Visitor Centre
If you have never been to Bushy Park or Home Park, then you might want to start at the Visitor Centre to find out all about these two historic parks, which are both Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The Friends operate the Visitor Centre in partnership with The Royal Parks and provide a welcoming and friendly source of advice and guidance to visitors to the two parks. Talk to our knowledgeable volunteers. They will be delighted to tell you what they know about the parks’ histories and the parks’ flora and fauna.
Visitor Sightings
October Sightings:
Black Swan
Little Egret
Little Owl
Green Woodpecker
Kestrel
Mitten Crab
Terrapin
When We Are Open
The Visitor Centre is now fully open and visitors can come inside to see our displays, information and gifts. To keep everyone safe we ask that all visitors wear a face mask and use the hand sanitiser provided and we are limiting visitor numbers to 4 at one time.
Our hours are 10am to 4pm at weekends and Bank Holidays. We may also be able to open on some weekdays subject to volunteer availability.
Location
The Visitor Centre is located at the Pheasantry in the middle of Bushy Park next to the main entrance to the Woodland Gardens, alongside the café and café car park. N.B. On The Royal Parks map of Bushy Park the Visitor Centre may be referred to as Information Point.
Please see this map for details: Map of Bushy Park
About the Visitor Centre
At the Visitor Centre you will find maps, displays of natural items from the parks, video and photographic images of the parks, wildlife description boards, and a wide range of information leaflets about the history and natural environment of the parks.
Visitors can also purchase locally produced honey from hives in the park, greetings cards, fold-out information leaflets from the Field Studies Council, and other Friends’ souvenir merchandise. All the profits from sales go towards the Friends appeal funds which are used to support projects in the two parks.
Discovery Zone
Children have a dedicated “Discovery Zone” where they can draw pictures and examine specimens. Our unique display barrow contains deer antlers, bird nests, and the Big Pine Cone which can weigh up to 2.5 kilograms. Younger children will receive a sticker to wear when they show interest in our displays.
We regret that some parts of the Discovery Zone such as the sit down bench area and the giving out of stickers are temporarily suspended due to Covid safety concerns
