Only 30 minutes or so from central London, Richmond Park is English countryside as you might imagine it depicted in a glossily illustrated Robin Hood story: mighty oaks, a thousand years old, dense forests, dinky copses, rolling hills, majestic fallow deer and burrowing rabbits. Covering almost 2,500 acres, Richmond Park is the largest Royal Park in London. With such a large space its hard to know where to start when visiting. A tall brick wall surrounds the entire park so you need to first work out which gate you are going to use to enter and then plan your route from there. The best way to enter is via Richmond Gate, heading first for King Henry's Mound. The park's position on the edge of town affords it some fantastic panoramas of the capital King Henry VIII's Mound is the place to head for uninterrupted views all the way to St Paul's Cathedral. Wherever you chose to roam via the ponds and Deer Park or circumventing the many lodges, make sure you end up at the Isabella Plantation. Heavily wooded and wholly organic, the Isabella Plantation bursts with massive mounds of azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias and really is truly magical. Apart from a couple of roads running around the edge of the park (traffic is highly regulated and, for the most part, unassuming) the park has changed little since the reign of Charles I. Responsible for parks enclosure and the introduction of deer, Charles I sought sanctuary in Richmond during the plague. These days the park performs much the same function, offering a calming sanctuary from the pressures of city life. Enjoy.
Best for: Rolling hills, mighty oaks, woods, deer and 2,500 acres of open space.
(Image: Pembroke Lodge Gardens)
What's on at
Richmond Park
London Duathlon 2010 12th September 2010 The world's biggest duathlon returns to Richmond Park this September...
Petersham Nurseries Cafe and Teahouse
Off Petersham Road, Petersham, Richmond, TW10 7AG
Weather pending, this has all the makings for an ideal Valentine's treat and a memorable... More
London Duathlon 2010
Richmond Park, TW10 5HS
12th September 2010
The world's biggest duathlon returns to Richmond Park this September as athletes prime themselves to run,... More
Running
British Military Fitness & Serpentine Running Club
It may seem perverse but some people find being shouted by an army officer a great motivator when it comes... More
Richmond Park
Park Office, Holly Lodge, TW10 5HS
The largest Royal Park in London
Only 30 minutes or so from central London, this is English countryside as you... More
These extensive formal and historic gardens perched on the edge of the River Thames are attached to the 17th century Stuart mansion Ham House. In ... More
Walk among the tree tops at Kew Gardens when you take the Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway, 18 metres above the ground. Designed by Marks ... More
61 - 63 Petersham Road,Richmond Upon Thames,
TW10Map
21 minutes walk from Richmond Park
This cosy hotel, housed inside a wonderfully restored Georgian townhouse, retaining many of its original features, blends seamlessly into the semi-rural environs of Richmond. Ornate ... More
The world's biggest duathlon returns to Richmond Park this September as athletes prime themselves to run, bike and run a little bit more on closed ...More
The largest Royal Park in London.
Only 30 minutes or so from central London, this is English countryside as you might imagine it depicted in a ... More
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The world's biggest duathlon returns to Richmond Park this September as athletes prime themselves to run, bike and run a little bit more on closed ... More
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