Richmond Park Park

Address: Richmond Park, Richmond, London, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park

Hours: Gates generally open 7am-sunset (varies by season)

Admission: Free

Richmond Park is a large royal park in southwest London covering roughly 2,500 acres and managed by The Royal Parks. It is a National Nature Reserve and one of London’s largest green spaces.

The park is popular for walking, cycling, birdwatching and observing free-roaming herds of red and fallow deer; the tree-lined avenues and open grasslands provide extensive recreational space. Notable garden and viewpoint features include the Isabella Plantation and King Henry’s Mound, the latter offering a long protected view toward central London.

Enclosed as a royal hunting ground by Charles I in the 17th century, the park has retained much of its open character and historic deer herds while being adapted for public use over the centuries.

Richmond Park lies in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, about 10 kilometres southwest of central London, bounded by suburban neighbourhoods and accessible by public transport.

• Size and status: The park covers about 2,500 acres and is a designated National Nature Reserve within Greater London.
• Deer: Free-roaming herds of red and fallow deer are a prominent feature; deer counts during the year typically number several hundred individuals.

What to See#

• Isabella Plantation: Isabella Plantation is a wooded ornamental garden within the park, developed in the 19th century and known for rhododendron and azalea displays in spring.
• King Henry’s Mound / viewpoint: King Henry’s Mound is a planted viewpoint that provides a protected sightline across London to St Paul’s Cathedral about 10 miles away.

Richmond Park sits in south‑west London and is best reached from the nearby rail/Underground hubs of Richmond or Kingston. From Richmond station (District line and National Rail) you can walk or take a short local bus/taxi to one of the park’s main gates (Richmond Gate, Ham Gate, Kingston Gate). There are also several parking areas for drivers; many visitors approach on foot or by local bus from surrounding suburbs.

• Visit early morning or late afternoon (dawn/dusk) for the best chance to see the park's red and fallow deer when they are most active and to avoid mid-day visitor crowds.
• Use one of the main car/foot entrances such as Richmond Gate or Kingston Gate to reach different parts of the park quickly-Richmond Gate gives faster access to Richmond Hill and Kingston Gate suits routes toward Isabella Plantation and Roehampton.
• Make time for King Henry's Mound viewpoint (south-west quadrant); it's a protected sightline offering a framed view of St Paul's Cathedral that many casual visitors miss while watching for wildlife.