| Where: | Hampton Wick, starting at the Teddington Gate, Bushy Park |
| When: | Sunday nearest 11th May (usually) |
| Time: | 12 noon onwards with Parade 12.30 |
Bushy Park near Hampton Wick is the setting for an annual appreciation of the beautiful Chestnut blossom on the trees, which were planted over 300 years ago in the Avenue. The event has been a popular one in the local calendar since Victorian times and it begins with a parade from the Park’s Teddington Gate, which processes down the mile-long Avenue to the Diana Fountain. It’s traditionally held on the Sunday nearest 11th May, when the floral spectacle is usually at its finest. As well as the parade there are local stalls, fairground rides, living history displays, music and plenty of refreshments – picnics are encouraged in the Park. Bushy Park is one of London’s Royal Parks and covers an area of over a thousand acres, which includes gardens, waterways and grassland, and herds of fallow and red deer.
Helpful Hints
It’s usually on the Sunday nearest 11th May, though very occasionally it has to move a week to avoid clashes with other fixtures. In 2025 it was on Sunday 11th May- 2026 date is yet to be confirmed but likely to be Sunday 10th.
In 2025 details for the event were only confirmed in mid April, though it was expected that the event would go ahead earlier in the year; curiously the Royal Parks didn’t list it until very late April despite it taking place on their premises. It was very well attended and will hopefully continue to prosper following the welcome return of the Parade and a bigger fete in 2025; the Parade took just less than half-an-hour to reach the event area next to the Diana Fountain.
A small scale event took place in 2024 (smaller than usual due to funding issues) on Sunday 12th May, with picnicking in the park, an exhibition and guided walks.
If you take a picnic beware of the jackdaws!
Click here for the event website: http://www.hamptonwick.org.uk/
and here for the Park website link: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/bushy-park
WHY
I have absolutely no idea why! Calendarcustoms isn’t anything to do with the organisation of the event, so when I emailed the Parks team to ask if it was on this year, I was told it isn’t on in 2022 but not WHY it isn’t. Sorry I can’t clear up the mystery!
Averil
Why is the chestnut parade been cancelled ?
Hi Stephen,
Sorry I don’t know why it’s cancelled-when I made inquiries about it I was just told it isn’t on this year but not why (I wondered if it was because of jubilee celebrations being quite near but really that’s just speculation). Hopefully it’ll be back on next year…
Averil
My late father Colin Pain resurrected Chestnut Sunday for the enjoyment of hundreds of park visitors it’s a real shame that it as again cancelled on 2023 , I really hope it’s not cancelled next year as well . Colin loved the day !
Hi David,
When I contacted the organisers at the Royal Parks a few months ago, they said it will hopefully return in 2024 so keep your fingers crossed. I expect that they pushed it back from this year as the date would have been very near the Coronation weekend and the Royal Parks would be busy with other things (though I don’t know that for sure, that’s just me guessing)- and well done Colin for resurrecting it!
Best wishes,
Averil
Is it possible to buy antlers on Chesnut Sunday ?
Hi Kim,
Sorry I can’t help but I really don’t know if you can buy antlers at Chestnut Sunday- Calendarcustoms isn’t connected to the organisation of the event so I’d suggest getting In Touch with the Royal Parks as they should be Able to help -best of luck!
Averil