Established by King Henry VIII as royal hunting grounds after he took over ownership of Hampton Court Palace from Cardinal Wolesley, Bushy Park later evolved into a public park, and is now one of London’s most wild and beautiful green spaces. Famous for its large herds of red and fallow deer, the park is also home to two celebrated garden areas: The Upper Lodge Water Gardens, which consist of baroque fountains and pools and were restored in 2010, and the Waterhouse Woodland Garden, which was created from former plantation lands in 1925.
Bushy Garden can be visited during tours of neighboring Hampton Court Palace, while dedicated photography tours make it easy to discover the park’s scenic highlights and resident wildlife.
Bushy Park is situated between Twickenham, Kingston, and Surbiton at the southwestern edge of London. To travel by train, take overland lines from Waterloo to Teddington, Hampton Wick, or Hampton Court stations, all of which are a 5–10-minute walk from the park. The park is also served by several local bus lines. Parking lots are also found on-site, though are particularly busy during the weekend.
Pedestrian gates to Bushy Park are open 24 hours except during the deer-culling season in September and November, when they open from 8am till dusk. Bushy Park’s Waterhouse Woodlands Garden and Upper Lodge Water Gardens both open at 9am and close at dusk daily; the Water Gardens are additionally closed on Mondays.
To make the most of your time in the area, combine a trip to Bushy Park with a visit to neighboring Hampton Court Palace. Built in 1515, the Tudor landmark was a preferred residence of King Henry VIII, and is the perfect place to learn about this popular era in British history.
