With eight Royal Parks (former hunting grounds owned by the monarchy), commons, open parkland, heaths, woodlands, sports fields and private gardens, London is a very green city.
In fact, it was announced The world’s first national park city In 2019, and it is It is estimated that 47% The city is dedicated to natural habitats and green space. From large, centrally located spots like Hyde Park and Regent’s Park to open spaces further outside the city, here are London’s best parks. All are free to visit and open to all year-round, giving people the opportunity to connect with nature, socialize and improve their physical and mental health.
See the roses in Regent’s Park and climb Primrose Hill for city views.
The largest and most extensive of central London’s many Royal Parks, Regent’s Park is one of the capital’s most beautiful green spaces. Its many attractions include London Zoo, the Regent’s Canal, a boating lake and sports pitches. Queen Mary’s Gardens, on the south side of the park, are particularly beautiful, especially in June when the roses are in bloom. Take place here in Performance One Open Air Theatre From May to September. North of Regent’s Park is Primrose Hill, a lovely spot for a stroll or picnic, offering exceptional views over the city skyline.
Hampstead Heath is a favorite with wild swimmers.
Despite being only a few miles from Trafalgar Square, the sprawling Hampstead Heath, with its rolling woodlands, meadows and abundant wildlife, feels far from the city. Swimmers (newcomers welcome) head to three swimming pools, two of which are open year-round. The heath is home to a variety of butterflies, bats and bird species, so you’ll be bumping into treetop creatures. It’s a wonderful place for a ramble, especially to the top of Parliament Hill, which offers sweeping views across London. Round off your wildlife-watching stroll with a pint at one of the pubs around the heath.
St James’s Park is surrounded by London landmarks.
At 23 hectares (57 acres), it is the second smallest of the eight royal parks, after St James’s Green Park. But what it lacks in beauty it makes up for with brightly colored flower beds, a beautiful lake and a fountain. As well as offering stunning views of the London Eye, Horse Guards Parade and Buckingham Palace, it is also famous for its pelicans, which were introduced to the park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian ambassador to King Charles II. Pelicans are fed between 2:30pm and 3pm near Duck Island Cottage.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is full of activities.
The glittering centerpiece of London’s 2012 Olympic Games is the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Sustainability was central to the construction and running of the Games, which were a driving force for the regeneration of this part of East London. As well as key Olympic venues, the sprawling grounds include playing fields, walking and cycling paths, gardens and a diverse mix of wetlands, woodlands, grasslands and other wildlife habitats. There are public works of art throughout the park, the largest of which is the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture, which has a viewing platform and offers the opportunity to slide down or down. The main focal point is the London Stadium, now a concert venue and the home football ground of West Ham United FC.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are spectacular in all seasons.
From hunting to bowling, potato fields to ice skating, central London’s biggest green space really has seen it all. Today, Hyde Park is a hub of year-round activity. Enjoy the manicured lawns and tree-shaded paths of Kensington Gardens, part of Kensington Palace, and if you’re with kids, visit the nearby Princess Diana Playground, where unaccompanied adults are turned away at the gate. . You can rent deck chairs and take paddle boats on the Serpentine from March to October. Summer means festivals, with a large section of the park dedicated to open-air concerts. Enjoy autumn colors in autumn, and from November to January Winter Wonderland brings festive cheer, with ice ricks, rides, a Christmas market and food stalls.
Holland Park is home to peacocks and the beautiful Kyoto Garden.
Holland Park in West London has dense woodland, spacious lawns, sports fields and some beautiful gardens. These include the relaxing Kyoto Garden, a gift from the city of Kyoto to the friendship between England and Japan, and the more bare Fukushima Garden, a tribute to the help offered by the British after the Fukushima earthquake and subsequent tsunami. was made as In 2011 The park’s magnificent peacocks are a sight to behold and there is an adventure playground to keep the kids busy.
Greenwich Park is perfect for a family day out.
With museums, pubs and a market in the Greenwich neighbourhood, the area makes a fantastic day out for families. Greenwich Park is one of London’s most beautiful green spaces, with a rose garden, picturesque promenades, a 6th-century Anglo-Saxon burial ground and stunning views of Canary Wharf from the crown of the hill. The large playground includes a sandpit and water play, and a trail that leads to a viewpoint where you can spot red or fall deer. The Royal Observatory at the top of the hill is home to the Greenwich Mean Time. If you don’t want to pay to enter the Meridian Courtyard, just outside the fence, check out the continuation of the prime meridian line marked in metal, where you can walk into two hemispheres at once for free.
Crystal Palace Park has Victorian dinosaur sculptures.
Named after the magnificent palace of glass and iron built for the Great Exhibition in 1851 and moved here from Hyde Park in 1854, this huge park offers fascinating discoveries. The palace burned with spectacular ferocity in 1936, and nothing remains today except for the Victorian roof and its crumbling sphinx statues. However, the park has a lot to offer including a skate park, woodland, a maze, a small boating lake and Grade I listed dinosaur sculptures. These date from the mid-nineteenth century and are based on the limited scientific knowledge of their time. If you have time, other great ones in South London – including large playgrounds, ancient woodland, and plenty of open space – include: Beckenham Place ParkDulwich Park and Brookville Park.
Richmond Park is the best place to see London’s deer.
Richmond Park is Europe’s largest urban parkland, offering everything from formal gardens and ancient oaks to unrivaled views of central London 12 miles (19 km) away. There are many roads through the park, so be sure to venture into the wilderness for a quiet walk or picnic. The herds of more than 600 red and fallow deer under the trees are part of its magic, but they are in the rut season (September and October) and when the bears are young (May to July), so keep your distance. (over 50m/164ft) during these times. Richmond Hill’s stunning pastoral vista has inspired painters and poets for centuries. It is the only sight in the country (including St Paul’s Cathedral ten miles away) to be protected by Act of Parliament.
Battersea Park has sculptures and artwork.
This 50 hectare of greenery stretches along the river between the Albert and Chelsea bridges, and leads to wonderful hidden trails criss-crossing the park. Near the river is the Peace Pagoda, which depicts the Buddha in his four stages of life, and statues of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth are sprinkled throughout. The park has sports facilities, lakes with cycle hire and paddle boats, as well as a pump house gallery and a small children’s zoo. Get a great view (and get your heart rate up) with the Treetop Challenge on the high ropes course. Battersea’s GoApe Outdoor adventure park.
This article was first published on March 16, 2021 and was updated on July 13, 2022.