Dear oh deer - palatial parks of Bushy and Hampton Court

NOTE 1: There is currently a rail replacement bus service scheduled between Surbiton and Hampton Court on 4 February 2023.

You will still be able to take direct trains to Surbiton but then transfer by bus to Hampton Court. Buses depart 0956 or 1026. 

For instance, catch the 0954 from London Waterloo, arriving Surbiton 1011, then bus 1026 arriving Hampton Court 1040.

Please check https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/planned-improvement…

NOTE 2: I intend to repeat this walk later in the year in view of the current numbers attending and on the waiting list. 

The title refers to King Charles III’s remarks on meeting a prime minister, and we are likely to encounter deer, runners and a few tourists on this walk through the surprisingly wild but accessible parks at Bushy and Hampton Court with their royal history, including that of another King Charles. Despite being so close to London, this will be a mix of picturesque parkland and easy walking, which may be perfect for a winter’s day.

The sights

Bushy Park: London’s second largest park (over 1000 acres) includes red and fallow deer, waterways from Tudor times which fed the canals and fountains of Hampton Court (which we’ll see from a distance) and the stately Chestnut Avenue designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The most notable features of the park include the Diana Fountain with statue designed as a gift from Charles I to Henrietta Maria, part of the Longford River (an 12 mile artificial canal) and the more genteel Woodland and Water Gardens, which were restored at a cost of around £7m.

Hampton Court Home Park: veteran trees, lime tree avenues and roaming deer mark this often overlooked park enclosed by Cardinal Wolsey and the site of Henry VIII’s hunts. The Long Water was built for Charles II and Catherine of Braganza in 1660 and affords a Versailles-like view of the Palace, linked to the water features in Bushy Park. Boats in the shape of swans greeted the Queen and the park is home to the famous Flower Show in summer, but we’re more likely to encounter a few balls as we skirt the golf course.

Thames Path: 184 miles long, we’ll sample a short stretch at the bend of the river on the north bank of the Thames away from Hampton Wick/Kingston, opposite Thames Ditton’s pubs to Hampton Court.

Hampton Court Palace: Unlike all of Henry VIII’s six wives, we won’t visit today but we’ll see the baroque facade built by Sir Christopher Wren for William III and Mary I, and the ornate chimneys and red brick gatehouse leading to Henry VIII’s Tudor palace. We’ll also be afforded a close up view of Jean Tijou’s ornate iron screens on the walk.

Dogs

I love having dogs on my walks and this walk is ideal for them, although both parks have deer and there will be a couple of short stretches on roads to walk along with plenty of traffic. Therefore, I recommend dogs are kept on their leads. 

Please note that as dogs are NOT allowed in the Woodland Gardens (Bushy Park), I will provide an alternative route if we have dog walkers on the day. You won’t miss much as the visit to the Gardens is only 10/15 minutes. There is outdoor seating and a servery for dog walkers by the car park for the Pheasantry Cafe (rather than within the cafe and its immediate surrounding area within the Woodland Gardens).

The route: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/15616935/hampton-court-bushy-park-and-thames-path(click the link to see it on the Ordnance Survey website) - 

Please note that the route does not include Hampton Court Palace or gardens. You won’t have time to visit on the day - save these for another day as they take several hours with admission charges applicable.

From Hampton Court station, we’ll go north over the bridge passing the Tudor facade of the Palace and entering Bushy Park. In the Park, we will see the Diana Fountain, cross the Chestnut Avenue and enter the Woodland Gardens going west, following the Longford River and parkland north to the Water Gardens. We’ll then loop back southeast for an early lunch near the Pheasantry Cafe. 

After lunch, we’ll continue east through the parkland and exit Bushy Park with a short interlude crossing over at Hampton Wick into Home Park. In Home Park, we will track southwards through the flat parkland with a view over the Long Water canal before joining the Thames Path.

The Thames Path will lead us back to Hampton Court Palace and over the bridge where there will be time for a pub stop in Hampton/East Molesey village before returning to the station.

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(All images were taken by Alex Young in 2021 and 2022.)