Looking for a nice park walk in London? With Spring around the corner and sunnier days ahead, let’s get outside and make the most of the nice weather. London has a plethora of green areas to offer, but which ones really worth the trip to? Well, if Bushy Park London was on your bucket list, here is everything you need to know about a day out in Bushy Park with friends or family.
Bushy Park London is a must-do and do-again day out. It has more to offer than just the park and the deer. Check at the end of this article for ideas on what to do near Bushy Park London.
Logistic For Bushy Park London Walk
- Distance: 5.26 miles (8.61 km)
- Ascent: 162 feet (49.37 m)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Walking Estimate: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- How to get there: Train or bus to Teddington. Trains run from Waterloo to Teddington, calling at main train stations such as Vauxhall, Clapham Junction and Wimbledon. The journey takes 30 minutes from Waterloo Station. Teddington Station is in fare zone 6, so no need to buy a train ticket, you can travel using your Oyster or contactless card. The following bus routes stop at Teddington Station: 33, 281, 285, 481, R68 and X26
- What to bring: Comfortable clothing and footwear. It is a walk in a park literally, so you can leave the technical hiking gear at home. Pack a pair of gaiters if it has been raining as the path can get muddy. Don’t forget the headcover and sunscreen if you are visiting the park on a sunny day. Bring a backpack to carry water (1L at least), identification and money for a drink at the coffee shop or a meal at the pub at the end.
- Additional Information: There are public toilets by the kiosk
What is Bushy Park?
Bushy Park is the second-largest Royal Park in London. With 1000 acres, the park is a Site Of Specific Scientific Interest for its fauna and flora, including a type of fly new to the UK discovered in the park.
Historically, researches show that the site was settled around 4,000 years ago. However, it is only in the Middle Ages the park really start being mentioned. It was given in 1529 to King Henry VIII by the Cardinal Thomas Wolseley, along with Hampton Court Palace, which become one of the King’s favourite residences. Hunting enthusiast, King Henry VIII, introduced deer to the park and used it as hunting grounds.
However, his successors did not pursue the same interest in hunting and chose to develop the park by adding landmarks such as water features and buildings.
The park is open to the public and admission is free. But what can you do and see in Bushy Park?
What To Do In Bushy Park?
There is more to the park than trees and grassland (boring …). Here at 10 things, you can do while you are visiting Bushy Park, London.
1 – Look for deer
Bushy Park counts around 320 red and fallow deer. It is easy to differentiate them. The red deer have a plain coat whilst the fallow deer have a spotted coat. Easier to find than in Richmond Park, the deer play a major role in maintaining the wildlife of the park. Their population is controlled to avoid food scarcity or the spread of disease. Autumn is the “rut” season where males compete and cross antlers to attract females.
The deer remain a wild animal, and you need to be cautious around them.
Related Content: Bradgate Park Walk
2 – Walk around the ponds
The water features in the park are quite interesting. The ponds and streams take their source in the Longford River, an artificial handmade river, created in 1637 to bring water to Hampton Court Palace.
The water was then redirected a few years later and as a result created the Heron and Leg-Of-Mutton Ponds, which are the main landmarks of the Park.
3 – Discover the wildlife
There is more to see in Bushy Park than herds of deer. The park is also home to varied wildlife from mice and hedgehogs to bats, birds, ducks and fish. The mix of grassland, woodlands and water sources makes it the ideal condition for the wildlife to prosper.
Whilst it can be hard to encounter some of the species living in Bushy Park as they are night animals, you can have a great time watching the birds and try to spot the Kingfisher easily recognisable thanks to its blue feathers.
4 – Walk along the Longford River
This 12-mile-long (19 km) River Longford stretches from Heathrow to Hampton Court Palace. It was commissioned by King Charles I to bring water to Hampton Court Palace. The river was dug by hand in the year 1637.
In the river and the ponds it feds, you can find a variety of fish such as perch, roach and bream.
The river now stretches all the way to Heathrow Airport and had to be redirected a few times due to Heathrow extensions over the years.
5 – Have a fun time at the Playground
What would be a park without a playground? Well, the same applies to Bushy Park. Conveniently located not far from the kiosk and the public toilets, the playground is composed of slides, climbing frames, a sandpit and swings among other things.
A fun time for all the family after a nice walk!
6 – Make a stop at the Coffee Shop
Located near the Woodland Gardens, the Pheasantry Cafe is the perfect spot for lunch. With a large selection of meals, drinks and snacks and a choice of indoor or outdoor seating, it is the ideal place for a break.
Alternatively, if you do not like to wait for your meal, there is a kiosk by the car park next to the playground. Offering a range of sandwiches, rolls and drinks, the kiosk is ideal for those who like to walk eat and drink at the same time.
7 – Walk around the Diana Fountain
Not far from the Kiosk and the Playground is the Diana Fountain. Commissioned by King Charles I for his wife Henrietta Maria, the fountain was designed in 1637. It was moved to Hampton Court Gardens and then back to Bushy Park on Chestnut Avenue, where it is now.
The fountain is composed of a bronze statue of the goddess Diana on a marble stone. Around the stone are 4 bronze statues of boys, nymphs and shells. The pool around the statue has a diameter of 120 m with a lawn all around You can find a few paths as you are walking around to cross the law and get closer to the pool.
8 – Walk along Chestnut Avenue
This mile-long avenue runs from Teddington Gate to Hampton Court Gate. Designed by the famous architect Christopher Wren, the avenue is bordered by one line of Chesnut Trees and four lines of Lime trees. At the end of the avenue, the magnificent Diana Fountain takes pride before the Hampton Court Gate.
From the 1850s to WWII, people used to gather on Chestnut Avenue to celebrate Chestnut Sunday. Reintroduced in 1993, Chesnut Sunday takes place on Sunday the closest to the 11th of May from noon onwards. It is the perfect day to admire the Chesnut trees blossoming alongside the Avenue.
9 – Lose yourself in the Woodland Gardens
The Woodland Gardens are an oasis of calm and freshness in the middle of Bushy Park. With benches by the stream, it is the ideal place to sit and relax in the shade by the water. The walk around Woodland Gardens is the result of the imagination of the park superintendent, Joseph Fisher in 1948. He combined several plantations into one, resulting in a series of gardens and luxurious vegetation.
10 – Roam around the Water Gardens
Walk all the way to the top left corner of the park and you will find the Upper Lodge and the Water Gardens. The structure of the waterfall was originally built for the poet Charles Montague in 1710, as part of a landscaping project. This side of the park went through different stages: during WWI, encampments were built there, then the pool was used for children with respiratory difficulties and finally, it was used for US barracks during WWII.
The site was forgotten, and you need to wait until the great restoration of the park for the waterfall to come back to life. It reopened to the public in 2010.
What to do after visiting Bushy Park
In case you still have energy and want to visit more and simply want to relax and find a nice place for a drink, here is what you can do near Bushy Park.
1 – Discover Hampton Court Palace and Gardens
Exit the park by Hampton Court Gate and you will arrive at the rear of Hampton Court Palace where the maze is located. Walk around the gardens to get to the site’s main entrance.
Built in 1514, this Grade I listed building, was given to King Henry VIII by the Cardinal Thomas Wolseley in 1529 along with Bushy Park as he felt out of the King’s favour. Open to the public, the Palace really worth the visit with animations and tour guides dressed up like in the Middle Ages. You can also visit the gardens on foot or you can opt for the horse carriage ride.
2 – Walk the Thames Path to Kingston
Do you want to continue walking? No problem. Kingston upon Thames is only a 45-minute walk from Hampton Court via the Thames Path. It is a good opportunity to take a stroll along the River Thames and admire the gorgeous houses along the bank.
Once in Kingston, cross over the bridge and on the opposite bank you will find lots of restaurants with terraces to have a refreshing drink and some food. To know more about the walk to Kingston, read my self-guided Kingston Loop via Hampton Court Palace Walk here.
3 – Go to the Pub
Well if you don’t want to wait to get to Kingston Upon Thames for a drink, you can go straight to the pub from Hampton Court Palace. There are quite a few options in the area.
The Mute Swan and the Riverside Brasserie are right opposite Hampton Court Palace’s main entrance. The Mute Swan offers a traditional British pub environment. They take pride in offering great service and delicious food (which is why they are always full – book in advance!)
Another English pub in Hampton Court is the Prince of Wales. It is only a short walk from Hampton Court Palace. Walk across the bridge towards the train station and then cross Hampton Court Way to get to the town centre. The pub is located a little further down on Bridge Street.
4 – Take a boat tour
Another way to get somewhere else without walking is to take a boat. You will find Hampton Court Landing Stage just down the Main Gate. The tour takes you to Richmond via Teddington Lock and Kingston upon Thames and takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes. All you have left to do is to sit and enjoy the journey!
Bushy Park London Map
Fancy visiting Bushy Park, London? Follow the guided walk below to not miss anything. Download the map by clicking on the button below. Learn how to upload it on your phone by following my step-by-step guide here.
Final Thoughts on Bushy Park London Walk
Visiting Bushy Park, London is a perfect day walk to escape the hustle and bustle of the city without leaving the city (literally). This Oyster card-friendly walk is ideal for reconnecting with nature, learning about the history and enjoying a drink by the River Thames, all in one day!
And you, what is your favorite Park? Let me know in the comments below.
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