The lush green space of Richmond Park is a London landmark. From the roaming deer to the vast meadows, it’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. One of the park’s best features is the Tamsin Trail – a 7.1-mile (11.4 km) loop around Richmond Park. Whether you are a regular or it is your first time in Richmond Park, the Tamsin Trail is a great way to discover the area. Here, we’ll explore the area’s history, its route through the park, and the highlights you can enjoy along the way. Get ready to pack your bag and hit the road – the Tamsin Trail awaits!
Looking for a trail in London due to the ongoing RTM and TFL strikes, I came across this medium-distance route around Richmond Park. This loop around Richmond Park is easy to navigate and perfect for a nice day out in London.
Logistics of the Tamsin Trail in Richmond Park
Distance: 7.1 miles (11.4 km)
Total Ascent: 259 ft (79 m)
Highest Point: 187 ft (57 m)
Lowest Point: 8 ft (26 m)
Walking Estimate: 2 hours and 45 min to 4 hours (depending on your pace)
Difficulty: Easy/ Intermediate
How to get there:
- This walk is a loop around the park, so it does not matter where you start, however for the purpose of this article, I will be starting and ending the walk at Richmond Gate
- District Line, Overground or Southern Rail to Richmond Station and then bus 371 to American University. Walk to Richmond Gate
- Bus 371 to American University and then walk to Richmond Gate
- By car to Richmond Gate Car Park where we start this walk
What to Pack
- Comfortable clothing and footwear. It is a city walk so a pair of trainers is sufficient
- A small backpack or a shoulder bag with some energy bars and a bottle of water
Additional Information:
- There are public toilets at Richmond Gate, Pembroke Lodge, Kingston Gate, Robin Hood Gate, Roehampton Gate and Sheen Gate
- This is a stile-free walk
- This is a dog-friendly walk, however, dogs must be kept on a lead due to wild deer roaming freely in the park
Where to Eat
- Pembroke Lodge Kiosk
- Colicci Cafe, Roehampton Gate
- Isabella Plantation Cafe
Highlights of the Tamsin Trail in Richmond Park
- Pembroke Lodge
- Platinum Jubilee Woodland
- Bromfield Hill and the view of the London skyline
- Adam’s Pond
- Skylark Protection Area
- Deer, deer, deer …
What is Richmond Park
Before we dive into the walk, let’s take a closer look at the place where we are going, from its history to how it is now. So let’s get to it!
Richmond Park is the largest Royal Park in London, and little has changed over the course of the centuries.
The connection between the grounds of Richmond Park and the Kings dates back to Henry I who granted the Manor of Shene (now spelt Sheen) to a Norman Knight. King Henry VII renamed it Richmond after it was partially destroyed by a fire in 1497. In 1625, Charles I fled an outbreak of plague in London with his court and found shelter in Richmond Palace.
To pursue his passion for hunting, Charles I turned the park into a deer hunting ground. He had a brick wall erected around the park (which can still be seen today), despite the discontent of the locals. In return, he allowed a right of way to the people as well as the right to collect wood for fire.
The landscape of the park began to change after Charles I introduce 2000 deer. They grazed on leaves and young trees, preventing them from growing. The woodland stopped expanding, leaving space to open grassland.
Nowadays, Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is the home of important biodiversity from fungi to insects, from birds to mammals. For example, you can find over 1300 species of beetles in Richmond Park itself!
Tamsin Trail In Richmond Park
So now we’ve covered the basics, let’s get to the walk.
Richmond Gate
The Tamsin Trail is a man-made trail linking all the gates of Richmond Park. At a steady pace, it takes around 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes. This was my pace when I did this walk and I took only one break to buy a coffee at Roehampton Gate. However, if you want to proceed in a leisurely fashion, take pictures of the park and its iconic deer, it might take you around 3 and a half to 4 hours to complete the loop around the park.
For the purpose of this article, we start the walk at Richmond Gate but you can start at any gate across the park. As you enter the park through Richmond Gate, take the paved footpath on your right and walk toward Kingston Gate. When you get halfway through the first leg, you walk past Pembroke Lodge.
Related Content: Thames Path from Richmond to Kew
Pembroke Lodge
Divert from the Tamsin trail and enter the front garden of Pembroke Lodge. You find a perfectly landscaped garden before an immaculate white building facade with a climbing vine above the main entrance.
You cannot guess it at first sight, but Pembroke Lodge had some humble beginnings. It started as a single-room cottage in 1754 before turning into a 4 rooms cottage called Hill Lodge. This is when the Countess of Pembroke fell in love with the place. With the consent of King George III, she moved in and started the expansion of the North Wing.
After her death in 1831, Pembroke Lodge went through different owners. In 1847, Queen Victoria granted the Lodge to her then-Prime Minister, Lord John Russell, making Pembroke Lodge the place to be for the high society.
Pembroke Lodge again went through a change of ownership before being requisitioned by the army in 1938. It suffered direct bomb hits during the Second World War. It remain an army building until 1997 when it was acquired by Daniel Hearsum, a chartered surveyor, with the vision to keep the building open to the public. Nowadays, Pembroke Lodge is a renowned venue in London for weddings and corporate events.
Platinum Jubilee Woodland
A little further down the Tamsin Trail, you walk past the Platinum Jubilee Woodland. Right now, it does resemble a forest but more like a plant nursery as the trees are still quite young. It was planted when the Queen celebrated her 70th anniversary of service in 2022.
The woods are expected to cover a surface of 4 acres (1.6 ha) with the aim to provide a habitat and a source of food for small mammals, birds and insects as well as a place to breathe for us human beings.
Kingston Gate Garden To Robin Hood Gate
As you finish the first leg of this walk you arrive at Kingston Gate Garden. This first part is not the nicest as you are walking on the footpath parallel to the road. It can be difficult to find a connection with nature with so many cars driving past you. However, this is only a short-term pain, as there are no more driveways during the rest of our promenade.
You then make a turn at Kingston Gate Garden, to walk back towards the North side of the park. This time you enter a forested and bushy area.
If you are lucky, you might catch sight of a deer having a snack in this dense vegetation.
A little bit further down the path, you start walking up to Bromfield Hill. When you get to the top, there is an opening between the trees, where on a clear day you get a great view of London’s skyline and the Shard.
Robin Hood Gate to Roehampton Gate
We then leave the wooded area and continue our journey through open lands from tall yellow grass fields to more green bushy ones.
Follow the arrow indicating the pedestrian path of the Tasmin Trail. Please note that this trail is very well indicated all along.
You soon arrive at Roehampton Gate, which appears to be the meet-up point for cyclists. This is due of course to the presence of the Cycle Hire Centre at Roehampton Gate. Join the queue with the happy cyclists for a coffee at Colicci’s before continuing on the Tamsin Trail towards Sheen Gate.
Roehampton Gate to Richmond Gate
This is the last leg of the Tamsin Trail in Richmond Park. As you get closer to Sheen Gate, you arrive at Adam’s Pond. Push the gate and find a seat on one of the benches to finish your coffee in the calm and peace of the pond.
Back on the Tamsin Trail, you walk past Sheen Gate and arrive at the Skylark Protection Area. The skylark is a small bird with a brown crest on its head. It nests on the ground making the eggs vulnerable. Unfortunately, the skylark population dropped by 60% over the last 40 years. To help support the recovery of the skylark numbers, Richmond Park has delimited a protective area where are you asked to stay on the path and keep your dog on a lead to avoid damaging the eggs.
We are getting to the end of our journey on the Tamsin Trail. As I got closer to the Richmond Gate, our final stop, I encountered a herd of deer. I hope you get as lucky when you do this walk!
Related Content: Bradgate Park Walk
Happy discovery!
Map of the Tamsin Trail in Richmond Park
Do you want to do this walk? Download the map of the Tamsin Trail by clicking on the download button below. Learn how to upload the map onto your navigation app by following my step-by-step guide here.
Final Thoughts on the Tamsin Trail in Richmond Park
Now that you’ve read about the Tamsin Trail, be sure to explore it for yourself. Walk your dog, go birdwatching, or just enjoy a leisurely stroll. Whatever your adventure may be, this trail is sure to bring joy and peace of mind. So, take a break, get some fresh air, and discover the wonders of the Tamsin Trail in Richmond Park.
And you, what is your favourite walk in London? Let me know in the comments below.
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