Home Park is the name given to the area of Hampton Court Palace park which is open to the public…read more It is a large expanse of parkland (over 550 acres) and a perfect place to get some exercise and fresh air, and escape the urban bustle of west London. I've always found it surprisingly quiet - less busy than adjacent Bushy Park or Richmond Park. It is easily accessible from either Kingston-upon-Thames (a 10 minute walk) or Hampton Court railways stations (5 minutes). The area has been a royal hunting ground for centuries, but it was Henry VIII who enclosed the area to form the park as it is now. In 1639 Charles I created the Longford river to bring water to the park, and in 1661 Charles II created the main feature, the "Long Water", effectively a wide ornamental canal, over half a mile long, flanked with a double row of trees on each bank. It was in the park that William III had his riding accident in 1702 (when his horse stumbled on a molehill) from which he died shortly afterwards. The park was opened to the public in 1893 and the golf course opened in 1895. The area south of the Long Water is mostly occupied by the golf course: the park is otherwise a mixture of small wooded areas, ponds and small lakes, and uncut acid grassland; this grassland is home to a wide variety of insects and attracts many different bird species as well as colonies of bats. The park also contains 7,000 trees (including a nationally important concentration of mistletoe, growing on lime trees) and a herd of 300 fallow deer. It is therefore protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Access is through various gates: the closest to Hampton Court is a 5-minute walk along the river bank from the end of Hampton Court Palace bridge. There are also gates along Hampton Court Road and close to Kingston Bridge. There are paths for walkers and cyclists: vehicles are only permitted for those members driving to the golf course. if you are walking in winter, the paths can get very muddy, so waterproof walking boots are advisable. Visitors are advised to stay at least 50 metres from the deer, and to keep dogs on leash when in their vicinity (it is an offence to let dogs approach or chase the deer, and the park noticeboards record a number of prosecutions of dog owners for this, as a warning). Fishing in the ponds and Long Water is strictly by permit only. The park is closed at sundown - closing times are posted on gates, and also on the park website.

Another dreamy spot in Richmond Park!…read more An ornamental woodland garden that deserves to be visited as much as is humanly possible. At this very moment, a lot of the trees are glowing red! It's just stunning! There's a delightful pond filled with waterlilies and the most beautiful reflections. It's name seems to originate from the word 'isabel' in the 15th century, which meant dingy or greyish yellow - referring to the colour of the soil in this part of the park. It certainly contains a much brighter pallet now. Some of its seasonal delights include: Spring - camellias, magnolias, daffodils and bluebells. Summer - Japanese irises and day lilies. Autumn - guelder rose, rowan and spindle trees loaded with berries and leaves on the acer trees are turning red. Winter - camellias and rhododendron, mahonia, winter-flowering heathers and stinking hellebore. For drivers the Broomfield Hill car park is closest. If on foot, it's best to enter the park at Ladderstile Gate where there is a big map to direct you!

I am now a member of the selected group that know of Isabella Plantation and I am proud of it! :)…read more I have been going to Richmond Park for years and I love every bit of it. But I now love it even more! Isabella Plantation is quite a large garden secluded from the rest of the park by a wooden fence but set right in it. It has a magnificent collection of colourful flowers, and a stream that runs right through it. It also has three ponds and a great selection of trees too. It is charming, peaceful, secret and beautiful. Don't miss it if you go to Richmond Park. But don't stay long, I wouldn't want it to start getting crowded ;)

Somebody might give it 4 stars because it's too sparsely populated, but there aren't many reasons…read morenot to love one of the crown-jewel London parks. I guess maybe if you don't like little baby deer (how couldn't you?). At 955 hectares, you'll be hard-pressed to make it one side to the other, let alone experience all this natural wonder has to offer (or to know what a hectare is). Even those artificial Pen Ponds seem natural, since they've been here since 1746. Be sure to come in spring to marvel at the azaleas in Isabella Plantation, and bring your bike for the myriad trails winding throughout the property, unless you'd prefer to bring your horse instead (horses love baby deer). Cover those baby deer's ears because we should note there's "culling" in February and November (say it isn't so). It's easy to arrive by train or tube if you're not just riding your bike/horse straight from home. If I lived that close (and had a horse) you know I'd be doing that often. Thanks Charles I for spending all those forced-tax dollars on a place you could put a bunch of deer, all those centuries ago. We'll look forward to another visit soon.

Vast and well maintained "wild" park. This is the park to go sight seeing for deer, Canadian geese,…read moreswans, all manner of ducks and lots of pet dogs. We walked 5 miles easy from the pedestrian entrance in Petersham to the large ponds and back. If you're taking the tube, get off at Richmond station and right outside the station, catch bus 371 to Richmond Hill pass the American University. When you get off, make a left and walk for a few minutes, you'll see the park entrance.

A lovely little park over looking the River Thames. It has a play ground on one end with a small…read morecafe to purchase simple food. Took my niece there so she could learn to use her roller blades on the the path that surrounds the park. Defo go back there

Cannizaro Park is one of Wimbledon's hidden gems. Located a short distance from Wimbledon village,…read moreit is accessed via a short pathway to the side of Cannizzaro House (now a hotel), off West Side Common. The park was originally part of the garden belonging to the house. These were first developed in the 18th century, and between 1785 and 1806, were the residence of the first Viscount Melville, when they were visited by George III and William Pitt the Younger. The house and park take their name from one of the 19th century owners, the Sicilian Francis Platamone. He became the Duke of Cannizzaro, and although he left his wife to return to Italy in 1832, she remained in the house and acquired his title, albeit dropping one of the 'z's. The gardens as we see them now reflect work undertaken by the final owners in the 1940s, and were acquired by Wimbledon Borough Council in 1947. They are now under the care of Merton Borough Council. A "friends group" helps to maintain the garden. The garden itself includes a large lawn at the front of the house, a formal sunken garden, a substantial Arboretum, a small lake, and a woodland walk. It is well known for its displays of bluebells, rhododendrons, Azaleas and camellias in Spring. The gardens are free to enter, and are a lovely place to stroll and wander on a sunny Spring or summer's day.

Met a friend in Wimbledon and we went for a walk in Cannizaro Park - where we got to see a…read morebeautiful aviary and gorgeous trees. This is a sweet little park and I wish I had time to hang out here for an afternoon - it's so different from little parks in London, more rural and "wild" - very enjoyable. Highly recommend bringing a book and a blanket to hang out and enjoy this space if you need an escape from the hustle and bustle.

What a great time! Anytime I am in Europe, I've gotta visit…read moreat least one new-to-me castle. And since my partner at the time also wanted to check out the Ted Lasso pub, which happens to be in the same town of Richmond, just on the entire opposite side of the town, we figured we could kill two birds with one stone....or visit two attractions on one train ride. I am not a Bridgerton gal, but apparently some of it was filmed at this castle...I was here because of the Tudor and Stuart connections! It is huge and beautiful and I could have spent 3 more hours here! But also there was a private event being set up for the next day so some of the gardens were off limits unfortunately. The gardens too! GORGEOUS. LOVELY. WONDERFUL. Highly worth getting the audio tour, as well. It was so interesting to hear about the different royals who made residence here and how they each changed the palace. Entry is timed, and I would recommend aiming for earlier in the day if you are really in to the history and seeing it all. Because there is A LOT to see. It helped that the weather was perfect during my visit here since there are gardens to explore and much of the interesting parts of the castle grounds are open to the elements, but it was a highlight of my trip to London no matter what.

One of my favorite tourist sites to visit when back in the UK…read moreKnown as King Henry VIII palace it is such a great place with lots to see and obviously a ton of history Do the headset tour the first time you visit so you know all the rooms and what you're looking at I especially love the old kitchen area and the gardens , the garden maze was always a fun area as a child Staff are all super nice and helpful Lovely day out

Morden Hall Park is probably one of my favourite parks in the local area. I grew up around the…read morecorner and would often frequent it with my friends or to ride my bike as a child. It is a National Trust park, spanning from Morden through to Mitcham, and you could even walk it as the paths are clearly signposted for one to follow. The park also boasts a large garden centre and a lovely little cafe with a National Trust shop attached. The River Wandle runs through it and in summer you will find children in the streams, fishing or playing. There is also a cute little flower garden which is maintained all year round.

We were in Wimbledon for a car test drive but wanted to walk our dog too so did a quick google…read moresearch and this National Trust property came up. It's beautiful! There's a garden centre and a couple of cafes (though I did find the food at the Potting Shed cafe rather disappointing and tasteless if I'm honest). They've got 'wilder' bits with long grass for dogs to run around and a rose garden (not blooming yet but looking forward to seeing it in the summer) and mowed areas perfect for kids to run around. There are streams running through the park and lovely white bridges. It really is picturesque and not at all what I was expecting to find. The dog loved it too!

Really large park, good for after lunch walk. It takes me some time to find the deers. They are not…read moreafraid of people at all.

very nice park with loads of nice trees and a big park wgich is great for kids…read more nice to walk around, very big

Ewell Court Park is a beautiful park with numerous pedestrian entrances. It is lovely for a Sunday…read moremorning stroll in the Summer where you can see children feeding the ducks in the pond and the wildlife around you. There is also a playground and a sports ground in the park. Located in the suburb of Ewell it is a rare piece of green land to be enjoyed by all. There are a few parking spaces by Ewell Court Library or down Lakehurst Road.

This is a beautiful park which has a lovely setting, an ideal place to go for a walk or take the…read morekids to feed the ducks. With plenty of wildlife, you can often see the herron sitting on the island in the middle of the lake. There are squirrels, ducks and plenty of tropical parrots that fly above. If you follow the path it leads to the playground where there are swings and slides for the children. Its a great place for dog walkers, strollers or to take the kids out. There is also a library and a garden centre within the grounds so there is something for everyone. It is my favourite park and is truly a beautiful and harmonious place.

We went to Kew on a £10 Tuesday recently. What a bargain! If you love horticultural gardens, this…read moreis a visit you cannot miss. The largest-ever outdoor presentation of works by Henry Moore was showing and it was really wonderful. The weather was very cooperative, too. Wish the food on offer was better and cheaper, but that's a pretty minor complaint. This place isn't nearly as planted as many horticultural gardens in the US (NY, Missouri Botanical, Longwood Garden...) but there is lots to see. Schedule a big chunk of time!

I wish I had planned a bit better because it took so long to get over to Kew Gardens and it's…read morereally beauty that needs about a half day to walk around in, so we ended up having to cancel our plans to see a second play to fully enjoy it. Don't buy your Kew Gardens tickets through Get Your Guide. You have to wait in the same line as purchasing regular tickets so it saves you no time and actually costs you more time than just buying them through their website. You're able to bring in food and water, which is fantastic if you're planning to stop by Ginger Pig and make a picnic out of it, which we did. The space is really pretty and their hot houses are delightful so make sure to bring your walking shoes and enjoy yourself!