Hampton Court Park

Hampton Court Park, also called Home Park, is a walled royal park in south-west London, managed by Historic Royal Palaces. It lies between the gardens of Hampton Court Palace and Kingston upon Thames and Surbiton, mostly within the post town of East Molesey.

Where is Hampton Court Park?

The park adjoins the gardens of Hampton Court Palace, one of England's best-known royal residences. Its eastern edge reaches into Kingston upon Thames. It forms a green belt south-west of central London, noticeably quieter than the parks in the middle of the city.

What is Home Park?

"Home Park" refers to land kept next to a royal residence for the use of the court. The park is enclosed by a wall, which has long defined its boundary and controlled access. Today it is run by Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that also looks after the palace itself.

How did kings use the park?

The land was enclosed for hunting. Some sources credit Henry VIII, others say the enclosure goes back to Cardinal Wolsey. The park, covering roughly 300 hectares (750 acres), was used to keep and hunt deer. From about the 1530s until the mid-1600s it was split in two: a southern part holding fallow deer and a northern part used for coursing with dogs.

The Long Water and the avenues

After the Restoration, in the 1660s, a canal known as the Long Water was dug in the park. It was lined with an avenue of about 550 lime trees. More avenues followed after 1689 under William III. One runs east and takes in the long canal, still the park's most recognisable feature. The layout reinforces the Baroque sight line from the palace.

Wildlife

A herd of fallow deer still lives in the park, a legacy of its hunting past. Keep your distance from the animals.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hampton Court Park the same as Bushy Park? No. They are separate parks. The famous Chestnut Avenue belongs to neighbouring Bushy Park, not Home Park.

Who manages the park? Historic Royal Palaces, which also cares for Hampton Court Palace.

Where exactly is it? In south-west London, between the palace gardens and Kingston upon Thames and Surbiton.

Are there deer in the park? Yes, a herd of fallow deer lives here.

Where does the name Long Water come from? It is the name of the long canal dug in the 17th century and lined with an avenue of limes.

Who is it for?

History fans interested in the Tudors and Stuarts, walkers looking for greenery outside the centre, and visitors who want to pair a palace visit with time outdoors. The park shows how a royal hunting ground became a formal garden landscape while keeping its rural character and centuries of court use.