Hampton Court and Bushy Park walk

2 deer parks and a royal palace

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Thu, 14-Sep-23 Thursday Evening Walk: Hampton and Bushy Park 8 fine evening
Thu, 22-Sep-22 Evening Walk: A Walk with Splendid Stags (Hampton Court and Bushy Park Short Walk) 5 dark twilight
Thu, 23-Sep-21 Evening Walk: Relaxing with Royalty (Hampton Court and Bushy Park) 7 mild and somewhat dark twighlight
Thu, 03-Sep-20 Relaxing with Royalty 4 cloudy but largely dry
Wed, 24-Apr-19 Evening Walk - Hampton Court and Bushy Park (Hampton Wick Circular) fine but cool
Thu, 25-May-17 Evening Walk - Hampton Court and Bushy Park
Stargazer
Stargazer

NOTE: Not sure what happened -- but this walk should be Thursday 14 September -- not Friday!!! I have corrected the error -- Thursday is correct.


Hampton Park and Bushy Park Short Walk T=Short.3

Distance: Approximately 4 miles or 7 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 1 out of 10

Travel: 18:12 South Western Train Shepperton bound train from London Waterloo, arriving at Hampton Wick at 18:43. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE CORRECT SHEPPERTON TRAIN STOPPING IN HAMPTON WICK (NOT Hampton).

Return trains run every fifteen minutes until 23:30.

This has proved to be a real cracker of an evening walk the past few years at this time of year. Plenty of magnificent beasts starting the annual rut! We are a week earlier this year -- so things may be a bit calmer than year's past...but who knows with global warming....

The walk meanders through a combination of the public grounds of Hampton Court Palace and neighboring Bushy Park with its resident deer population. The grounds are varied with pretty gardens and water features. Please ensure you keep a safe distance from any deer spotted in Bushy Park and do NOT feed them – they have apparently become quite interested in people (and any food that may be offered)….

Post walk refreshments and possibly a meal can be had at the Foresters Arms, open until 23:00 with kitchen open until 22:00.

More information about the route can be found here.

Enjoy the walk!

  • 15-Sep-23

    8 on this fine evening . Absolutely fab, one of my favorite evening walks. I thought we might be a bit early for deer rutting activity, but we were not disappointed. The large stags in Bushy Park are definitely starting to make their claims. We had the exciting opportunity to watch one fine specimen keeping his ladies coralled as we walked past....he then followed us over a bridge at slightly close quarters....There was lots of bellowing and some higher pitched barks (perhaps the female?)....Also spotted in the darkening dusk skies, were a collection of bats...a group was out observing them with barometers which picked up their usually inaudible sounds....we also spotted Saturn....it was then through the secret gate and back into reality (and a very pleasant pub).

Hampton Court and Bushy Park Short Walk T=Short.3

Distance: Approximately 4 miles or 7 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 1 out of 10

Travel: 18:12 South Western Train Shepperton bound train from London Waterloo, arriving at Hampton Wick at 18:43. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE CORRECT SHEPPERTON TRAIN STOPPING IN HAMPTON WICK (NOT Hampton).

Return trains run every fifteen minutes until 23:30.

This has proved to be a real cracker of an evening walk the past two years at this time of year. Plenty of magnificent beasts starting the annual rut! The walk meanders through a combination of the public grounds of Hampton Court Palace and neighboring Bushy Park with its resident deer population. The grounds are varied with pretty gardens and water features. Please ensure you keep a safe distance from any deer spotted in Busy Park and do NOT feed them – they are potentially dangerous wild animals!

Post walk refreshments and possibly a meal can be had at the Foresters Arms, open until 23:00 with kitchen open until 22:00.

More information about the route can be found here.

Enjoy the walk!

  • 25-Sep-22

    No comments published from the Thursday posting but I did the walk today - Sunday- a little trip down memory lane visiting my old student haunt. (I got off the train at Kingston). There is no option to enter Hamton Court Grounds as the gate to cross the bridge has I believe been locked for years. The enclosed path to the main road is now the only onward route so the written instructions need to delete the Hampton Court Grounds bit and the gpx route amended. Some splendid bellowing from the red stags in Bushey Park with a couple I spotted attempting to dress their antlers with reeds and marsh plants to make them more intimidating. Appalled that the Park authorities allow dogs to run free during autumn but the deer seem pretty forgiving and I myself passed within a few feet of a hind and some yearlings. I skirted round a large stag though as it was in full voice. A lovely autumn amble.

  • 25-Sep-22

    Just 2 initially emerged from the crowded train with a third appearing just as we were about to set off....Not much later, just as we approached Hampton Court Park, we met a fourth....The fallow deer were out in force with some young males practicing their jousting skills...We met number 5 just outside Bushy Park...where the red deer were out in force lots of bellowing which in the dark twilight was very spooky. A few truly magnificent beasts passed quite close by us but seemed more focused on other matters....Our fantastical journey finished by a gate and lamppost from where we all sojourned to the pub for drinks and/or food.

    A fab night -- definitely one of the best evening walks with quick frequent trains, vast varied and wild parkland and a convenient pub -- what else could you want or need....

  • 28-Sep-22

    I am restraining myself from a huge rant about the Historic Royal Palaces "Trust" but the gates at Hampton Court Gardens have been closed since the start of the pandemic and they are now charging £26 (the palace entry fee) even to get into the bits of the gardens that used to be open to the public. A massive kick in the teeth to local walkers - OK I've started ranting now . . .

Hampton Court and Bushy Park Short Walk T=Short.3

Distance: Approximately 4 miles or 7 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 1 out of 10

Travel: 18:12 South Western Train Shepperton bound train from London Waterloo, arriving at Hampton Wick at 18:43. Return trains run every fifteen minutes until 23:00.

This walk meanders through a combination of the public grounds of Hampton Court Palace and neighboring Bushy Park with its resident deer population. The grounds are varied with pretty gardens and water features. As with last year, we will likely need to use "route B" which skirts the main Hampton Court grounds.

Please ensure you keep a safe distance from any deer spotted in Busy Park and do NOT feed them – they have apparently become quite interested in people (and any food that may be offered)….

Post walk refreshments and possibly a meal can be had at the Foresters Arms, open until 23:00 with kitchen open until 22:00.

More information about the route can be found here.

Enjoy the walk!

  • 24-Sep-21

    6 emerged at Hampton Wick station from the correct Shepperton bound train while another arrived at Hampton (without Wick) from the OTHER train to Shepperton that left Waterloo at the exact SAME time...the lone starter met the group in Bushy Park, making for 7 on this enjoyable outing in mild and somewhat dark twighlight conditions. As with last year, a real cracker of an evening walk. This year we were even treated to the start of the rut! Very atmospheric....loads of bellowing from some magnificent creatures and a fair bit of antler-tapping...The great expanse of Bushy Park and sheer number of deer really transports you away from London as if by magic....we eventually returned from Narnia through a gate just a stone's throw from a pleasant and accommodating pub near the station for refreshments before catching the correct 22:02....again two options at the same time.

Thu, 03-Sep-20 : Relaxing with Royalty 4
Stargazer
Stargazer
Hampton Court and Bushy Park Short Walk T=Short.3

Distance: Approximately 4 miles or 7 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 1 out of 10

Travel: 18:12 South Western Train Shepperton bound train from London Waterloo, arriving at Hampton Wick at 18:42. Return trains run every fifteen minutes until 23:00.

This walk meanders through a combination of the public grounds of Hampton Court Palace and neighboring Bushy Park with its resident deer population. The grounds are varied with pretty gardens and water features. Please ensure you keep a safe distance from any deer spotted in Bushy Park and do NOT feed them – they have apparently become quite interested in people (and any food that may be offered)….

Post walk refreshments and possibly a meal can be had at the Foresters Arms, open until 23:00 with kitchen open until 21:00.

More information about the route can be found here.

Enjoy the walk!

  • Sandy
    02-Sep-20

    You will definitely need to follow route B (see paras 4-6) as the palace grounds have been closed since lockdown and Historic Royal Palaces are clearly in no hurry to reopen even the parts that used to be open to the public.

  • 04-Sep-20

    A select group of 3 alighted from the specified train in cloudy but largely dry conditions for this very pleasant evening outing. I had not done this walk before and had never been to Bushy Park....both were a revelation...I think this is probably one of better evening walks with an interesting and varied route through both manicured palace gardens (when opened) and expansive parkland, comprised of woods, heath and wetlands...coupled with a nice pub and frequent trains what more can you really ask for on an evening walk.....

    Bushy Park most certainly has an enormous deer population...they were everywhere....though sadly (based on the signage on the gate at the end), their numbers will be dropping over the coming weeks....

    Unfortunately, as predicted, the route through the palace grounds was closed, but the alternate route provides a short diversion which quickly reconnects with the bulk of the walk through Bushy Park....A woodland in Bushy Park that the route goes through was also closed...but a look at the map quickly revealed that we could skirt the edge of the wood and pick up our route on the far side...As the written words for this walk are economical in places on the route through Bushy Park, I would suggest also having the GPX file at hand....While relaxing at the pub over drinks and light meals, a regular evening walker appeared, having inadvertently embarked on the walk from an [unofficial] alternate starting point....making for 4 in total.

Length: 7.1 km (4.4 mi)
Ascent/Descent: negligible
Net Walking Time: ca. 1 ½ hours
Toughness: 1 out of 10
Take the 18.12 Shepperton train from Waterloo (18.17 Vauxhall, 18.22 Clapham J, 18.25 Earlsfield, 18.29 Wimbledon, etc.), arriving Hampton Wick at 18.43.
Return trains: xx.01, xx.14, xx.31, xx.44.
Two Deer Parks and Hampton Court Castle, a Royal Palace.
Tea: The Foresters Arms on High Street.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.3
  • Sandy
    22-Apr-19

    Wow, I think this must be the nearest walk to me in the whole database so I will try to join you, although I'll probably be on the train behind your one especially if the planet hasn't been saved by Thursday.

  • 22-Apr-19

    Re the "Alternative Route" and "Through the Palace Grounds" options mentioned in paras 2-5 of the Walk Directions, since 2016 it has no longer been possible to enter the Palace Grounds by the back gates on either side of the Long Water: Historic Royal Palaces now charge for entry to the formal gardens at all times of the year. If you approach the Palace on the left-hand side of the Long Water you'll be stuck unless you can find the park exit gate out to the Thames Path (a perfectly nice route if the Palace Grounds are still open to walk through, but some way off the published route). There's no problem if you stay on the right-hand side of the Long Water.

    See also the Hampton Court Circular walk page, a longer version of this short walk.

  • Karen
    25-Apr-19

    n= 4 fine but cool

    Missed the posted train due to a very packed Jubilee Line and arrived at Hampton Wick 15 minutes late. The walk poster and two new faces were waiting and off we set. Quite quickly got away from the busy road and into Home Park and splendid isolation. Save for some deer, a swan and a lone jogger, we were alone as we made our way through the park, past the pond and through the avenue towards Hampton Court Palace. Admired the Palace and the flowerbeds through the bars of the gate and then made our way . A short walk along the road and we entered the grounds via another gate and were able to wander around "The Wildeness", the rose gardens and the kitchen gardens. Again, in splendid isolation, we were able to admire the front facade of the Palace.

    After this we made our way over to Bushey Park, eventually making our way through the Woodland Gardens. Really lovely with quite a lot of colour and once again, we were the only people in there. As we got to the gate where we hoped to exit the Woodland Gardens, we found it locked (maybe the reason we were the only ones there?) and had to make our way back to where we entered, hoping the gate was open. And, thankfully, it was.

    It was growing dark, so we cut the route short and made our way out via the Lion Gates and caught a bus to Kingston to make our way home.

Hampton and Bushy Park
Distance: 7km

London Waterloo 18:27 Hampton Wick: 19:01.

Meet 19:05 prompt outside the High Street exit to Hampton Wick station.

Finish up at the Foresters PH for drink / meal.

T=short.3