Royal Richmond Park
London is home to some of the fantastic parks and open spaces. This little playground plays an important role to de-stress from city's busy schedule and very good playgrounds for children. Royal Richmond Park is the largest Royal Park in London (1,000 hectares/2,500 acres), and home to 650 deer. This pastoral landscape of hills and woodlands set amongst ancient trees, with plants, animals and butterflies, offers a peaceful respite to visitors. Playgrounds at Kingston and Petersham gates, and two golf courses near Roehampton Gate. Educational facilities for those with special needs at Holly Lodge Centre (by appointment). There is fishing available at Pen Ponds, plus horse-riding tracks and a cycling path. Public toilets with disabled access at most main gates. The Isabella Plantation is an organic woodland garden. For eating, choose from Pembroke Lodge, a Georgian mansion with spectacular views and garden seating, Roehampton Café or refreshment kiosks located at main car parks. The Royal Richmond Park has changed little over the centuries and, although it is surrounded by human habitation, the varied landscape of hills, woodland gardens and grasslands set among ancient trees abounds in wildlife. Richmond Park has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve. The royal connections to this park probably go back further than any of the others, beginning with Edward (1272-1307), when the area was known as the Manor of Sheen. The name was changed to Richmond during Henry VII's reign.
Opening hours:
The park is open from 7am in the summer and 7.30am in the winter, and closes at dusk all year round. A document giving specific opening and closing times for the whole year can be downloaded here.
Isabella Plantation - a garden for all seasons
The Isabella Plantation is now an ornamental woodland garden, full of exotic plants, that is designed to be interesting all year round. But its name suggests a far humbler origin.
Isabella Plantation is now run on organic principles. Its luscious ground cover and mature trees make good habitat for wildlife and it is part of the Richmond Park Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is a particularly good place to see birds. Resident species include redpoll, bullfinch, wood pecker, sparrow hawk and tawny owl. There are water fowl, such as pintail, tufted duck and pochard. Visiting birds include: wood warbler, redstart and whitethroat in spring; blackcap and spotted flycatcher in summer, green sandpiper in autumn and siskin and reed bunting in winter.
Getting to Richmond Park:
Tube/Rail:
Richmond Station - British Rail or District Line (and then catch the 371 or 65 buses to the pedestrian gate at Petersham)
Bus:
190 Hammersmith - Richmond
391 Hammersmith - Richmond
419 Hammersmith - Richmond
R68 Bushy Park and Richmond
Northside:
33 Hammersmith - Ricmond
337 Richmond - Clapham Junction
485 Richmond - Wandsworth
Southside:
85/N85 Putney - Kingston
265 Putney - Tolworth
K3 Roehampton Plough - Esher
Eastside:
72 Roehampton - East Acton
493 Richmond - Tooting
Westside:
65 Kingston - Ealing Broadway
371 Kingston - Richmond
There are six car parks within Richmond Park and these are clearly marked on the maps. Remember, do not park on the roads or grassland. There is a disabled-badge-holders only car park for the Isabella Plantation, access via Ham Cross. Other visitors should use the Broomfield Hill car park.
Picnics in the Park:
Many people enjoy picnics in the parks.