I am a USA citizen my wife is Thai. We have been invited to England in Jan 2013. Wife has only 1 trip outside Thailand and that was to Malaysia.

Meeting up with a Friend from USA who's mother lives near London (Richmond). Friend’s mother has offered to sponsor my wife for visa (house. food, transportation, etc. Staying about 10 days. Any advice on the process or getting her a visa. Thank you for any response.

Plenty of advice here http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/446602-uk-visit-visa-basics/ have a read through and come back if you have any specific questions.

Basically your wife needs to convince the ECO, who decides on application, that the visit is genuine, affordable and that she will leave the UK/return home at the conclusion of the visit.

Can be cold in the UK in January.

Edit: the sponsor will need to provide her financial details indicating that she can afford to meet the costs of the trip, and reasons why she is doing so.

Never mind cold in january its cold now

winter draws on if you want some jumpers and a jacket the wf.has plenty unless the moths have had them