Our favourite London Deer Parks

But seeing them in London parks is just that little bit more special because you know that a few hundred metres away, in any direction, is a block of flats or a fast food takeaway. And yet still, right in front of you, are these wild animals.

It doesn’t matter how many times you see them, living their peaceful, untamed lives in the relative wilderness of London’s 'deerest' of deer parks, it still comes as a pleasant surprise to be face to face with these four-legged Londoners. And they are Londoners. They’ve been living in London parks for centuries now and they’re not going anywhere any time soon.

But to see wild deer in London’s parks is still special. To be walking along and suddenly lock eyes with one...it makes you think about coexistence, about how we all share this land and how maybe it’s really more the deer’s home than it is ours, when you think about it. When you catch a deer's eye and it seems to say, "You are welcome here, dear traveler, in one of London's best deer parks. Go freely. But please...this grass is my grass...and if I see you eating any of it there’ll be hell to pay."

Enclosed in 1433, this is the oldest of the Royal Parks to contain deer. It’s thought that Henry VIII greatly increased the numbers kept here from around 1515 so that he could go out on hunting jollies. You’ll hear plenty more about venison virtuoso Henry as this article progresses. It seems that we have the notorious monarch’s love of hunting the poor things to thank for the presence of deer in London.

In the last century, the amount of land accessible to the deer has been curtailed as the park’s popularity has soared and it has become unsafe for deer and humans alike. The two small herds of Red and Fallow deer now live in the designated Deer park, known as The Wilderness. Take a stroll along the designated paths to reach special viewpoints where you’ll see the two herds roaming freely.

Created in 2002, the Secret Garden Wildlife Centre features educational materials and information, as well as a one-way glass window. This lets you see the deer up close without bothering them.

Right next to Hampton Court Palace, Bushy Park was another one of Henry VIII’s favourite hunting grounds. Deer were introduced here for his entertainment, but the ancestors of those who managed to escape the pursuing king now roam freely. The herds of Red and Fallow deer number about 320 in total these days.

You’ll spot them all across the 1,099 acres of Bushy Park, except in protected areas, such as the Woodland Gardens. With its mix of waterways and grassland, the park is also a great place for birdwatching. See if you can spot a woodpecker, a kingfisher, or even a kestrel during your visit.

Richmond Park is big and beautiful. It’s a National Nature Reserve and, at 2,500 acres, it’s the biggest park in London. It’s also got by far the largest deer population, with around 650 residents across the entire park.

We’re not handing out prizes, but this is our favourite London deer park. And it is the favourite of most Londoners too. It’s another former Royal hunting ground, but this time it has nothing to do with Henry VIII. The landscape is varied and wild, with open grasslands and densely wooded areas to explore and enjoy getting lost in.

Consider renting a bike from the facility at Roehampton Gate to get a speedier perspective on the great expanse. Steer clear of the deer when you’re on two wheels though, obviously. If you want to see the park in a special light, come at dawn. The colours of the deer and the vegetation in the warm glow of the new sun. It’s worth getting out of bed for.

The young pretender to the Royal Parks, Clissold Park has a small herd of Fallow deer to add to the London deer park collection. Deer were originally introduced to the park in 1890, a year after it opened to the public. It’s a small herd with just one buck and six does.

The first deer to be released here were Red deer but, as the population grew, these were given away to other London parks. So now Clissold Park has only Fallow deer in its enclosure. As a deer park, it’s not on the same level as Richmond and the others, but the enclosure here is a lovely addition to what is already a charming London park.

Keep at least 50 metres from the deer. You can still get a great photo from this distance. Red deer are the big red ones. Fallow deer are smaller and have white spots on their back. Neither looks like Bambi. Bambi (the film one, not the book one) is a roe deer.

If you see an unattended young deer, don’t approach or pick it up. Mothers often leave them alone for a bit, but they are not abandoned. Touching them could lead to them being neglected by their mums. Keep dogs on leads when you are close to deer. You can be prosecuted if your dog chases the deer.