The most beautiful parks in London that you need to explore this year
If there’s one thing London isn’t lacking, it’s parks. In fact, London is one of the world’s greenest cities (in the very literal sense of the term) as 40% of it is made up of green space.
The capital is home to a whopping 3,000 parks covering 35,000 acres of land, so you’re never very far from a patch of green no matter where you are in the city.
While our parks have been a source of solace during lockdown, we’re about to feel another level of gratitude for them when we can start meeting our friends for picnics at the end of March.
As part of Boris Johnson’s four-step plan to ease the UK out of lockdown, we will be allowed to meet more people outside in parks and gardens, either under the 'rule of six' or between two households, from March 29 at the earliest.
During our various lockdowns, it’s no wonder that we’ve turned to parks for a little mental health boost. A study from 2019 found that a 20-minute stroll in a park is one of the best ways to beat stress. The research from the University of Michigan found that a park walk can reduce stress hormones by up to 10%.
Luckily for us, Londoners are spoilt for choice when it comes to pretty parks. Whether you’re after something that will seriously get your steps up (deer watching in Richmond Park should do the trick), or you want to delve deep into the woods of South London (Sydenham Hill Wood is best for that), or you simply want to explore London’s central oases (Hyde Park and Green Park are your best bets), there’s a park for every city dweller.
With so many parks to choose from, scroll through the gallery to see our pick of London’s best parks.
Getty ImagesGreenwich Park
Where? Greenwich, SE10.
Quite possibly London’s poshest park, Greenwich is also among the most beautiful. Divided into two halves, you’ll find the Royal Observatory, cherry blossom-lined lanes and spectacular city views in the upper while the lower offers a palace to peruse and the Maritime Museum.
Getty ImagesHampstead Heath
Where? Hampstead, NW3.
Undoubtedly one of London’s prettiest parks, Hampstead Heath straddles Hampstead and Highgate and features an expanse of rolling hills, meadows and shimmering ponds. The further in you go, the more you feel as if you’ve left the city behind, but then you’ll peek a glimpse of the skyline from Parliament Hill and you’ll feel right back at home. The ponds, especially the ladie’s pond, is particularly wonderful come summer.
Getty ImagesHolland Park
Where? Kensington, W11.
While a tranquil space in the truest sense, Holland Park’s real draw is its Kyoto Garden. The Japanese garden features maple and cherry trees, small waterfalls and koi-filled ponds. When you’re ready to culture hop, there’s also a formal Dutch garden just next to Holland House.
Getty ImagesLondon Fields
Where? Shoreditch, E8.
A hipster haven, London Fields really finds its peak come the summer months - picnics here are a must. There’s a wildflower meadow, a permanent ping pong table and a lido to cool off in when the heat becomes too much to bear.
Getty ImagesPrimrose Hill
Where? Camden, NW3.
The perfect place for celeb-spotting, Primrose Hill also offers glorious views of the London skyline. While an extension of Regent's Park, the hill is a destination in itself. Come the summer months, its large patch of green fills up with sun worshippers and friends having boozy picnics - the vibes here are unparalleled.
Getty ImagesRichmond Park
Where? Richmond, TW10.
Created by Charles I in the 17th century as a deer park, the antlered animal still roams the 2,500 acres of Richmond Park today. When you’re not marvelling at the herds of deer, head deep into the park to find Isabella Plantation which is best seen in the spring for flowers and autumn for foliage.
Getty ImagesSydenham Hill Wood
Where? Dulwich, SE26.
While not a park, per say, a visit to Sydenham Hill Wood will make you feel completely removed from the city surrounds. It’s the last remaining tract of the Great North Wood (which stretched from Deptford to Selhurst) and you can follow foliage-lined paths through the trees until you get to a closed railway tunnel - now a registered bat roost. There’s also a Victorian folly hidden away in the wood as well.
ShutterstockTooting Commons
Where? Tooting, SW16.
Tooting Commons flies largely under the radar, but this just makes this South London park all the more enticing. As well as open expanses that are primed for picnics, there’s a small patch of woods to explore, a playground, a lido and you’ll see plenty of sporting events happening here on the weekends as well.
Getty ImagesHyde Park
Where? Central London, W2.
You can’t talk about London parks without mentioning the Grade I-listed, 142 hectare Hyde Park. It’s the beating heart of central London - with Kensington Palace at one end and the Serpentine lake at the other, it’s bordered by Oxford Street, the Royal Albert Hall and Marble Arch, too.
Getty ImagesSt. Johns Lodge Gardens in Regent’s Park
Where? Central London, NW1.
Tucked away inside leafy Regent’s Park, there’s no formal sign acknowledging St John’s Lodge entrance, but this makes finding it all the more fun. Look out for a wisteria-clad pergola where you’ll find a sunken lawn and small, circular enclosures beyond.
Getty ImagesVictoria Park
Where? East London, E9.
Bordering Bethnal Green, Hackney and Bow, Victoria Park is where cool East Londoners congregate in the warmer months. Kids love the playground and splash pools, and there’s also an excellent Sunday market, a boating lake to act like you’re in a rom-com and plenty of gardens to get lost in as well.
Getty ImagesBrockwell Park
Where? Herne Hill, SE24.
Plonked in the middle of the Brixton/Herne Hill/Dulwich/Tulse Hill divide, depending on which entrance you come through, Brockwell Park offers a welcome respite in South London. Head to the back of the park to enjoy the city skyline in all her glory, take a book and read in the walled garden or book in a session at the lido (when the weather allows).
Getty ImagesCrystal Palace Park
Where? Crystal Palace, SE19.
While its monikered Crystal Palace perished in a fire in 1936, some old artefacts remain - namely the park's kid-friendly dinosaur sculptures that date back to 1854. If you’re looking to explore a bit more, there’s an abandoned Victorian subway with a Grade II-listed vaulted walkway to discover, but it’s best to check its opening dates first (it’s only open three times a year).
Getty ImagesBattersea Park
Where? Battersea, SW11.
Just south of the Thames and across the river from Chelsea, the 200 acre Battersea Park makes the most of its prime waterfront space. Its bandstand is particularly beautiful, but there’s also a Buddhist temple, an art gallery, a small zoo and there are beautiful cherry blossom trees come springtime too.
Getty ImagesGreen Park
Where? Central London, W1J.
During non-pandemic times, the city workers of Mayfair and Belgravia flock to the deckchair-scattered lawns of Green Park at lunch for a touch of relief from the daily grind. Bordering Buckingham Palace, the park is as regal as they come and there’s lovely lanes filled with towering trees to explore as well.
