Richmond Park – A Woody Safari Among Ancient Trees

Richmond Park in Richmond, the famed hunting ground of Henry VIII, is now maintained as a Royal Park yet it still feels wild and wooded. This year I have explored deeper into this vast expanse of nature.

The Different Regions of Richmond Park

Richmond Park comprises different regions each with their own character and attractions. Driving around the circumference road and dodging deer and cyclists, these are the ones that I have recently explored:

• Isabella Plantation
• Pen Ponds
• Pembroke Lodge
• Robin Hood Gate

Pembroke Lodge the Information Centre and Cafe of Richmond Park

Pembroke Lodge is the centre of the universe of Richmond Park. There is an information centre, a refreshment stand and  a cafe serving classic English fayre of sandwiches, cakes and scones. Behind the wrought iron gates there are elevated formal gardens with panoramic views of Richmond and the city beyond which rival nearby Kew with an abundance of seasonal colour.

Isabella Plantation a Fenced Garden in Richmond Park

This is a wooded fenced area known for its magnificent display of camellias, azaleas and daffodils with a central pond and the cutest ducks with little hats .

 

Pen Ponds

These ponds are a short walk on a slight incline from the Pen Ponds car park. Geese, swans and ducks follow tourists looking for forbidden contraband and bread from soft hearted folk who have decided to ignore the advice of not feeding the ducks. You almost feel that you are on holiday at an exotic lakeside destination.

Robin Hood Gate

There’s some interesting fallen trees here with exposed roots, gnarled bark and skeletal shapes in a boggy, marshy expanse of lush grass. Great for taking nature photographs and selfies. It’s a 10- 15 minute walk up to Pen Ponds from here. On my return trek, I was ecstatic to see the herd of red deer who had come out to graze. It was like being on safari in the Serengeti. Honestly, why go to Africa when you can go to Richmond Park!

Practical Advice for Visiting Richmond Park

Car Parking

Richmond Park is free to enter and free to park (we like free!) You are invited to make a donation at card reading machines at the various car parks but this is by no means obligatory.

You can only park in the car parks and if you park elsewhere you are liable for a fine. As a result, the car parks get busy, on sunny days and at weekends you are likely to have more luck parking at the furthest car parks from Pembroke Gate. Currently, you can’t drive the full circumference of the park as the road is closed just after Isabella Plantation on the anti-clockwise stretch.

Check the opening and closing times as you don’t want to get locked in overnight. These times change according to the season.

Driving and Cycling

As you would expect, Richmond Park is  a popular cycling area…think lycra-clad, kamikaze lunatics riding in packs or on their phones. The road is narrow so overtaking is often not an option. Be patient. You don’t want to make the newspapers for all the wrong reasons.

If you are one of those cyclists Richmond Park is your oyster!

Toilets

There are toilets at most of the Richmond Park car parks but you’ll need to check a map to ensure that your chosen car park has those facilities.

Cafes

There are cafes with seating at Pembroke Lodge, Roehampton Gate and Pen Ponds. In the great British tradition, the smaller car parks usually have ice cream vans run by independent vendors. Think whipped ice creams with flakes, Magnums and Cornettos. And I spied bacon sandwiches. There’s tea, coffee and hot chocolate – perfect for a freezing day. You can find out more information about the cafe and see photos here.

Seating and Picnics

Dotted around Richmond Park are wooden park seats and fallen logs making it the ideal spot for a picnic. Fortunately, you can picnic near to your car so no need to lug your flasks and hampers for long distances. On New Year’s Day I see many people having tailgate picnics from the boot of their car.

My amazing and recent discovery is the wonder of the Stanley vacuum flask. I paid a fortune for this pricy British icon. I preheat it with boiling water for 5 minutes and then adding fresh boiling water and pack Yorkshire tea bags and fresh milk with an ice pack and I have perfect, scalding hot tea for the whole day.

For more information on Richmond Park including any seasonal updates see the official Royal Parks website.

We have some other great suggestions for free and nearly free days out. and we hope these practical tips will help you make the most of your day at Richmond Park.

If you have enjoyed this piece you may like our feature on the nearby botanical wonder  Kew Gardens.

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