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for further photos of Richmond Park Deer

Richmond Park is the largest Royal Park in London, extending over some 955 hectares (2,360 acres). Richmond Park is a heritage landscape of national importance. The Park was enclosed as a hunting park by Charles I in 1637 and still retains many ingredients of a medieval deer park. Essential to its character is the rich landscape of semi-natural acidic grassland, areas of bog and bracken, wetland, woodland and ancient parkland trees, and the herds of fallow and red deer that still roam the park. In 1992 Richmond Park was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by English Nature.

Richmond Park has changed little over the centuries and although it is surrounded by human habitation, the varied landscape of hills, woodland gardens and grasslands set among ancient trees abounds in wild life.

The Isabella Plantation is a stunning woodland garden which was created after World War II from an existing woodland, and is organically run, resulting in a rich flora and fauna.

AMENETIES

Pembroke Lodge - cafeteria (telephone 0871 560 9887 ) 1 November - 31 March: 10 am until 30 minutes before park closes 1 April - 31 October: weekdays 10 am - 5.30 pm, weekends 10 am - 7 pm. Light music lunchtimes, early afternoons (Friday to Sunday, late June to end of August). Restaurant - open all year from 8 am during daylight hours
Kiosks - 10 am to 30 minutes before park closes

ACTIVITIES

Golf courses - Two public golf courses (for booking telephone 020 8876 3205)
Sailing model boats on the pond near Sheen Gate - beware, some of the banks are steep Horse-riding (no stables or hiring facilities in the park) anywhere in the park up to 12 noon and after 6 pm (or till park closes), except for enclosed areas, footpaths and areas of mown grass. After these times, horse-riding must be confined to the roads, the riding tracks all around the park and the riding ring; also confined to tracks at all times when notices displayed.
Playground at Petersham Gate
Fishing on Pen Ponds (with licence)
Cycling on cycle tracks and all roads (except those closed by notice)
Wildlife watching
Eating out

PARK OPENING TIMES
The park opens at 7.00 am in summer, 7.30 am in winter and closes at dusk

PARK OFFICE
Postal address: Superintendent's Office, Holly Lodge, Bog Lodge Yard, Richmond Park, Surrey TW10 5HS
Telephone: 0871 560 9487