Tag: Parks and Green Spaces

Exploring the Serene Beauty of Richmond Park: A Hidden Gem in Richmond

Richmond Park in Richmond is one of London’s most cherished green spaces, offering a perfect escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a history buff, an enthusiastic photographer or just looking for a relaxing day out, Richmond Park has something for everyone. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about visiting this iconic park.

So, pack your walking shoes, bring your camera, and prepare to be enchanted by the serene beauty of this hidden gem in Richmond.

A Brief History of Richmond Park

Richmond Park, located in the London Borough of Richmond was originally established in the 17th Century by King Charles I as a deer hunting ground.

Spanning over 2,500 acres, it is the largest of London’s Royal Parks. Today, it’s a designated National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), attracting millions of visitors each year.

How to Get to Richmond Park, Richmond

By Public Transport

Richmond Park is easily accessible from Central London. You can take the District Line or South Western Railway to Richmond Station. From there, hop on a bus (routes 371 or 65) or take a 20-minute up-hill walk to the park’s main entrances.

By Car

If you’re driving, there are multiple gates where you can enter Richmond Park, such as Sheen Gate, Richmond Gate, and Kingston Gate. Parking is available inside the park, but it can fill up quickly on weekends and sunny days, so arriving early is recommended.

 

Things to Do in Richmond Park

1. Spot the Famous Deer

Richmond Park is home to over 600 red and fallow deer, which roam freely throughout the park. These majestic creatures have been residents of Richmond Park since it was created. For the best chance of spotting them, head to areas like Pen Ponds or just outside the fenced off Isabella Plantation.  Remember to keep a safe distance, especially during the rutting season (September to November).

2. Explore the Isabella Plantation

One of the park’s hidden spots is the Isabella Plantation, a 40-acre woodland garden known for its stunning display of flowers, particularly in spring when the azaleas and rhododendrons are in full bloom. It’s a tranquil spot perfect for a peaceful stroll. There are also some cute hatted ducks in the pond.

3. Take a Walk or Cycle Around the Park

Richmond Park offers numerous walking and cycling trails, catering to all levels of fitness. The Tamsin Trail, a 7.35-mile circular path, is popular among cyclists, joggers, and walkers. You can also explore the park on horseback, with riding schools like Stag Lodge Stables offering guided horse-riding tours.

4. Enjoy Panoramic Views from King Henry’s Mound

For breathtaking views of London’s skyline, head to King Henry’s Mound adjacent to Pembroke Lodge. On a clear day, you can see as far as St Paul’s Cathedral. This historic viewpoint is said to be where King Henry VIII watched for the signal announcing Anne Boleyn’s execution.

5. Discover the Ancient Oaks near Robin Hood Gate

There’s some interesting fallen trees near Robin Hood Gate 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!

 

Where to Eat and Drink in Richmond Park

While there are no large restaurants within the park itself, there are several charming cafes where you can grab a bite to eat.

Pembroke Lodge

Located on Richmond Hill, Pembroke Lodge is a popular spot for afternoon tea with stunning views over the Thames Valley. The lodge has a lovely café and outdoor seating, making it a great place to relax after exploring the park. The menu isn’t large but includes things like hot soup, jacket potatoes, sandwiches and desserts and cakes. They also serve popular warm scones with clotted cream and jam and 12 different types of tea.

Roehampton Café

For a more casual option, stop by Roehampton Café near Roehampton Gate. It’s perfect for a quick snack, offering sandwiches, hot drinks, and ice cream.

On most of the park gates there are mobile vendors offering ice cream, hot drinks and snacks. In terms of seating there are numerous large fallen trees in hideaway places or park benches.

Tips for Visiting Richmond Park

Best Time to Visit

The park is open year round but early mornings are the best time to experience its tranquility and see wildlife.

Accessibility

Richmond Park is wheel-chair friendly with accessible paths and disabled parking spaces available at several car parks.

Dog Friendly

Dogs are welcome in the park but be mindful of the deer and keep your dog on a lead in areas where signs indicate.

Photography

Richmond Park offers fantastic photography opportunities. sunrise and sunset are the best times for capturing stunning landscapes and wild life. The golden hours of sunrise and sunset provide the most flattering light, casting a warm glow over the scenery. Early mornings are particularly magical, as the mist settles over the grasslands, creating an ethereal atmosphere perfect for landscape photography.

For wildlife photography, the areas around Pen Ponds and the meadows are fantastic, where you can capture deer, birds, and other wildlife in their natural habitats.

Car Parking

Richmond Park is free to enter and free to park. 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.

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

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.

 

 

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If you are enjoying this blog post you may like our feature on the nearby botanical wonder  Kew Gardens.

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Nearby Attractions in Richmond, London

If you’re looking to extend your visit, Richmond itself is full of charming attractions. Take a leisurely stroll along the River Thames, visit the historic Richmond Theatre, or explore the stunning Kew Gardens, which are just a short distance away.

Conclusion

I have personally visited Richmond Park many times and at different seasons. I once had a memorable New Year’s Day here watching the local, wealthy residents enjoying their tailgate picnics with the air misty and nippy and their flasks steaming. During the Covid  pandemic, I road tested my own Stanley vacuum flask filled with boiling water for tea and taking a lunch beautifully arranged in a Japanese bento box. In May, I felt I was on my own personal African safari when I spotted the deer shown in the above photographs. The great things about Richmond Park, in my view, are the sheer expanse of nature which is as far as the eye can see. The fact that the car parks and entry is free makes a big difference. Where else in London can you have a totally free and memorable day out? And I get a particular thrill when I remember that this is the famed hunting ground of Henry VIII.

So whether you’re looking for a peaceful walk, a picnic with friends, or a chance to spot deer in the wild, this park has it all.

If you enjoyed this guide, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more London travel tips!

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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.

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

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The Queen Mary’s Rose Garden is living proof that anyone can have an experience of a lifetime in London free of charge. These historic gardens containing thousands of roses are an area of peace and tranquility that feed the soul. Come here on a warm Spring day in late May or early June to see the roses when they are at their best.

 

 

I often visit after a trip to the nearby Regents Park Open Air Theatre but there is nothing to stop you bringing a book and a picnic and lying in the sun surrounded by beauty.  Copy the Victorians and make Queen Mary’s Rose Garden it a place to see and be seen.

 

 

What is Queen Mary’s Rose Garden Famous for?

In a single word, roses…to be precise, 12,000 of them, contained in 85 single variety beds. Each year 3 of these beds are replaced with a new variety.

What is the History of Queen Mary’s Rose Garden?

The garden is named after the wife of King George V and was first planted in 1832. In the same way that we might dress up to meet our friends in a pub, club or restaurant the affluent middle classes of the day would wear their best clothes and promenade in their top hats and tea gowns in the rose garden. Fetes and music would be organised in the summer months. It was a place to see and be seen,

Today the Queen Mary’s Rose Garden attracts all sorts of people…newly-weds looking for a back drop for their wedding photographs, professional photographers bearing tripods, local residents taking a stroll, families having picnics, young lovers (it’s the ideal backdrop for a proposal) and of course tourists who have heard about the legendary blooms.

It is a stroke of luck that we have this magnificent garden to enjoy today as there were historic proposals to use the land as a palace for the Prince Regent, the bloated and debauched son of an earlier monarch. Fortunately, he preferred the Buckingham Palace location.

The Four Areas of Queen Mary’s Rose Garden

There are several distinct areas that make up Queen Mary’s Gardens.

The Circular Rose Garden

The original garden was the circular rose garden with its rose-festooned border of white and pink roses that provide a colourful living wall.

The Triton Borders

The Victorian jungle beds known as the Triton Borders have flamboyant jewel like colours with contrasting begonias, huge palms and ferns. These are linked to the famous garden designer William Robinson who worked for the Royal Botanical Society. He was a big fan of subtropical bedding containing hardy plants placed in natural arrangements.

Don’t be mystified if you see plastic buckets in the borders. These are place holders for plants that are on order and waiting to be delivered.

The Sausage Border

There is also a herbaceous border called the Sausage Border because of its shape. This has a planting scheme of deep red peonies and ornamental rhubarb spikes

The Mediterranean Garden

The Mediterranean Garden has been made possible by improving the water-logged London clay soil with plenty of sand to allow acacias, palm trees and purple alliums to thrive.

When Should I Visit Queen Mary’s Rose Garden?

Very late May and early June is the best time for seeing the roses in full bloom. Most roses have a second showing in August and September but your photos maybe spoiled by the faded blooms of earlier flowerings. The delphinium border is at its best in June.

Can you find the plant sculpture of an elephant which is hidden in one of the borders?

How Do I Research Roses Before my Visit?

Before you visit, familiarise yourself with the different types of English roses. The varieties that you will see in the garden are:

• Hybrid tea
• Polyantha
• Climbing
• Rambling
• Damask
• Gallica
• Alba
• Centifolia
• Floribunda
• Patio
• Ground Cover

As a general rule, the older varieties are less magnificent looking but have a stronger smell and the newer hybrids are amazing to look at but with less scent.

You can find out more about the different types of roses at the Gardener’s World website.

If you see a rose that you like you can almost certainly buy it online from one of our many rose firms, so don’t forget to photograph the plant label.

Tips for Photographing Roses Using a Smart phone

Any amateur can get very successful results using these tips;

• Use natural light to photograph flowers as overcast days give a softer look
• Mornings are the best time as the roses are fresh and often have dew drops
• Crouch or kneel to get to the same level as the flowers
• Use the close up/flower function on your phone’s photograph menu
• Take a lot of photographs at different angles and closeness
• Fill the frame and block out as much of the background as possible for rose close ups.
• Check for unwanted things in your picture e.g. people, litter bins, insects
• Use the crop facility on your camera to edit your photos and make the flowers bigger.

 

How Do I Get to Queen Mary’s Rose Garden?

There is an 8-10 minute walk which ever tube you take as the rose garden is in the centre of Regent’s Park. The nearest underground stations are Great Portland Street, Bakers Street and Regents Park.

 

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Queen Mary’s Rose Garden?

The entry to Queen Mary’s Gardens is free of charge.

 

If you like gardens, be sure to see out post on Kew Gardens in Winter.