Bushy Park
richmond's quieter, wilder cousin
The second largest Royal Park, free, a vast deer-grazed expanse next to Hampton Court with a grand water garden and a mile-long avenue of chestnuts.
Free to visit · Hampton · Hampton Wick · TW11 0EQ
Opening: Daily · hours vary seasonally
Everyone knows Richmond Park, but its near neighbour Bushy is just as big in spirit and far quieter. The second largest of the Royal Parks, it spreads over a thousand acres next to Hampton Court, and around three hundred red and fallow deer roam it freely, just as they have since Tudor times.
The showpiece is the Diana Fountain and the great Chestnut Avenue, a mile-long ceremonial drive of horse chestnuts laid out by Christopher Wren, which erupts into blossom every May. Tucked away to one side is the Woodland Gardens, a hidden world of streams, ponds and exotic planting that most visitors never find.
It is wilder and less manicured than the central parks, more grassland and water than flowerbeds, and that is its charm. A free, big-sky escape on the western edge of London with deer for company.
Getting there: A walk from Hampton Wick or Teddington stations, or right next to Hampton Court Palace if you are out that way.
Best time to go: Mid-May for Chestnut Sunday when the avenue blooms, or the autumn rut for the bellowing stags. Keep your distance from the deer year round.
Insider tip: Seek out the Woodland Gardens in the middle of the park, a fenced oasis of streams and planting that feels secret even when the rest of the park is busy. And come in mid-May for Chestnut Sunday, when the whole avenue is in full bloom.
Official site: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/bushy-park
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide