The vehicular access gates into Richmond Park have started closing earlier as we head into winter.

Until the end of this week the gates will be shut at 4.30pm.

From Monday (November 2) closing time will arrive at the earlier time of 4.15pm.

The week after that (beginning Monday, November 9), the gates will close at 4pm and this will be the time it shuts until the end of the calendar year. Opening time is 7.30am.

When you can drive in the park

In Richmond Park, the north-south route between Kingston Gate and Richmond Gate reopened to motorists in August as part of a six-month trial by the Royal Parks. This involves:

• a full-time closure of the road between Sheen Gate and Sheen Cross
• a weekday ban on through traffic between Broomfield Hill Car Park (close to Isabella Plantation) and Robin Hood Car Park (near the exit for the A3)
• creation of a "quiet zone" on the north side of the park by restricting all cut-through traffic between Roehampton, Sheen and Richmond Gates on weekends

Vans and lorries have been banned from using the park as a through road under The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997.

Message about the gates

Royal Parks Police said: "As the evenings get darker, the vehicle gates at #RichmondPark will also close earlier.

"Please don't get caught out and locked in, we may not be around to let you out!"

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