Richmond Circular Walk
Get away from it all without leaving Greater London - Richmond Park and the River Thames.
Red deer male and harem
Richmond Park, London
Oct-19 • Saturdaywalker on Flickr
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The City from Richmond Park
Oct-19 • Saturdaywalker on Flickr
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| Length |
12 km (7.5 miles), 3 hours. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow 6 hours. |
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| OS Map |
Explorer Map 161. |
| Toughness |
1 out of 10. A short walk, particularly suitable for a brisk winter ramble or a lazy summer stroll. |
| Features |
This walk is not in the country, but it offers a real chance to get away from it all without leaving Greater London. It starts in Richmond and joins the Thames, before exploring the varied and less visited landscapes of Richmond Park. It returns to Richmond via the views and pubs of Richmond Hill. The day can be rounded off with a visit to the town of Richmond with its many cafes, pubs and restaurannts. |
| Extending the walk |
Richmond and Petersham are worth exploring. Isabella Plantation offers a maze of paths. The path along the Thames is also inviting to strollers. On reaching Robin Hood Gate, one can leave Richmond Park and cross the road to Wimbledon Common. The main walk also leaves scope to explore the northern part of Richmond Park. |
| History |
Richmond has many historical royal connections and Richmond Green was once used for jousting tournaments. Remembrance Day Poppies are produced in a factory on Richmond Hill. Richmond Park is well known for its deer. |
| Saturday Walkers Club |
Richmond Station is in Zone 4 and is on the Underground, Overground and Main Line. Opening times for Richmon Park can be found at http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park. |
| Lunch |
Lunch is available early or late in the walk at Pembroke Lodge (http://www.pembroke-lodge.co.uk/the-tea-rooms), which also serves teas. Isabella Plantation or its surroundings would be a good place for a picnic brought from home or bought in Richmond. Just after Isabella Plantation, there is a kiosk at a car park, serving drinks and light snacks. There are many possible refreshment places in Richmond. |
| Profile | |
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| Help Us! |
After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks! You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are: |
| By Car |
Start Map Directions |
| Amazon | |
| Help |
National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234 |
| Version |
Feb-17 JonG |
| Copyright | © Saturday Walkers Club. All Rights Reserved. No commercial use. No copying. No derivatives. Free with attribution for one time non-commercial use only. www.walkingclub.org.uk/site/license.shtml |
Walk Directions
- Leave Richmond Station and turn left.
- Follow George St across a junction in 250m and, in a further 250m, just after the road bends left, cross over and follow and Water Lane for 150m to reach the River Thames.
- Turn left to follow the metalled riverside path, going under a fine bridge in 150m.
- In 550m, after boat houses, follow the bends in the path to follow a sign: "Petersham 3/4m".
- In 100m, pass a shelter and, in a further 100m, go past Public Toilets to pass through a kissing gate, cross a path and go through a further kissing gate to follow a sign: "Petersham 1/2m".
- In 300m, pass between hedges and, in a further 150m, leave the hedges to continue in the same direction.
- In 80m, follow the Capital Ring sign and turn left.
- In 150m, cross the road and enter Richmond Park via a grand kissing gate and follow a path past further public toilets.
- For an early lunch, take a diversion on the path steeply and diagonally up the hill to go through a gate to Pembroke Lodge and its gardens, then re-trace to this point.
- In 2km, reach a road and turn left on a path just before it which follows the road uphill.
- At the top, in 300m, cross the road and take the path to Isabella Plantation, but immediately turn right along a bridleway.
- In 700m, when you reach a junction of several paths, take the first path sharp left and, almost doubling back, follow it through woods to reach the entrance to Isabella Plantation in 600m.
- The official route follows the path which passes the entrance and follows it around Isabella Plantation for 1.2 km to reach Broomhill Gate. (Of course, you can explore the Plantation and emerge at Broomhill Gate.)
- On reaching Broomhill Gate on your right, turn sharp left on a gravel path away from Isabella Plantation.
- In 300m, when you reach a road, cross it to reach a car park, where there is a kiosk serving drinks and snacks.
- Go diagonally across the car park to reach a path where you turn left and go down a "Steep Slope" following the path for 700m to reach Robin Hood Gate. (From here, you may join Wimbledon Round Walk. Cross the road and then the open space and brick bridge ahead. Besides changing rooms, turn right for 300m and turn left with the path with the sports field to your left.)
- Turn left away from Robin Hood Gate, cross the car park to leave it by its "Exit" where you cross the road to join a path sign-posted "Capital Ring".
- In 70m, cross a path and follow a long grassy path uphill. In 500m, join a sandy path beside the wood.
- In 250m, cross a road, with a car park and refreshment kiosk to your left and continue to pass between two large lakes in 400m.
- 400m after passing the lakes, at a path junction, fork slightly left, to join a path signposted "Capital Ring" which goes round the edge of Sidmouth Wood following its fence on your right.
- After the wood ends, continue on a metalled path for 100m and then turn right on a path for 100m.
- Now cross the road to reach the cafe, kiosk and car park of Pembroke Lodge, the suggested Late Lunch Stop.
- Leaving Pembroke Lodge by its main entrance, turn left to follow the path at the side of the park for 900m to reach Richmond Gate. Exploring the northern part of the park would be a possible walk extension for the afternoon.
- Follow Richmond Hill straight ahead and enjoying views and, perhaps, the pubs.
- In 1km, continue straight ahead at the roundabout and, after ignoring Red Lion Street on your right, turn right into George St, which takes you to Richmond Station. Small, attractive streets on your left take you to a view of Richmond Green.