A double-park driving itinerary that gets you up close with hundreds of free-roaming wild deer without spending a penny on tickets in Richmond and Bushy Parks.
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1. Quick Snapshot
- Location: Richmond (TW10 5HS) and Hampton (TW11 0EQ), Greater London / Surrey border
- Best for: Nature lovers, budget families, keen cyclists, and photographers
- Duration: Full day
- Budget: £
- Great in: Spring, Summer and Autumn (though brilliant all year round)
2. Introduction
We absolutely love a royal park day out, but combining two of London’s largest green spaces into one epic road trip is a total game-changer.
You get to experience rolling hills, ancient woodlands, and hundreds of majestic wild deer roaming completely free.
It feels a million miles away from the hectic city centre, yet it costs next to nothing if you plan it right.
Our guide is packed with money-saving hacks to ensure you get the absolute most out of both Richmond Park and Bushy Park without draining your wallet.
3. How to Get There
- By Car (Our Usual Route): We usually drive up via the A3 for Richmond Park Click to open side panel for more information first, taking around 30-40 minutes from the Surrey borders or South London. Parking is actually free inside the designated park car parks at both locations, which is an absolute lifesaver for a budget day out, but spaces fill up rapidly on sunny weekends.
- By Train: You can take the district line or South Western Railway to Richmond Station for the first half of the day. You can pre-book tickets from
Trainline : Search, Compare & Buy Cheap Train TicketsFrom there, it is a short walk or quick local bus ride up the hill to the Richmond gates. - By Bus or Local Transport: The 371 or 65 buses run frequently from Richmond Station straight to the pedestrian gates. For moving between the two parks, local buses link Richmond and Hampton Court easily, keeping your costs down thanks to the current £3 national single fare cap in England.
4. Food & Drink
Eating out around South West London can easily bust your budget, so we always pack our large car cooler box , fruit, and snacks and a nice picnic mat before setting off.
If you want hot food, skip the main park cafes which carry premium tourist prices, and head just outside the Kingston or Teddington gates where you will find cheap bakery chains and independent sandwich shops.
For a mid-range treat, the small kiosk points inside the parks sell decent artisan coffee and ice creams if you need a quick pick-me-up during your walk.
5. Clean & Affordable Activities – Seeing Wild Deer!
Spotting the Free-Roaming Wild Deer
Both parks are world-famous for their herds of Red and Fallow wild deer that graze among the ferns. We spent hours tracking them down with our binoculars, and it costs absolutely nothing to watch them interact in their natural habitat.
Two-Wheeled Park Cycling
The Tamsin Trail in Richmond provides a fantastic, mostly flat circular loop that is perfect for bikes brought from home in the boot. You can also safely cycle down the long, grand avenues of Bushy Park Click to open side panel for more information without dealing with heavy city traffic.
The Woodland Gardens Walk
Make sure to park up near the Isabella Plantation in Richmond or the Woodland Gardens in Bushy to explore enclosed, hidden paradises full of exotic plants, small streams, and wooden bridges that are totally free to enter.
6. Costs & Budget Breakdown (estimate for guidance)
| Expense Category | The Driving Option (Our Usual Route) | The Public Transport Option |
| Transport | £10.00 (Fuel estimate) | £15.00 (Train fares) |
| Parking/Bus | £0.00 (Free park lots) | £6.00 (Local bus links) |
| Food & Drink | £5.00 (Picnic ingredients) | £12.00 (High street meal deal) |
| Activities | £0.00 (Self-guided) | £0.00 (Self-guided) |
| Total Cost | £15.00 | £33.00 |
7. When to Visit to see the wild deer
Summer brings gorgeous sunshine and long evenings, but the car parks fill to maximum capacity by 9:00 AM on weekends.
Autumn is our personal favourite time to visit because you can witness the dramatic deer rutting season and watch the ancient trees turn brilliant shades of orange.
Winter is incredibly quiet and peaceful, meaning you often get the misty landscapes entirely to yourself and can find parking spaces effortlessly at any time of day.
8. Local Tips & Insider Notes
- Beat the Crowds: Arrive before 8:30 AM if driving, otherwise you will get stuck in a long queue of cars waiting for spaces to clear.
- Toilets: Clean public toilets are located at all the main cafe blocks and near the Isabella Plantation gates.
- Dog Rules: Dogs are very welcome but must be kept on leads during the deer birthing season (May-July) and should be kept well away from the deer herds at all other times.
- Safety Warning: Keep at least 50 metres away from the deer, as they are wild animals and can become unpredictable, especially during autumn.
9. Your Route at a Glance
- 08:30 AM – Arrive at Pembroke Lodge car park in Richmond and catch the morning mist.
- 10:00 AM – Cycle or walk the outer loop trail to track down the Red Deer herds.
- 12:00 PM – Lay down a blanket for a scenic picnic lunch near the Isabella Plantation.
- 01:30 PM – Drive 15 minutes down the road to Bushy Park Click to open side panel for more information via the Hampton Court gate.
- 02:00 PM – Walk the beautiful Diana Fountain loop and visit the quiet water gardens.
- 04:30 PM – Head home before the local commuter traffic peaks.
10. Conclusion
This double-park day out is absolute perfection for budget-conscious families and couples who want a heavy dose of British nature without paying hefty theme park or castle entry fees.
More information can be found on the Royal Parks website: Richmond Park | The Royal Parks & Bushy Park | The Royal Parks
Have you ever managed to see the deer during the autumn rutting season? Let us know your experiences in the comments below!
Looking for other FREE day out activities in London? Check out our other blogs on visiting Horizon 22 and the Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Is parking free at Richmond and Bushy Parks?
Yes, parking is completely free within the designated public car parks inside both standard royal park boundaries, though spaces are strictly limited on busy summer days.
Can you touch the deer in the parks?
No, you must keep a minimum distance of 50 metres at all times for your own safety and the welfare of the wild animals.
Are there bike hire facilities on site?
Yes, you can hire bicycles near the Roehampton Gate in Richmond if you cannot bring your own in the car, though this will add an extra cost to your budget day out.
What aspect of the parks are you planning to explore first on your budget day trip?
