Bushy Park, London.
One of London’s Royal Parks, Bushy Park has over 1,000 acres of historic parkland to explore.
It’s a vast green space full of history, a haven for wildlife and home to tranquil water and woodland gardens. Oh, this park also has herds of red and fallow deer who roam freely. The Bushy Park deer are an iconic sight!
Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of a visit to this lovely London park.
The History of Bushy Park
Bushy Park, just like all of the Royal Parks, is a lovely place to wander. If you knew nothing of the history, you could still explore and have a really lovely day,
But I’m a history lover and this place is soaked in it, so lets have a little bit of a background check.
The open space of the park has been used for at least 4,000 years. Bronze age remains have been discovered here, some of which can be found in the British Museum.
The story of Bushy Park as we know it begins in the 1500’s when Cardinal Thomas Wolsey built Hampton Court Palace and snapped up acres of land to go with it, creating beautiful parkland and hunting grounds.
By the 1600’s, King Charles I was running the show and added The Longford River; a hand dug canal designed to supply water to Hampton Court. After so long, the Longford looks organic, but we know differently, don’t we?
King Charles also commissioned Bushy Parks beautiful Diana fountain, which is now Grade I listed.
Like so many places in London, Bushy Park played a part in the World wars, leaving it with Canadian and American connections.
Now it’s a public park, open to all.
The Deer at Bushy Park
Bushy Park has been home to free roaming Red and Fallow deer for hundreds of years. Back in the day, they were kept to be hunted by Royals and their guests. Now, they are much loved residents and Royal Parks take their welfare very seriously.
Visitors should keep a minimum distance of 50m. However cute, deer are wild animals. Not for feeding, petting or selfies. It is actually illegal to feed the deer, as it poses a risk to both deer and humans.
It should be obvious, but having spent time deer spotting in a few parks, it seems not to be obvious to all.
- Autumn is deer rutting season. The rut can be quite a spectacle as the stags and bucks compete for females. It’s also a time when you’re likely to see harems of females clustered around the dominant males.
- May onwards is birthing season. Females often break away to birth in the long grass and bracken and leave the young while they forage. They aren’t abandoned; they will return and a fawn should not be approached or touched. Visitors should not go in search of fawns, but you might get lucky and spot one.
Things to See & Do at Bushy Park
Bushy Park is the perfect place to enjoy some time outdoors. There is an extensive network of pathways and trails for walkers, runners, cyclists and horse riding.
The Woodland and Water gardens are historic gems and beautiful in every season. Plan in a Spring visit to see the gardens coming into flower; blossoms and blooms everywhere!
You shouldn’t visit Bushy Park without walking the Chestnut Avenue and admiring the Diana fountain. Diana is the oldest statue in all the Royal Parks and she is a beauty; everything a timeless piece in a historic park should be.
The bronze goddess stone and marble fountain was created in 1637 as a gift from King Charles I for his wife, Henrietta Maria. A goddess wasn’t quite extra enough, so French sculptor Hubert Le Sueur also added some boys, water nymphs and shells.
Originally part of the Hampton Court gardens, the fountain was relocated to be the centre piece of the Sir Christopher Wren designed Chestnut Avenue. If you can wander along the mile-long Avenue, gaze at Diana and not have day dreams of dressing like you’re in a Regency-era period dram and being whisked off to a party at Hampton Court… well, your less fanciful than me.
Fanciful or not, the Diana fountain is a beauty and she’s the star of the show at Bushy Park.
With so many woodlands and grand old trees, Bushy Park is also a good shout for a bit of outdoor mindfulness or forest bathing. If your wondering what that’s all about, I wrote about the benefits of forest bathing here.
Food & Drink in Bushy Park
Whatever your plans for a day in Bushy Park, you might fancy stopping for a coffee or a spot of lunch.
The Pheasantry Café in Bushy Park
Find The Pheasantry Café in the Woodland Gardens. This Bushy Park café serves a range of hot and cold meals, cakes and a really good coffee; don’t forget your reusable cup for a small discount.
Expect to pay around £4 for a hot drink and £12-15 for a main course.
Refreshments can also be purchased from a kiosk at The Diana Carpark
You are, of course, also welcome to bring a picnic to the park. Just wander until you find the perfect place to pause.
Can I Take My Dog to Bushy Park?
Yes, you are welcome to walk your dog in Bushy Park and there are miles of lovely walks. There are a few things to be aware of:
Dogs can be walked off lead if you are very confident of their recall and can keep a safe distance from the deer.
It is an offence for dogs to chase deer in Bushy Park and owners can be prosecuted.
There is a mandatory on lead season for Deer birthing season (1 May to 31 July) and an advisory for dogs on leads during Deer rutting season (September to November).
Dogs are not allowed in the Woodland Gardens.
How to Get to Bushy Park & Opening Times
The closest train stations are the mainline stations Teddington and Hampton Wick. Both are a 5-10 minute walk from a park gate. Several bus routes run close to Bushy Park. Use the TfL travel planner to check routes and times.
There are four car parks at Bush Park, parking is free.
The park is open to pedestrians 24/7, except during deer culls. These take place in Sept-Oct and Nov-Dec. In these times, access is 8am-10.30pm.
I hope I can inspire you to visit Bushy Park, or any of the beautiful London Royal Parks. If, like me, you love pretty parks and gardens you might also enjoy reading this post: Exploring the Herrenhausen Gardens, Hannover.
Helen x
I’ve not spent long enough exploring bushy TBH as Hampton Court normally distracts me! If I can offer one recommendation its to try the linear (as opposed to circular) walk that follows the Capital Ring walk (v well signed) from Wimbledon Park tube station, through Wimbledon Park, near to the All England Club and then across Wimbledon Common, straight into Richmond park and across that fab park to Petersham meadows and into Richmond and the tube at Richmond. If you are interested here’s the link from the TFL website https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/wimbledon-park-to-richmond
We’ve been eyeing up this Capital Ring Walk for some Summer walking, Lord knows where we’ll end up. It’s all exploring, I suppose. It’s taken us to get to Bushy, despite having spent a few weekends in Richmond. I’d love a posting in or around London, could just take myself off all over .
I’ve done the ring several times now and it never fails esp if you like history… hope you get to do some. Surely the MoD must have a desk?
I’d never heard of this park, Helen, but I love that area of rhododendrons and azaleas. They’re some of my favourites.
They are beautiful, aren’t they? I’d not heard of Bushy Park either until I found it on the Royal Parks website. Definitely worth a visit!
I’ve not been to Bushy Park but it looks lovely and being there to see the azaleas in bloom must have been special.
It was so lovely in the Woodland gardens with everything in bloom, really made me feel like Summer is on the horizon. I am in awe of what it must take the grounds keeping team to create something so wonderful!
Diana is very elegant, her clumsy base less so. It took me a while to notice the bird, I thought at first it was elaborate head-gear. Doh! I think I must be due an eye-test…
I think she must warm up in the sun and be an attractive perch! Not very dignified for her, but I suppose it makes her both use and ornament. Yes, I did think she could have stood on a simpler base but I suppose it wasn’t they style of the time.
Thank you for sharing this place with us. It looks beautiful and the history is so interesting. It is such a long drive from Cumbria to visit it myself so I am happy that you gave me a virtual visit ☺️.
My pleasure, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Bushy is one of the lesser known London parks so I was happy to share.
I had no idea it was quite so big – thank you for the beautiful spring time tour! 🙂
Shame on me, I have never heard of Bushy Park, and it looks wonderful. I always thought Regency style dresses were the most gorgeous. Loved your post.
Lovely piece Helen which I really enjoyed, especially as Bushy Park has (for reasons unknown) managed to evade me all these years. Appreciated the history too and had a giggle about Henry VIII as so many London parks’ early days are informed by ‘Orrible ‘Enry and his thirst for hunting on large swathes of land.
Thanks Leighton, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’d never heard of Bushy, I only found it because I had a thought to visit all the Royal Parks and went online to make a list. It’s a good one though, my favourite so far.
I too have never heard of Bushy Park. It’s almost as if it has been secret all this time. Anywhere with free roaming deer and rohdedendrans is a hit with me. 🙂
It’s totally underrated! I don’t think it helps that Richmond park is just along the road. Bushy is a beauty though, definitely recommend!
Beautiful photographs! I love the historical context and look forward to reading more of your posts!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Looks absolutely stunning! I also love the little bit of history you added – it gives such meaningful context to a place! Am adding this to my list for my next trip out to England/London!
What a beautiful park (and a beautiful write-up)! Especially love the deer.
How beautiful! I’d never heard of Bushy Park before, so thank you for all these wonderful facts!
I can’t believe I’ve never been to Bushy Park, or even really thought of visiting. You have amply demonstrated that I’ve been missing out, and need to put this right when I’m near enough to do so.
It seems a bit of an under the radar park! Lovely place though, I hope you get to make a visit 😊
Reblogged this on Site Title.
I love this park! My dentist is in Teddington which is over an hour’s drive from where I live (long story). My drive takes me over the Thames, past Hampton Court, and through Bushy Park. At least, it used to, you’re unable to drive straight through now. Although I used to live near Richmond Park, I think I prefer Bushy Park. My journey almost makes going to the dentist a pleasure!
We all need something lovely to balance out a trip to the dentist- either of these parks would do it!