One thing London isn’t short on is open spaces. And this makes for a wonderful city atmosphere – because there’s always somewhere close by so you can get away from the hustle and bustle if you need to. After all, we all need a quite place to relax and chill every once in a while.
Below are some of the best parks in London in which to find a quiet spot, enjoy a walk amongst the wildlife, kick a ball around, take a picnic and settle down for a few hours… Whatever your outdoor needs, there’s a park in London close by that will suit you just fine.
Green Park
Centrally located in the borough of Westminster, Green Park covers over 40 acres and is right next door to Buckingham Palace. The park is open all year round and the nearest tube stations are Green Park and Hyde Park Corner.
The parks close proximity to many of London’s major tourist attractions make it the perfect place to visit for a few minutes (or more) serenity during a busy day’s sightseeing…
Kensington Gardens
Home to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, this 242-acre oasis surrounds the glorious royal residence of Kensington Palace.
The park opens every day at 06:00 hours and the gates close at dusk. Being so large, many tube stations are close by, including High Street Kensington and Bayswater.
Regent’s Park
Regent’s Park incorporates 395 acres and is home to more than 12,000 roses! It certainly makes for a wonderful spectacle during the summer months. It’s also the location for London Zoo – a favourite with both adults and children.
Opening hours are 05:00hrs – 21:00hrs every day (closes earlier in the winter months), and there are many tube stations nearby, including St John’s Wood and Regent’s Park.
Greenwich Park
Set in the delightful borough of Greenwich, this park is home to the Prime Meridian Line and the Royal Observatory.
It’s a beautiful park that offers amazing views of the River Thames and many of London’s landmarks. The park is open from 06:00hrs to 20:00hrs and the nearest tube station is North Greenwich
St James’s Park
This wonderful park includes some of London’s ‘must see’ tourist attractions, including The Mall and Horse Guard’s Parade. If you’re lucky enough to visit around the Queens official Birthday in June, you can also see the amazing spectacle that is the Trooping the Colour.
This large park is open daily from 05:00hrs to 00:00hrs and is easily accessible from many tube stations, including St James’s Park and Victoria.
Victoria Park
London’s oldest public park, Victoria Park covers 213 acres of both informal and formal gardens. It also plays host to many events and festivals throughout the year. It’s a good park for walking, with various orienteering trails and tree trails to follow.
Opening hours are 07:00hrs to dusk every day of the year except Christmas, when the park is closed. The nearest tube station is Mile End.
Hyde Park
350 acres make up this world famous park, home to the fabled Speakers’ Corner, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain and the Serpentine Lake. Hyde Park boasts over 4,00 trees, and has beautiful flower displays. A walk around here should definitely be on every visitor’s ‘to do’ list.
The park is open all year round from 05:00hrs to 00:00hrs and has many tube stations close by. These include Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch underground stations.
Clapham Common
This triangular shaped park covers 220 acres of prime parkland and is a very fashionable part of London. The common was mentioned in the Domesday Book back in the year 1086 as being common land for the parishes of Clapham and Battersea.
On a sunny day the common is hugely popular, but being so large is easily available to accommodate the large number of Londoners that head there. Being a common, this park is not fenced in and is therefore open 24 hours a day. The nearest tube station is Clapham Common.
Hampstead Heath
The wonderfully tranquil Hampstead Heath is a delightful park to visit, with ponds, woodlands, hills, training tracks, wildlife and an abundance of flora. It covers 320 acres that are home to many animals and birds, such as foxes, rabbits, frogs, squirrels, kingfishers, bats, deer and parakeets.
The heath is open 24 hours a day, and the nearest tube stations include Hampstead and Kentish Town.
Richmond Park
Henry the VIII’s old hunting ground of Richmond Park is still home to large herds of deer. This is the largest enclosed space in all of London, at 2,360 acres. Being so large it’s always possible to find a secluded place to park if you need some ‘me’ time, or want to allow the kids to yell and make as much noise as they like without disturbing anyone.
The park is open to vehicles from 07:00hrs or 07:30hrs (half an hour later in the winter) to dusk, and for pedestrians the park is open 24 hours a day. The nearest tube station is Richmond.
Battersea Park
Covering 200 acres, this Victorian park boast beautiful fountains, a children’s zoo, a rowing lake and a wonderful promenade along the River Thames. One of the features of the park is the wonderful fountain display. This runs from 10:00hrs to 18:00hrs daily, with special crystal displays on the hour every hour for 10 minutes – definitely worth a look.
The park is open daily from 06:30hrs to 22:30hrs, and the nearest tube stations include Battersea Park and Sloane Square.
