Richmond Park

Richmond Park
Landscape and habitats in the park: woodland, bracken, and grassland at Ham Bottom
Interactive map of Richmond Park
Coordinates51°26′36″N 0°16′30″W / 51.44333°N 0.27500°W / 51.44333; -0.27500
Area2,360 acres (955 ha)
Created17th century
Operated byThe Royal Parks
StatusOpen 24 hours year round except during the deer cull
Websitewww.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park
Designations
Official nameRichmond Park
Designated1 October 1987
Reference no.1000828
Richmond Park
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationRichmond upon Thames, Greater London, England
Grid referenceTQ2073
InterestBiological, historical
Notification1992

Richmond Park, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is the largest of London's Royal Parks and is of national and international importance for wildlife conservation. It was created by Charles I in the 17th century as a deer park. It is now a national nature reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation and is included, at Grade I, on Historic England's Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England. Its landscapes have inspired many famous artists and it has been a location for several films and TV series.

Richmond Park includes many buildings of architectural or historic interest. The Grade I-listed White Lodge was formerly a royal residence and is now home to the Royal Ballet School. The park's boundary walls and ten other buildings are Grade II-listed, including Pembroke Lodge, the home of 19th-century British Prime Minister Lord John Russell and his grandson, the philosopher Bertrand Russell. In 2020, Historic England listed two other features in the park – King Henry's Mound, possibly a round barrow, and an unnamed mound which could be a long barrow.

Historically the preserve of the monarch, the park is open for all to use and includes a golf club with two courses, and other facilities for sport and recreation. It played an important role in both world wars and in the 1948 and 2012 Summer Olympics.