One of the biggest green spaces in London, Richmond Park is a whole-day situation. It’s easy to rack up your step count and the size means even if it’s packed, you’ll never be fighting for picnic real estate. But because the park is huge, you need a well-planned food strategy. This is not a spontaneous decide-where-to-meet-when-we-get-there or meet-in-the-middle type place. So here are the best options whichever side you find yourself on, with handy information about how far away each spot is.
Richmond Gate Entrance:
Distance: three-minute walk
Richmond has no shortage of great pubs, but if you’re after something serene, tranquil, and less than a five-minute walk to the park, you can’t do better than The Lass O’Richmond Hill. It’s got everything you’d expect or could ever want from a Richmond pub. Fireplaces? Check. Cosy couches? Yep. A sprawling (and covered) garden terrace? It’s here. There are a few standout dishes—the pea and garlic croquettes and potato and leek gratin among them—but they also do all the pub classics. Make sure to book ahead if you’re coming for a Sunday roast, especially if you want to snag a heated table in the garden.
Distance: 10-minute walk
A proper sit-down Italian spot on Friars Stile Road, this is one of our favourite places to get pizza in the area. The menu is full of sourdough pies, with chewy crusts and rich marinara sauce centres. The dining room is small and rustic, with a charming little terrace outside. While things like the ravioli di buffala are great, the straightforward pizzas are our go-to move here. And the fact that it’s only a 10-minute walk from Richmond Park means that getting a couple of pizzas to go is an excellent shout when the weather’s nice.
Distance: 15-minute walk
Serving Breton specialities, this place makes for a great lunch or dinner spot. While everybody would totally understand if you choose to spend your time with their savoury galettes, sweet crêpes, and ciders, you should also feel free to slow things down a bit. Chez Lindsay’s seafood classics are a good bet. Perhaps the escargot in garlic and butter, or mussels with white wine, cream, and shallots—along with a bottle of something from the extensive and affordable wine list.
Distance: 18-minute walk
Sometimes all you need after what felt like a never-ending walk in Richmond Park is somewhere quiet. Somewhere to watch the world go by while shovelling spoonfuls of chewy noodles towards your mouth. For times like this, Hill Tribe should be your sanctuary. It’s perfect for Thai classics like a pad see ew or a piping bowl of green curry over rice, and while there’s nothing here that will completely change your world, everything about this place is tasty, comfortable, and soothing.
Distance: 20-minute walk
Tucked away on a quiet corner of the bustling Richmond Quadrant, The Alberts Deli is the perfect cross between neighbourhood deli and local cafe. Serving classic breakfast options as well as pretty excellent coffee, there’s also a homemade lunch counter with daily changing specials. All in all, it’s a great spot to grab a hot drink and a bacon butty before heading for a 20-minute stroll to the park.
Distance: 20-minute walk
Chango is a little shop near Richmond Green specialising in Argentine empanadas. These hot pockets of goodness are cooked to order, and with fillings like beef and spicy chicken, ham and cheese, plus vegetarian options, they’re perfect on-the-go snacks. And if you’re craving something sweet, keep an eye out for their alfajores.
Distance: 20-minute walk
Located on Richmond’s dreamiest alley, So Bar is an intimate candlelit cocktail bar. It’s the kind of place you’re going to want to book a table at, although some space is set aside for walk-ins if a sudden urge for a stiff drink takes over. Their kitchen hosts regular residencies so there’s always something good to eat, making it a perfect spot for a date. It’s even a (20-minute) hop, skip, and jump away from Richmond Park in case sparks don’t fly and you want to disappear into the night.
photo credit: Flavourtown Bakery
Distance: 20-minute walk
One of our all-time favourite bakeries, this spacious Richmond spot makes some seriously good, seriously extra desserts. With fun flavour combinations like vegan Biscoff sundae and brownie cheesecake cupcakes, you’ll want to try them all. Although there’s plenty of seating inside, we’d get a box of cupcakes and a cup of coffee for the 20-minute walk to the park, and enjoy London’s best red velvet cupcake as a deer jealously watches on.
Kingston Gate:
The Distance: 25-minute walk
When your friend is going through a phase of taking the stairs instead of the lift, or going on a “hike” in Richmond Park, head to The Cheeky Pea. A kind of healthy little hummus and falafel bar on Eden Walk, this is the kind of place you stumble across on a lunchtime search for a falafel wrap, and end up discovering a menu full of some really, really great Mediterranean food. You can fill wraps and pittas with freshly made falafel, halal Moroccan-style chicken, and sabich. They’ve also got salad bowls and great hummus bowls with things like fava beans or, our favourite, garlic mushrooms.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Distance: 30-minute walk
Yes it’s an 11-minute bus journey and short walk to the park from this New Orleans-inspired Kingston restaurant. But trust us when we tell you that the excellent subs here are worth it. Filled with your choice of things like buttermilk fried shrimp or BBQ beef brisket, they’re the kind of hefty sandwiches that will keep you full until the next day. Plus if you’re getting the sandwiches to go, you’re closest to the Kingston Gate entrance. The area surrounding the Isabella Plantation (a woodland garden with ponds and lakes) is a great place to unwind with some fried prawn subs from Poor Boys and make a real picnic out of it.
