Question 1

What are the park opening hours?

Accepted Answer

The pedestrian gates are open 24 hours a day, except during the six week deer culls from November to early December and February to early March. During these months, pedestrian gates are closed at night between 8pm and 7:30am (except Friday night and Saturday night)

The vehicle gates open from 7:30am (7am during British Summer Time) and close at dusk each day, which varies throughout the year. This week's opening hours, and any public notices relating to temporary closures (due to park events or maintenance, for example) can be found on the Richmond Park web page.

2026 opening times
You can view the 2026 opening times for Richmond Park here.

Question 2

What are the closest public transport links to the park?

Accepted Answer

Richmond Park is well served by a range of different public transport services:

Train
The closest mainline stations are North Sheen and Richmond to the north of the park, and Norbiton to the south. All are served by services from South Western Railway. Walking times from each station vary between 15 and 25 minutes to the closest park gate.

Tube
You can travel to Richmond Park via the District (Richmond) underground line, which is located within the mainline station, above.

Bus
There are plenty of options for getting to the park by bus. Use an online planner from TfL or Google to prepare for your journey.

Cycle
Cycling to Richmond Park has never been easier. There are a number of cycleways passing through and around the park, which you can explore by using the cycle map layer on OpenStreetMap or the cycling route planner from Google.

Question 3

How big is the park?

Accepted Answer

Richmond Park is the largest of the Royal Parks, at 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) in size - large enough to hold six Hyde Parks! The park's perimeter (excluding the golf course) is approximately 6.7 miles long. You can view or download the park map here.

Question 4

What is the park's history?

Accepted Answer

Richmond Park has changed little over the centuries and the varied landscape of hills, woodland gardens and grasslands set among ancient trees abound in wildlife. The royal connections to this park probably go back further than any of the others, beginning with Edward (1272-1307), when the area was known as the Manor of Sheen. The name was changed to Richmond during Henry VII's reign. In 1625 Charles I brought his court to Richmond Palace to escape the plague in London and turned it into a park for red and fallow deer.

More information on the park's history can be found here.

Question 5

Is car parking available?

Accepted Answer

There are 7 main car parks which are located at Pembroke Lodge, Kingston Gate, Broomfield Hill, Robin Hood Gate, Roehampton Gate, Sheen Gate and Pen Ponds. Locations for each are shown on our park map. Vehicle gate times are shown on the park web page.

Kingston Gate
From 3 March we will introduce a later opening time of 9am at Kingston Gate Car Park on weekdays. This is intended to prioritise parking for park visitors during the day and discourage use of the facility as a free ‘park and ride’ service for commuters. Weekend parking remains unaffected. Alternative Blue Badge parking is available at all other car parks, and the opening times for all other car parks across Richmond Park remain unchanged.

Disabled parking
There are disabled parking spaces in all of the locations above, and an additional disabled-only car park is located at Isabella Plantation.

Question 6

Is there a charge for car parking?

Accepted Answer

Car parking in Richmond Park is free of charge.

Question 7

Can I drive through the park?

Accepted Answer

Following our Movement Strategy trials it was decided to reduce the number of vehicles driving through Richmond Park as a way to improve the park visitor experience and open up new spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Visitors can drive between Richmond Gate and Kingston Gate at all times, and between Richmond Gate and Roehampton Gate on weekdays. Other park roads provide access to the car parks only.

View the vehicle access map

Question 8

Is there a mobility service to take visitors around the park?

Accepted Answer

Park minibus

Yes, Richmond Park operates the RP1 minibus service which stops at 16 key locations around the park, and runs frequently throughout the day (10:30am – 5:14pm*) between March and November. The minibus is free and fully accessible with a ramp and steps to aid access.

The service is funded by private donations to the Royal Parks, and allows those without access to the park the ability to enjoy the wonders of London’s largest Royal Park.

Full details can be found here.

*Starting from 26 October the bus service will finish at Richmond Gate at 3:10pm and not continue onto the final stops. This is due to an earlier park closing time.

Motorised wheelchair

We can also loan a motorised wheelchair, for use within Isabella Plantation only, on weekdays between 9am and 3pm. Please contact us to book the chair at least five days before it is required. Please note that the last booking is at 2pm, for the wheelchair to be returned for 3pm. The wheelchair is not self-propelling.

Question 9

Can I cycle in the park?

Accepted Answer

Yes, cycling is permitted within Richmond Park, but only on larger roads where stated (e.g. Queen's Road, Sawyer's Hill, Broomfield Hill etc.) and off-road on the marked Tamsin Trail. Smaller paths and tracks across the park are for pedestrians only, and cycling is not permitted. Please be considerate and give space to other park users and the park's wildlife. Please be mindful of your speed and other road vehicles.

You can check permitted cycleways on OpenStreetMap.

For more information view Cycling in The Royal Parks.

Question 10

Can I hire a bicycle at the park?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can. You can hire TREK mountain bikes year-round from Parkcycle in the Roehampton Gate car park. Parkcycle also carries a range of child seats and junior size bikes for a safe cycle and family day out. Helmets are included.

If you’re on two wheels, we ask that you keep to the roads and the Tamsin Trail, and respect other park users, as well as the wildlife which sometimes crosses the paths.

For more information view Cycling in The Royal Parks.

Question 11

Is there a charge to use the public toilets?

Accepted Answer

There is a 20p charge to use the public toilets in the parks. We have recently installed a contactless system which accepts credit/debit cards, prepaid cards and mobile wallet payments like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Cash is no longer accepted.

Question 12

What cafés and kiosks are in the park?

Accepted Answer

Richmond Park has two main cafés - Pembroke Lodge Café and Roehampton Café. There are also several smaller refreshment kiosks dotted throughout the park. View the Food and Drink section for full details of each outlet, along with their latest menus.

You can find their locations on the park map.

Question 13

What sports facilities are in the park?

Accepted Answer

Richmond Park's large size makes it perfect for a wide range of outdoor sporting activities including cycling (both on and off road), horse riding, fishing*, rugby and golf. And with a network of smaller paths and trails it also makes a great destination for walking and running surrounded by the park's wonderful nature and unique wildlife.

Discover more here.

*permit required - apply online

Question 14

Do The Royal Parks have a shop?

Accepted Answer

No, The Royal Parks Shop in Hyde Park and our online shop are both now closed. Thank you for shopping with us and for supporting The Royal Parks. Your purchases helped care for these precious green spaces, and we’re truly grateful for your support.

Question 15

Do I need to keep my dog on a lead?

Accepted Answer

Generally, dogs do not need to be kept on a lead in Richmond Park providing they are a safe distance from the park's deer.

Throughout the year
We ask that dogs be kept on lead when in close proximity to deer. Please note it is an offence for a dog to chase deer in Richmond Park, and this could result in the owner’s prosecution. Aside from this, dogs must be kept on leads around lakes and ponds, including Pen Ponds.

Dogs on leads are permitted in the Isabella Plantation but not in Pembroke Lodge Gardens.

Please take time to read the Dogs in the Royal Parks policy document.

Skylark protection zones
Dogs to be kept on a short lead in skylark protection zones all year around. This applies specifically to:

Lawn Field (by Pen Ponds)
Crown Field (between the sports pitches and Bone Copse)
The Bog (between Bog Gate and Sheen Gate)
View the protection zones map

Deer birthing season (1 May to 31 July)
Dogs need to be on leads during the deer birthing season in Richmond Park. This is a mandatory rule and applies to all areas of the park.

Deer rutting season (September to November)
During the deer rutting season (September-November) we advise:

Always keep dogs on a lead near deer or walk them elsewhere during this season
We ask dog owners to keep a minimum distance of 50m from deer. If the male seems active then keep at least 100m away

Commercial dog walkers
Please note, that if you want to use the Royal Parks for commercial dog walking purposes, you must have a Commercial Dog Walking Licence issued by The Royal Parks charity.

Question 16

Can I feed the wildlife in the park?

Accepted Answer

No. Feeding birds and animals in the parks does more harm than good. You can learn more about why this is, and how you can help us in caring for their wellbeing here.

Stay safe around the deer
Please read our deer safety advice page ahead of your visit to Richmond park.

Question 17

Can I pet the deer?

Accepted Answer

No. For your own safety, we ask that you keep at least 50 metres away from the deer, and never touch, feed or attempt to photograph them at closer range. Always be vigilant in a deer park, especially during the rutting season (September-November) and birthing season (May-July).

Please read our deer safety advice page ahead of your visit.

Question 18

How can I contact the park office?

Accepted Answer

Getting in touch with park offices is quick and easy and all enquiries are handled by our dedicated Visitor & Park Support team.

Online
Simply complete the short online enquiry form and your question(s) will be passed to the most appropriate staff member. To ensure an efficient service, please check that you have provided the following information:

Park
Subject
Your name
Your email address
Your enquiry

Telephone
You can also contact the park offices by telephone using the following numbers:

Contacting the police in an emergency
For police assistance, please call 101 for non-emergencies, and 999 for emergencies. You can also report a crime online.

Question 19

Who do I contact about lost property?

Accepted Answer

To report lost property, please contact our Visitor and Park Support Team via their online contact form with the following information:

Your contact details
A description of the item
Date and time when the item was lost
Location (if known) where the item was lost

If the property has been found by staff or handed in to us we'll let you know.

Question 20

How do I report breaches of Park Regulations?

Accepted Answer

The Royal Parks Regulations are enforced by the police. If you spot a breach in regulations (such as illegal fishing or camping) within the parks, you should report it to the police using their online form.

For all emergencies call 999.

Question 21

Who do I report a crime in the park to?

Accepted Answer

To report criminal activity in the park you should contact the police. For non-emergencies call 101, and for emergencies call 999. You can also report a crime online.

Question 22

Can I run personal training sessions in the park?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can use Richmond Park as a location for personal training or group fitness sessions - providing you have a current fitness training licence issued by The Royal Parks charity.

Fitness training licences are also available for Hyde Park, The Regent's Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park and Bushy Park. They are not available for St. James's Park, Kensington Gardens, Victoria Tower Gardens or Brompton Cemetery.

To apply for a fitness training licence please read the information here and complete the online application form.

Question 23

Do I need a permit to shoot photos in the park?

Accepted Answer

If you are filming/photographing by yourself on a mobile phone or action camera for purely personal use then no you don't need a permit to film/photograph in the park. However, for all other purposes you will need to obtain a filming or photography permit from The Royal Parks charity. Full information and online application forms can be found here.

Question 24

Can I have a picnic in the park?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we welcome informal picnics in the Royal Parks. Please read our guidance document for maximum group sizes and what is and isn't permitted. Please note that barbecues are not allowed. For further information about informal picnics please click here.

If your group size is more than 100 people, this is considered a large picnic, and an event application should be submitted. Please see the 'Can I hold an event in the park?' FAQ for further information.

Question 25

Can I hold an event in the park?

Accepted Answer

Every year, we welcome hundreds of small and medium events to the Royal Parks, including walks and runs, large picnics, concerts and community sports. Applications for such events are considered by our dedicated Parks Events team. To find out more, and submit an application click here. At least six weeks’ notice is required.

Question 26

Can I swim in the lake?

Accepted Answer

For the safety of visitors and protection of park wildlife, public swimming is not allowed in any of the lakes and ponds of the Royal Parks. The only exception is the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park which is manned by lifeguards and open during summer months.

Question 27

Can I buy a Christmas tree in Richmond Park this year?

Accepted Answer

It won’t be possible to buy a Christmas tree in Richmond Park this year because we have decided to pause sales in the park for this season. This decision is part of an ongoing evaluation of our retail offerings and may be revisited in the future.

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