Parks

🌳 Introduction

London is incredibly green. In fact, with over 8 million trees, it is technically classified as a forest! Whether you want to rent a rowboat, spot wild deer, or just enjoy a coffee with a spectacular view of the skyline, here is a guide to the city’s best green spaces.

🦌 The Wild & Expansive

These parks are massive, wild, and make you completely forget you are in a bustling metropolis.

Richmond Park The largest of London’s Royal Parks, covering 2,500 acres. It is most famous for the herds of hundreds of wild red and fallow deer that roam freely across the ancient woodlands and wide-open plains.

Hampstead Heath A sprawling, ancient heath in North London. It feels incredibly untamed with its high meadows and thick woodlands. It is famous for the Men's, Ladies', and Mixed outdoor bathing ponds, and the incredible skyline views from the top of Parliament Hill.

🌷 The Iconic Central Parks

The classic, beautifully manicured Royal Parks located right in the heart of the city.

Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens Technically two parks that bleed into one massive green space in Central London. You can rent a pedalo on the Serpentine Lake, visit the Diana Memorial Fountain, or stroll through the elegant Italian Gardens.

The Regent's Park Arguably the most beautifully landscaped park in London. It features the stunning Queen Mary's Rose Garden (which has over 12,000 roses), a large boating lake, an Open Air Theatre in the summer, and it even houses the London Zoo.

St. James’s Park Located right on the doorstep of Buckingham Palace, this is a picture-perfect park. It is famous for the resident pelicans (which have lived there since a Russian Ambassador gifted them in 1664) and offers iconic views of the London Eye and Whitehall.

🔭 Best for Views & Locals

Primrose Hill Located just north of Regent’s Park, this steep, grassy hill offers one of the most spectacular, unobstructed panoramic views of the central London skyline. It is surrounded by pastel-colored townhouses and trendy cafes.

Greenwich Park A stunning, historic park in South East London. Climb the hill to the Royal Observatory to stand on the Prime Meridian Line (where East meets West) and enjoy breathtaking views over the river Thames and the Canary Wharf skyline.

Battersea Park A favorite among locals, situated right on the south bank of the river Thames. It features a beautiful riverside promenade, a striking Buddhist Peace Pagoda, a hidden boating lake, and even a miniature golf course.

🌺 Botanical Wonders

Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens) Note: Unlike the other parks, Kew Gardens requires a paid ticket, but it is entirely worth it. A UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the largest and most diverse botanical collections in the world. Highlights include the massive Victorian glasshouses, a spectacular treetop walkway, and a towering Japanese pagoda.

Holland Park (The Kyoto Garden) A smaller, highly affluent park in West London featuring a hidden gem: The Kyoto Garden. It is a stunning, tranquil Japanese garden with a tiered waterfall, stone lanterns, koi carp, and resident peacocks roaming the grounds.