Richmond Park in London is totally different spot to visit in this busy city. It is a great place where you can connect with nature and reset your mind. Feel like you are in the countryside.

Forget for a moment about Big Ben, London Eye or Buckingham Palace, because those places everybody knows. Parks do not appear on the postcards from London, which is pity, because we should associate this city with them. Did you know that London is made of 40% public green space?

White Lodge, Richmond Park

The largest of the royal parks in London is a home for a deer. You will not find it anywhere in Europe. Wildlife just a stone’s throw away from city centre. Imagine milions of people visiting London, unaware of this phenomenon. Yeah, it was me among them few years ago…

Fallow Deer, Richmond Park

The Royal Parks of London survived over the centuries, because they were financed by government. Their royal status caused that we can use them until today. The eight Royal Parks in London include: Bushy Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Regent’s Park, St. James’s Park and Richmond Park.

In most of these parks you can find tended beds of flowers, artifical lakes or planted copses of trees. The exception is Richmond Park which remained one of the best examples of a medieval pasture. Instead of beautiful shrubs you will see here long grass, which reflect character of this place. In 1637 Charles I escaped from the outbreak of plague in London and decided to create a deer hunting park. He built a brick wall eight miles long which protected against their escape.

Roe Deer, Richmond Park

Oh, Deer!

Deer have very sensitive hearing, so it is easy to scare them off. Animals in Richmond Park are not so shy, because they got used to humans. Nearly 6 milions of people visit this park every year. Among them are mainly Londoners, but also nature photographers from all over the world.

Roe Deer, Richmond Park

What should you know before visting Richmond Park in London?

You should respect animals and do not come to close to them. Between May and July little fawns are born. During this period you need to be especially carefull and do not approach them. Recommended distance is a minimum 50 meters. Remember that you can always use long lenses to take a great photos.

I think you should be aware of the existing hazard of ticks in this park. It would seem that we just went for a walk, but when we came back home I found four ticks on one of my legs. How to protect yourself from them? Before visiting Richmond Park, be sure to use tick repellent. Remember about proper outfit: long trousers, long sleeve top and hat.

Roe Deer, Richmond Park

The Isabella Plantation

The Isabella Plantation is a woodland garden located in Richmond Park. It is amazing place to admire rhododendrons and azaleas in London. I did not know about this secret garden before, we just came across it. We have visited the Isabella Plantation at the end of the May, so it was a bit late to see →flowers at their peak bloom. The best time to visit this garden is between April and the beginning of May.

Rhododendron flowers

The ponds in this garden are a home for birds such as Coot, Kingfisher, Heron or Mandarin Duck. In their waters are feeding dragonflies, frogs and grass snakes. This is a great place to spend a day out in London.

Mandarin Duck

Opening times

Summer: Vehicle gates are open from 7:00am

Winter: Vehicle gates are open from 7:30am

You can check vehicle gate closing times →here

Pedestrian gates are open 24 hours except November and February (open at 7:30am and close at 8:00pm).

How to get to Richmond Park?

Plan your journey →here if you want to use a public transport.

There are few car parks in Richmond Park, which can be found →here

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