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London's Top Parks
 
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London’s parks are among the best outdoor spaces of any city in the world. Escape the bustle of central London and enjoy a wintery walk in the crisp, cold air; a colourful autumnal amble amid the fallen leaves; a fresh spring stroll among emerging shoots and bulbs, or while away an afternoon luxuriating in the summer sunshine. Each park has its own identity and role in the local community. From the manicured landscapes of Hyde Park, to the rolling hills of Richmond Park there is something to thrill, surprise and soothe all visitors.
  Battersea Park
 Battersea, SW11 4NJ 200-acre riverside park opposite Chelsea. Situated on the south side of the Thames, facing Chelsea, Battersea Park caters for everyone within its 200-acre space. Firstly, there's lots of water - a lake for boating, ponds for admiring the wildlife, and the Thames along one side for general gazing purposes. Then there's art - the Pump House Gallery has regular exhibitions and there are many sculptures dotted around the park itself. Next comes sport - with all-weather pitches, tennis courts and a place to hire bicycles there's no excuse to be lazy. Children get a great deal with their own adventure playground and zoo, while a majestic Peace Pagoda bestows an air of calm and tranquillity to the typically action-packed surroundings. Wildlife thrives here with birds, animals and plants happily cohabiting within the grounds. Best for: Riverside views, zoos, pagodas, fireworks and boats. Did you know? In 1864, Battersea Park hosted the very first display of Football Association football. Address: Battersea, SW11 4NJ Phone: 020 8871 7530 Timing: 8:00-Dusk Nearest Station: Sloane Square Tube Battersea Park - Information  Brockwell Park
Herne Hill, SE24 0NG Family-focused park with lido and miniature railway Perhaps one of London's loveliest leafy expanses, Brockwell Park has become a Mecca for fun-loving kiddies. Often termed "Brixton's Beach", the park is remarkable for its large lido, now one of the few remaining outdoor swimming pools in London. It is an ideal place to take a dip in the summer and catch some rays. There is also a safe paddling pool for the smaller tots to splash around in. In 2003, a meticulously built miniature railway was opened. Kids can jump aboard and explore the park for just £1. Both this and the lido are only open in summer months. There are also six public tennis courts. Brockwell Hall is a handsome Regency lodge occupying the park heights. Many a scone can be consumed here in the delightful tea-room. The shaded arbour in the English walled garden is also a blissful place to catch your breath and watch the world go by. Address: Herne Hill, SE24 0NG Phone: 020 7733 4098 Nearest Station: Brixton Tube Brockwell Park - Information  Bushy Park & The Longford River
Hampton Court Road, Hampton, TW12 2EJ Adjacent to Hampton Court Palace this is London's second largest Royal Park. Just north of the celebrated royal palace at Hampton Court, Bushy Park is the second largest of the Royal Parks. On the surface, the park appears simply to be a vast, rural expanse of exceptional wild beauty but of little historical significance. The lush grass, wooded copses and winding rivers do, however, hide an interesting past. A settlement for over 4000 years, a number of interesting items have been extracted from the park - archaeologists unearthed a Bronze Age burial mound and barrow here, the contents of which now reside in the British Museum. A keen eye for detail can make out the traces of mediaeval field boundaries, in existence before Henry VIII turned the area into one huge deer-hunting ground. The park was used more recently during both World Wars, as agricultural land when Britain was suffering food shortages and as the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force. The Longford River looks perfectly at ease in its surroundings, flowing leisurely through the park, but it is in truth a 13 mile artificial waterway, built in the time of Charles I to divert water from the River Colne to Hampton Court. History aside, these days Bushy Park is simply a wonderful place to get outside, walk away an afternoon and watch the sun slide spectacularly behind the horizon. The park's most notable feature is Chestnut Avenue; the mile long thoroughfare designed by Sir Christopher Wren is flanked on either side by majestic rows of horse chestnut trees and leads to the majestic Diana Fountain. Anglers can try their luck in the three ponds and there are facilities for a host of other sports including rugby, football, horse-riding and hockey. Formal plantations of trees mingle with wildlife conservation areas and big mounds of bracken hiding herds of deer. Combine a walk in the park with a visit to Hampton Court. Leave the palace by the Lion Gate, stop off for a refreshing pint in the King's Arms pub just outside before you cross the road and enter the park via the Hampton Court Gate. Walk towards Hampton Wick and take the train back from there. Best for: Fishing, riding, deer, bracken and Bronze Age burial mound. Did you know? Eisenhower masterminded the D-Day landings from a HQ in Bushy Park. Address: Park Office, White Lodge, The Stockyard, Hampton Court Road, Hampton, TW12 2EJ Phone: 020 8979 1586 Nearest Station: Hampton Wick Rail Bushy Park & The Longford River - Information  Cannizaro Park
West Side Common, Wimbledon, SW19 4UE Grade-II* listed green expanse with regular events If Wimbledon Common is too vast and bleak for you, head for nearby Cannizaro Park. This Grade II* listed garden covers 34 acres and is located of the west side of Wimbledon Common, a few minutes walk from the Village. Adjacent to Cannizaro House Hotel but no longer connected to it, it is a fine example of the style of large garden common to London mansions in the 19th century and is bewitchingly timeless. Small and sheltered, the park bursts into colour in summertime. A labyrinth of paths interweave across the gardens while the lush stretch of lawn is very suited to civilised picnicking. The park is also known for its open-air theatre, comprising a stage and 700 seat auditorium. Watch out for the jazz festivals every summer, you can lie back and listen to the blues floating through the trees. In the last two weeks of July, the Italian Garden is the venue for the annual festival including music, comedy and live performances. This area is part of the Old Kitchen Garden which was divided into two sections - the upper lawns area and the Italian Garden itself - in the late 1980s. North of this area are the Keir Garden and Maple Avenue, while south are the Water Garden, Lady Jane's Wood, Azalea Dell, Mediterranean Garden, Belvedere, and Retreat, which stretches around towards the Crooked Billet. Today's 34-acre Cannizaro Park owes some of its best features to former residents of the big house: Henry Dundas Viscount Melville, Home Secretary and First Lord of the Admiralty under Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger; and to Mr and Mrs E Kenneth Wilson who lived there from 1920 to 1947. Address: West Side Common, Wimbledon, SW19 4UE Nearest Station: Southfields Tube Cannizaro Park - Information  Greenwich Park
Romney Road, SE10 9NF Old, enclosed Royal Park. A World Heritage Site marking the site of the Greenwich Meridian (the base point for World Time and the location of Longitude 0) Greenwich is most famous for being associated with time and with space. As you walk across her spectacular park you get a potent sense of both. With its hillside location on the edge of the city, the oldest enclosed Royal Park stretches out over 183 acres, offering a strong sense of space and some truly spectacular, expansive views. The top of the hill, near the Observatory, affords amazing vistas across the River Thames to St Paul's Cathedral and beyond; head for the Henry Moore statue 'Standing Figure Knife Edge' for the best vantage point. The many historic buildings that surround the park tell a story that dates back over hundreds of years. While its history stretches back to Roman times (look out for the remains hidden among the grass), the park was first enclosed in 1433. It went on to entertain a host of royal residents, for whom the park became their back garden. Henry VIII, Mary I and Elizabeth I were all born here, while Queen Anne's royal house (Queen's House) still remains to this day. The park's various trees also tell a tale of time - some date back to the 1600s, while the truncated shape of others reveals a period during World War II when the tips were cut off to broaden the field of fire for guns positioned in the park. An ancient oak tree, known as 'Queen's Oak because of its associations with Queen Elizabeth I, still stands firm and proud in the park. Having evolved over time the park now contains a number of more modern attractions - a boating lake, cricket pitch, tennis courts and a bandstand sit comfortably alongside a herb garden, duck pond, rose garden, and "secret garden" behind the Observatory. This is probably the most historically significant of all London's parks. It's also amazingly beautiful. Make a day of it by taking in Greenwich's other attractions - the Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory, Queen's House, the Royal Naval College and Greenwich Market all warrant a trip. End the day on a riverside table outside the historic Trafalgar Tavern. Best for: Ancient oaks, views, Elizabeth I and Henry VIII, time and space. Did you know? In 2012, Greenwich Park will host the equestrian and show jumping events, and the cross country disciplines of the modern pentathlon, during the London Summer Olympics. NOTE: the Cutty Sark is closed for refurbishment until 2009. Address: Romney Road, SE10 9NF Phone: 020 8858 2608 Nearest Station: North Greenwich Tube Greenwich Park - Information  Hampstead Heath
Highgate Road, NW3 7JR The wildest of London's parks Hampstead Heath has fields to run in, long grass to roll in, woods to hide in and, most famously, ponds to swim in. In north London this is THE place to get back to nature. Strewn with picnickers, cyclists, families and the rest, the heath is large enough and has enough copses, hills and mounds that a quiet spot is never far away. 'Chronicles of Narnia' author, CS Lewis, lived near Hampstead Heath and local folklore asserts that it was its picturesque rises, ponds and woodland glades which inspired his mystical land. Parliament Hill is a beacon in the midst of this sprawling expanse of natural beauty. Its summit provides a view of the city almost in its entirety. Spot the famous dome of St Paul's juxtaposed by the ultra-modern Canary Wharf Tower in the distance. This is the perfect kite-flying spot. Hampstead Heath is renowned as a rich conservation area and parts of it are designated as areas of scientific interest by English Nature. Hoards flock to the refreshing waters of the Heath's celebrated ponds in the summer months whilst in the colder months it's more rewarding to while away an afternoon feeding the ducks or exploring the lush woodland, bogs, hedgerows and grassland. Along the edges of the heath a number of attractions will attempt to lure you away. There's the lido at the south, Kenwood House at the north, South End Green and Hampstead Village at the west, and Highgate to the east. There are also plenty of pubs dotted around the edge - the Spaniards Inn (Spaniards Road), the Holly Bush (22 Holly Mount) or the Freemason's Arms (32 Downshire Hill) are all worthy of a visit. The heath doesn't look quite as rural as when Constable painted it, but nonetheless, it is as close to rural as you're going to get in a capital city. Best for: Wild and woody walks, ponds, picnics and panoramic views. Did you know? The opening scene of Wilkie Collins' novel 'The Woman in White' takes place on Hampstead Heath. Address: Highgate Road, NW3 7JR Phone: 020 7482 7073 Category: Leisure > Parks and Gardens Nearest Station: Hampstead Tube Hampstead Heath - Information  Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood
Muswell Hill Road, N10 3JN Ancient woodland in north London Much of London was once entirely covered by the ancient Forest of Middlesex. The oak, holly, and hornbeam trees of Highgate Woods and Queen's Wood (a road is all that separates the two), alongside a few other patches of green across the city, are the only proof it ever existed. Seven species of bats, foxes, grey squirrels and over 70 species of birds still happily inhabit this 70-acre patch, which has been cared for by the Corporation of London since the Lord Mayor pronounced it "an open space forever" in 1886. A year-round attraction, bluebells carpet the floor in the spring, picnickers in the summer, russet leaves in the autumn and snowdrops in the winter. A walk around Highgate Woods is a fantastic way to escape the hubbub of the city, its cooling glades offer escape from the sun on hot days and shelter on cool afternoons. When night falls you can join one of the organised Bat Walks. These are extremely popular so pre-booking is essential. For information leaflets and trail guides visit the information centre located in the middle of the woods near the cricket pitch. A great way to end your visit is by popping into the charming Pavilion Café to sample a home-cooked meal made from fresh local produce. Its outdoor garden, surrounded by plants, flowers and tiny lights is the perfect way to see out the day. Best for: Oak trees, birds and bats, cricket and café. Did you know? Highgate Wood is home to a rare deciduous tree called the Wild Service Tree which is commonly seen as a sign of ancient woodland. Address: Muswell Hill Road, N10 3JN Phone: 020 8444 6129 Nearest Station: Highgate Tube Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood - Information  Holland Park
Holland Park Avenue / Kensington High Street, W8 6LU Small, pretty park in west London. Pretty, petit Holland Park is the ideal location for those wanting to escape the clamour of the city but who don't want to travel too far out of the centre. Tucked away in one of London's most elegant districts, the park offers small, cosy grassy knolls, cooling woodland glades, wild ponds, pavilions, an open expanse for games and general frolicking, playgrounds for older and younger children and a café. Small, but perfectly formed, this lovely park is perfect for an intimate picnic or romantic stroll. There are beautiful woodland trails, manicured lawns and formal gardens, the Kyoto Japanese Garden with its resident Coi, and a fantastic ice cream stand in the middle. Opened in 1952, Holland Park used to be a private estate belonging to the Earl of Holland. During the 19th century the Holland House attracted high profile visitors from various walks of life, from the politician, Lord Palmerston, to the poet, Lord Byron. The former ballroom of Holland House is now the stylish Belvedere restaurant, while the orangery and ice house host temporary exhibitions. In the summer open-air opera and theatre concerts are held in the grounds. Look out for peacocks roaming the grounds. Best for: Peacocks, ponds and pavilions, Coi carpa and concerts. Did you know? Sheridan, Sir Walter Scott, Lord Byron, Wordsworth and Dickens all visited Holland House. Address: Holland Park Avenue / Kensington High Street, W8 6LU Phone: 020 7361 3003 Nearest Station: Kensington (Olympia) Tube Holland Park - Information  Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
The Park Manager, The Ranger's Lodge, W2 2UH Central, sporty park and pretty gardens. Technically two different parks, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are in practical and historical terms one huge, merging expanse. Almost every kind of outdoor pursuit takes place within its 625 acres all year round. Horse-riding, rollerblading, swimming, boating, tennis, cycling, bowling and putting are just some of the formal activities catered for, while informal games of cricket, football, rugby and rounders regularly sprout up in the 'Sports Field' on the south side of the park. A number of famous London attractions are also housed within this central space. Hyde Park boasts the Speaker's Corner and the Serpentine lake, lido and art gallery, while Kensington Palace, the Italian Gardens, Peter Pan statue, Albert Memorial and Diana Memorial Playground characterise Kensington Gardens. Both spaces have strong royal associations. In 1536, as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Henry VIII recalled Hyde Park back from the monks of Westminster Abbey, and began using it for hunting. In 1728, George II's wife Queen Caroline engineered the introduction of water to the park by channelling a stream to create the Long Water and Serpentine. Public use of the park was banned in the 18th century and then only introduced years later to a contingent of "respectably dressed" folk. The situation now couldn't be more different. From formally dressed horse-riders to scantily clad sunbathers, this area attracts and welcomes everyone. Its central location means it lures in folk from every walk of life and, as a result, is one of the most colourful, dynamic and fascinating green spaces in London. A full complement of events including free guided walks, concerts, workshops and entertainments complete the picture. Best for: Sunbathing and swimming, horse-riding and rollerblading, ducks, deckchairs, monuments and galleries. Did you know? Kensington Gardens hold bird records that date back more than a hundred years. Address: The Park Manager, The Ranger's Lodge, W2 2UH Phone: 020 7298 2100 Nearest Station: Knightsbridge Tube Hyde Park - Information  Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill Road, NW3 3NA Small, hilly park, boasting fantastic views over London Primrose Hill has become increasingly popular with the young, the trendy and the famous - particularly from the media world but don't let this put you off. It's a great place to stroll through and take in the scenery. Having climbed the steep slopes and admired the panorama you can regain your strength in one of the many cosy cafés, restaurants or pubs nearby. One of the most pleasant ways to approach the park is to get off at Camden Town and walk along the canal. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for celebs. Address: Primrose Hill Road, NW3 3NA Phone: 020 7486 7905 Nearest Station: Chalk Farm Tube Primrose Hill - Information  Regent's Park
Park Office, Storeyard ( Inner Circle), NW1 4NR Elegant park designed by John Nash Another of London's spectacular John Nash creations, Regent's Park is a huge, thriving green expanse in the heart of the capital. Consisting of two circular areas (an Inner and Outer Circle) the park is bordered by stunning, stark white stucco terraced houses - also designed by royal architect, Nash. At one-time a hunting ground for the ever-ebullient Henry VIII, the Prince Regent (later King George IV) commissioned Nash to transform the land in the early 19th century. Now most famously associated with London Zoo - positioned over on the north-east corner of the park - an open-air theatre, ornate bandstand, large boating lake, huge mosque and 100-acre sports field add to its many attractions. The rest of its 410 acres consist of vast open parkland interspersed with formal, landscaped gardens. Dating back to the 1930s, Queen Mary's Gardens are still regularly and fastidiously tended, while the Rose Garden now bursts at the seams with over 30,000 flowers. Primrose Hill lies at the north of Regent's Park, merging and rising to a peak to offer fantastic views over Westminster and the City. A number of pretty eateries populate Regent's Park, while Primrose Hill is heaving with trendy cafes and bars. This is a great place for almost every kind of outdoor pursuit. If you're visiting the zoo or theatre, make sure you schedule in a couple of hours to explore this elegant, rural recreation area. Best for: Zoo and theatre, sports, fountains and flowers. Did you know? The public were first allowed into Regent's Park in 1835, and then for only two days a week. Address: Park Office, Storeyard ( Inner Circle), NW1 4NR Phone: 020 7486 7905 Nearest Station: Great Portland Street Tube Regent's Park - Information  Richmond Park
Park Office, Holly Lodge, TW10 5HS The largest Royal Park in London Only 30 minutes or so from central London, this is English countryside as you might imagine it depicted in a glossily illustrated Robin Hood story: mighty oaks, a thousand years old, dense forests, dinky copses, rolling hills, majestic fallow deer and burrowing rabbits. Covering almost 2500 acres, Richmond Park is the largest Royal Park in London. With such a large space it's hard to know where to start when visiting. A tall brick wall surrounds the entire park so you need to first work out which gate you are going to use to enter and then plan your route from there. The best way to enter is via Richmond Gate, heading first for King Henry's Mound. The park's position on the edge of town affords it some fantastic panoramas of the capital - King Henry VIII's Mound is the place to head for uninterrupted views all the way to St Paul's Cathedral. Wherever you chose to roam - via the ponds and Deer Park or circumventing the many lodges, make sure you end up at the Isabella Plantation. Heavily wooded and wholly organic, the Isabella Plantation bursts with massive mounds of azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias and really is truly magical. Apart from a couple of roads running around the edge of the park (traffic is highly regulated and, for the most part, unassuming) the park has changed little since the reign of Charles I. Responsible for park's enclosure and the introduction of deer, Charles I sought sanctuary in Richmond during the plague. These days the park performs much the same function, offering a calming sanctuary from the pressures of city life. Enjoy. Best for: Rolling hills, mighty oaks, woods, deer and 2500 acres of open space. Did you know? Richmond Park is Europe's largest urban walled park. Address: Park Office, Holly Lodge, TW10 5HS Phone: 020 8948 3209 Nearest Station: Richmond Tube/Rail, and then bus/taxi Richmond Park - Information  St James's Park
Park Office, The Store Yard, Horse Guards Approach, SW1A 2BJ Colourful, central park with thriving bird population and lake St James's Park with Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens forms an unbroken line of greenery that stretches over three miles from the Houses of Parliament to Olympia. On the park's borders St James's Palace and the Queen's home Buckingham Palace stand proud, offering some stunning views from within its lush peacefulness in the heart of the city. A true retreat, it's hard to believe that St James's was a swampy watermeadow in centuries past. Now, rolling lawns stretch out around the lake, which is home to ducks, geese and pelicans. In the summer months visitors can catch a concert, loll in deckchairs or dine alfresco with a picnic or on the terrace of the park's restaurant. Address: Park Office, The Store Yard, Horse Guards Approach, SW1A 2BJ Phone: 020 7930 1793 Nearest Station: Westminster Tube St James's Park - Information  Victoria Park
Approach Road, The first public park and the Regent's Park of the East One of London's best kept secrets, Victoria Park is a fantastic place to spend an afternoon. Inside the park's boundaries countless varieties of trees stripe the skyline: oaks, horse chestnuts, cherries, hawthorns and even Kentucky coffee trees. The park is split in two by Grove Road. The smaller, western section contains the most picturesque of its lakes with a fully functioning fountain and the imposing Dogs of Alcibiades, two snarling sculptures. Retreat to the quiet of the Old English Garden, a floral haven brimming with flowers and shrubs. Have a peek into the deer enclosure and let the kids run off some energy in the children's playground. The city's first public park, Victoria Park was opened in the East End in 1845 after a local MP presented Queen Victoria with a petition of 30,000 signatures. It was envisaged as a Regent's Park of the east and originally had its own Speaker's Corner. The Victorians saw parks as instruments of moral and physical improvement, especially for the working classes. Sanitary reformer William Farr believed the use of parks would significantly boost life expectancy. Why not boost your constitution and have an enjoyable day out at the same time, as you explore the many attractions of this glorious park. Address: Approach Road, Phone: 020 8985 1957 Nearest Station: Bethnal Green Tube Victoria Park - Information |
