Autumn is one of the best times to be outdoors in London. The big Royal Parks turn red and gold, the deer rut gets under way in Richmond Park and Bushy Park, and the clocks go back on 25 October, so the light starts to fade much earlier in the day.
This guide picks four parks for an autumn walk: Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Hyde Park and Greenwich Park. Autumn colour changes from year to year with the weather, so treat the timings as a guide and check the Royal Parks website before you travel. For a longer trip, our day trips from London by train guide has car-free escapes that work well in autumn too.
Autumn in London at a glance
| Best for | Autumn colour, long walks, deer watching and golden-hour views |
| Parks covered | Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Hyde Park, Greenwich Park |
| Clocks go back | 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026, according to GOV.UK |
| Deer rut | Late September to early November in Richmond Park and Bushy Park, according to the Royal Parks |
| Timing | Colour varies with the weather, so check the Royal Parks website before you go |
| Pack | Layers, a waterproof and sturdy shoes; paths can be muddy |
Richmond Park: Isabella Plantation, the Tamsin Trail and the deer
Richmond Park is the big one. The Royal Parks describe the fiery reds of the maples and sweet gums in Isabella Plantation and meadow grasses glowing in mellow golds. It is also home to herds of red and fallow deer, so it is the park to choose if you want colour and wildlife in the same walk.
The Royal Parks suggest the Tamsin Trail, an 11 km (7 mile) loop that takes roughly two to four hours, or a shorter 2.4 km (1.5 mile) section of the Beverley Brook walk that takes about 45 minutes. Pembroke Lodge has tea rooms and garden views over the Thames Valley, which makes a good midway stop. Pedestrian gates are listed as open 24 hours a day, but vehicle gates have set hours, so check the park page if you are driving.
Bushy Park: Woodland Gardens and the Pheasantry Cafe
Bushy Park is a quieter alternative. The Royal Parks highlight its Woodland Gardens in autumn, with golden leaves and streams, and the Pheasantry Cafe sits within that area. The park has deer too, and the same rut rules apply as in Richmond Park. Pedestrian gates are listed as open 24 hours.
Hyde Park: an easy, flat autumn loop in central London
If you want colour without leaving central London, Hyde Park is the easy choice. The Royal Parks say it has more than 3,000 trees, including beech, chestnut and lime, and publish a self-guided autumn walk of 4.1 miles that takes about an hour and a half at a relaxed pace. The route is flat, with some shallow slopes in the south-east corner, and you can join it wherever you enter the park.
Stops on the route include Speakers’ Corner, the Serpentine Bridge, the Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, the Dell and the Autumn Garden within the Rose Garden. If you do not want the full loop, the page also offers shorter options.
Greenwich Park: old trees and a London skyline view
Greenwich Park suits a shorter walk with a view. The Royal Parks highlight a 750-year-old Queen Elizabeth Oak and 400-year-old Spanish sweet chestnuts, and the Flower Garden has stately trees and bright beds. The Royal Observatory sits in the middle of the park and the highest hill has sweeping views over the London skyline, so it is worth planning your walk so that you reach the viewpoint before the light goes.
The Royal Parks give sunset as around 6:30pm in October and 4:30pm at the start of November. The pedestrian gates are listed as open from 6am to 7pm, but opening times can change through the year, so check the Greenwich Park page before a late visit.
How to watch the deer rut safely
The rut in Richmond Park and Bushy Park runs from late September to early November, according to the Royal Parks. Stags are large, fast and can be unpredictable at this time of year, so the safety advice is worth following. The Royal Parks safety tips say to:
- Keep at least 50 metres from the deer, and up to 100 metres if they are active
- Keep dogs on leads, because loose dogs can provoke deer
- Avoid crowding rutting deer or standing between them
- If a deer approaches or seems threatening, back away slowly and calmly
- Follow the guidance of Volunteer Rangers in the parks
Binoculars or a zoom lens help you see more without getting close. Early morning is often the best time for atmosphere, but dress warmly and keep to the paths.
Plan around shorter days
The clocks go back at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026, so the evenings get dark an hour earlier from that weekend. If you want a late-afternoon walk with golden light, plan to be at your main viewpoint well before sunset and check the sunset time for your date.
We have not listed station-by-station directions here, because the best route depends on where you start. Use the TfL Journey Planner or National Rail for your date, and check for weekend engineering works before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see autumn colour in London?
It changes with the weather each year. The Royal Parks note that hot weather can bring colour earlier, so check their autumn pages for current advice rather than relying on a fixed date.
Which London park is best for autumn colour?
Richmond Park (Isabella Plantation), Bushy Park (Woodland Gardens), Hyde Park and Greenwich Park are all recommended by the Royal Parks. Richmond Park is best for a long walk and deer, and Hyde Park is easiest from central London.
Is it safe to walk near the deer in autumn?
Yes if you keep your distance. Stay at least 50 metres away, keep dogs on leads and never approach or feed the deer.
More from London
For a coastal walk with big views, see our guide to the Seven Sisters walk from London. For a historic city on a crisp autumn day, try Oxford or Windsor.
