Severe weather in the parks
Find our guidance on staying safe during severe weather, including advice to protect yourself, other visitors, wildlife and the landscape, as well as information on park closures, affected facilities, and when normal operation is expected to resume.
Red extreme heat weather warning
Updated: 23 June 2026
Visitor safety guidance
The Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning for London, covering all parks and green spaces. The warning is in effect from 9am on Wednesday 24 June until 9pm on Thursday 25 June.
During this period of high temperatures, we have issued an urgent ‘care alert’ to all park visitors, reminding them to stay in the shade, stay out of the water and refrain from having BBQs in the parks which could easily start the spread of wildfire.
Large numbers of visitors are expected in the parks, especially later in to the evening as they seek shade and respite from the heat. We urge that all visitors follow our guidance for their own safety and the safety of other park users around them.
Visitors are reminded that:
- BBQs and open fires are strictly prohibited in all park
- Cigarette butts must be fully extinguished and disposed of safely
- Litter, especially glass, must be placed in bins or taken home if bins are full (glass bottles can focus sunlight and ignite fires)
- Water is available at fountains throughout all parks and green spaces, and visitors should travel with reusable bottles to stay hydrated
- Swimming in any lake or waterbody within the Royal Parks is forbidden apart from in the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park during designated public swimming sessions.
Closures and impacted services during severe weather
Due to the current period of high temperatures, we have temporarily closed some areas and facilities within our parks and green spaces to help keep visitors, staff, wildlife and the landscape safe. You can find full details of these closures and other impacted park services below.
- Bushy Park playground will be closed on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June
- Swimming is prohibited in any lakes, ponds or bodies of water throughout the park
- Cafés and refreshment kiosks are likely to be busier during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings
- Increased travel by car means that car parks are likely to be busier, particularly during the cooler times of day. Please allow extra time for your visit and be mindful of other park users.
- Greenwich Park playground will be closed on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June
- Swimming is prohibited in any lakes, ponds or bodies of water throughout the park
- The Courts in Greenwich Park will be closed on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June, due to very limited shade, unmanned courts with no direct first aid provision immediately available and no nearby easily accessible water. Visitors with booked sports sessions will be able to reschedule
- Cafés and refreshment kiosks are likely to be busier during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings
- Increased travel by car means that car parks are likely to be busier, particularly during the cooler times of day. Please allow extra time for your visit and be mindful of other park users.
- All play areas will be closed on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June. These are:
- Hyde Park playground
- Serpentine Lido playground
- Swimming is prohibited in any lakes, ponds or bodies of water throughout the park, apart from in the Serpentine Lido during designated public swimming sessions
- Visitors with booked sports sessions at The Courts will be able to reschedule
- Cafés and refreshment kiosks are likely to be busier during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings
- Increased travel by car means that car parks are likely to be busier, particularly during the cooler times of day. Please allow extra time for your visit and be mindful of other park users.
- All play areas will be closed on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June. These are:
- Buck Hill playground
- The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial playground (remains closed due to refurbishment, find out more here)
- Swimming is prohibited in any lakes, ponds or bodies of water throughout the park
- Cafés and refreshment kiosks are likely to be busier during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings
- Increased travel by car means that car parks are likely to be busier, particularly during the cooler times of day. Please allow extra time for your visit and be mindful of other park users.
- Petersham Gate playground will be closed on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June
- Stables will exercise horses lightly, in earlier hours and in the shade
- The RP1 Richmond Park minibus is cancelled and will not run on Wednesday 24 June
- Swimming is prohibited in any lakes, ponds or bodies of water throughout the park
- Cafés and refreshment kiosks are likely to be busier during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings
- Increased travel by car means that car parks are likely to be busier, particularly during the cooler times of day. Please allow extra time for your visit and be mindful of other park users.
- St. James's Park playground will be closed on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June
- Swimming is prohibited in any bodies of water throughout the park
- Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace will be cancelled on Wednesday 24 June
- Cafés and refreshment kiosks are likely to be busier during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings.
- Swimming is prohibited in any bodies of water throughout the park
- Refreshment kiosks are likely to be busier during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings.
- All play areas will be closed on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June. These are:
- Gloucester Gate playground
- Hanover Gate playground
- Marylebone Green playground
- Primrose Hill playground
- Swimming is prohibited in any lakes, ponds or bodies of water throughout the park
- Visitors with booked sports sessions at The Courts will be able to reschedule
- Visitors booked to attend sports sessions at The Hub will be given the opportunity to reschedule
- Cafés and refreshment kiosks are likely to be busier during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings
- Increased travel by car means that car parks are likely to be busier, particularly during the cooler times of day. Please allow extra time for your visit and be mindful of other park users.
- Cafés and refreshment kiosks are likely to be busier during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings.
- Horseferry playground will be closed on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June
- Swimming is prohibited in any bodies of water throughout the park
- Refreshment kiosks are likely to be busier during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the mornings and evenings.
Preventing fires in the parks
To keep visitors and wildlife safe, we do not permit BBQs in any area of any park. It only takes one falling ember onto dry grass to start a terrible fire, which can spread rapidly, pose a risk to life and devastate the environment, destroying wildlife and historic parkland.
No one ever believes it’ll be their actions that cause a fire, but fires can start easily, particularly in the current weather conditions. Please take care of yourselves, others, the parks’ wildlife and the landscapes by enjoying a picnic, not a BBQ, and by taking your litter home if the bins are full.
Darren Share, Director of Parks at The Royal Parks
Staying safe around water
“It is understandable that people are looking for ways to stay cool in this hot weather but please remember to stick to only swimming in the Lido during opening times, in order to prevent an awful incident.
During designated public swimming sessions, the Lido is always manned with qualified lifeguards and support staff, and there are several ways swimmers can help themselves to stay safe. People should never enter the water after drinking alcohol, should stay strictly within the marked parameters of the Lido, ensure all children are supervised, minimise the time they spend in direct sunlight and speak to a member of staff if they feel unwell.
Deon de Jager, Head of Health and Safety at The Royal Parks
