London: Bushy Park
Operating Hours:Pedestrians: Open 24/7 year-round. Vehicle access: Daily 07:00 - 22:30 (varies by season)
The Vibe:Deer grazing under avenues of ancient oaks.
The second-largest royal park after Richmond sits just beyond Hampton Court Palace, 1,100 acres of ancient pasture, water and formal avenues. Two deer herds roam freely among Christopher Wren's canal and Charles Bridgeman's 18th-century landscape.
Red and fallow deer graze beside wide avenues; the Chestnut Avenue blossoms cream-and-white each May. Dog walkers call across open grassland; the Longford River babbles beside the Diana Fountain at the park's centre.
- • The second-largest Royal Park at 1,100 acres
- • Home to around 320 free-roaming red and fallow deer
- • Christopher Wren designed the Chestnut Avenue as Hampton Court Palace's ceremonial approach
- • Hosts the first ever parkrun, which began here in 2004
Fit For
- 👨👩👧 Families: Space for cycling, kite-flying and picnics; deer sightings guaranteed
- 💕 Couples: Chestnut Avenue in bloom is the prettiest 300-metre walk near London
- 👵 Seniors: Flat paved paths ideal for walking; benches throughout
- 📸 Photographers: Deer at golden hour; Chestnut Avenue blossoming in spring
Highlights
- Chestnut Avenue — Wren's mile-long avenue, spectacular in May
- Diana Fountain — the central statue by Italian sculptor Fanelli, 1637
- Red and fallow deer — 320 free-roaming since Tudor times
- Upper Lodge Water Gardens — restored 18th-century cascades
- Pheasantry Café — restored 19th-century keeper's lodge, now a café
- Hampton Court Palace — at the park's southern edge, five-minute walk — Hidden Gem
London Local Expert
Sarah Riches
10+ years of experience
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