Richmond Park, located in the London Borough of Richmond on Thames, is the largest of eight royal parks scattered across the city, each one offering unrivalled free access to London’s beautiful, natural, and historic green spaces.
With royal connections for more than 800 years, Richmond Park covers an impressive 2,500 acres and is home to ancient trees, beautiful biodiversity, stunning views, and its famous herds of red and fallow deer.
The association of deer with the park has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the 17th century. The monarch at the time, King Charles I, was a keen hunter and in 1637 ordered an enclosure around the park stocking it with 2,000 deer creating his own private hunting ground. Over time, Richmond Park became a symbol of the monarchy, offering a retreat for the royal family and a haven for the deer population.
The Richmond Park of today still offers a fascinating opportunity to see these beautiful creatures roaming freely and just a stone’s throw from the city of London. There is no specific time to catch a glimpse of these magnificent deer in their natural habitat however there are certain times of the day, year, or even weather conditions that can make the experience even more rewarding. Whether you’re hoping to snap the perfect photograph, observe their behaviour, or simply enjoy the beauty of these wild animals, Richmond Park continues to impress as a treasured National Nature Reserve.
The Time of Day
On your visit to Richmond Park, it’s worth noting that deer are crepuscular animals, meaning they are primarily active in the dawn and dusk hours. This makes the early mornings and late afternoons prime times for spotting them, where the deer may be out foraging, feeding, or moving between areas.
Mornings in particular are less likely to have many people in the park and, whilst the animals have become quite accustomed to humans, they are more likely to be out and about when there are fewer visitors.
The added benefit of this time of the day is the light is often softer and at times can feel almost mystical. With some early morning mist rising from the undergrowth, you could quite easily forget a global city centre is just 12 miles away and you’re not hiking a highland wilderness. Having a camera to hand is a must and even the most amateur of photographers would get some pretty enchanting results with these wonderful creatures as the stars of the show.
The late afternoon, particularly an hour or two before sunset, can also offer great opportunities to spot deer. As the day starts to cool and the sun begins to drop lower in the sky, the deer often become more active, moving towards feeding areas and grazing. Depending on the season, you may also witness the deer engaging in interesting behaviours, such as sparring with one another during the ‘rutting season’. As with the mornings, again this time can be perfect for photography with warm late afternoon hues bathing the Richmond Park acres.
Seasonal Timings
While Richmond Park is open all year round and the deer often visible throughout the year, different seasons can offer some unique observations on their behaviour.
Spring and early summer are particularly special for those interested in witnessing baby deer (fawns), which are normally born in May and June. Whilst you are advised to take care during this period so as not to scare the mothers and their young, you may well be fortunate enough to see these tiny, spotted youngsters grazing with their mothers. Between the birthing months (1 May – 31 July), dogs must be kept on a lead in the park.
The months of September and October offer something special for deer lovers and casual visitors alike. This is when the rutting season occurs, a period of intense competition and mating rituals among the males. Red deer are the largest land mammal native to the British Isles so these scenes can be quite spectacular to witness. During the rut, the dominant stags engage in dramatic battles, using their impressive antlers, which have been growing ready for battle since the early spring, to fight for the attention of the females. As well as the clatter of antlers, the sound of their roars, or ‘bellowing’, can be heard echoing across the park. The backdrop during these months is also stunning, with the autumnal colours of the leaves providing breathtaking scenery.
Winter in Richmond Park offers the possibility of frost or light snow, so it can be a truly magical time to visit. With the rutting period behind them, the deer tend to be a little quieter during the colder months, with much of their time spent foraging for food and conserving energy. Although less active, a winter encounter with a deer on a crisp cold morning can be equally if not more rewarding than other times of the year, and with fewer people visiting the park at this time, the sense that you might be the only one there is a secret worth sharing.
Thankfully the days of hunting deer in Richmond Park are long behind us, and it is King Charles I who is credited with introducing these majestic creatures to this scenic corner of London. Locals and visitors can be inspired by the grace and stature of the 650 deer that roam free and flourish throughout the season in this royal park and there’s no reason to think they can’t still be, for centuries to come.
