Richmond Park
London's largest royal park, where hundreds of wild red and fallow deer roam among about 950 hectares of grassland and woodland.
Richmond Park was originally a hunting ground for Charles I. Covering about 955 hectares, it is London's largest royal park and a national nature reserve. Some 600 or more red and fallow deer roam freely, most easily spotted early in the morning and in the evening. In spring, the azaleas and camellias of Isabella Plantation are in bloom. On Henry VIII Mound there is a protected sightline, through which you can use a telescope to view St Paul's Cathedral about 16 km away. Entry is free. The park is generally open all day to pedestrians, and vehicles are usually allowed from sunrise to sunset. Keep at least 50 metres from the deer, especially during the autumn rutting season. Getting there: about a 20-minute walk from Richmond station on the Overground or Underground, or rent a bicycle to explore the park.
Opening hours
Walking access all day (closed overnight during the winter cull period); vehicles about sunrise to sunset; free
Nearby sights
- Kew Gardens
- Hampton Court Palace
- Design Museum
- Notting Hill / Portobello Road Market
- Kensington Palace
- Natural History Museum
- Royal Albert Hall
- Science Museum