the ocean, riding a bike on the boardwalk or eating fresh seafood, just two hours from RVA. Read more
view of blue-tinted mountains

Wintergreen Ski Resort

This mountain retreat two hours away offers skiing, snowboarding, tubing and ice-skating during the winter season, but it’s a beautiful place to visit all year-round. Read more

Richmond resources

Note: This site contains links to external (non-VCU) websites. VCU does not endorse these commercial providers or their products, nor is it responsible for the privacy practices or content of such websites.

Nobody loves their community like VCU loves Richmond.

Melissa Stamp
Mass communications
Class of 2018

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