Photo: Contiki
Table of Contents
- What are the 8 Royal Parks of London?
-
Some of the best parks in London you must visit
- 2.1 Hyde Park
- 2.2 Kensington Gardens
- 2.3 Hampstead Heath
- 2.4 Battersea Park
- 2.5 Regent's Park
- 2.6 Greenwich Park
- 2.7 Richmond Park
- 2.8 Holland Park
- 2.9 Waterlow Park
- 2.10 Primrose Hill
- 2.11 Horniman Gardens
- 2.12 St. James' Park
- 2.13 Kew Gardens
- 2.14 Osterley Park
- 2.15 Bushy Park
- 2.16 Victoria Park
- 2.17 London Fields
- 2.18 Hackney Marshes
- 2.19 Putney Heath
- 2.20 St. John’s Lodge Gardens
- Is Regent’s Park better than Hyde Park?
England’s weather may be wishy-washy, but when it’s sunny few things compare. British summertime is one of the best things in the world, and where Londoners like to spend their blissful balmy days is in the parks. Always the parks! So it’s a good thing London has so many parks to choose from to accommodate all 8 million of us. But which ones are the best parks in London? Well, that’s a personal matter.
If you’re heading to London, maybe before a Contiki trip on a London Explorer, and want to plan some immaculate days out, then you need to include some parks on your list. Here are some of the most popular fan favourites for your perusal.
And, sure, London gets a lot of rain, but how do you think we keep our parks so lush and green?
What are the 8 Royal Parks of London?
The Royal Parks are 8 parks around London which are taken care of by the same charity, and are free to visit for all! These parks include:
- Hyde Park
- Kensington Gardens
- Richmond Park
- Bushy Park
- The Green Park
- St. James’ Park
- The Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill
- Greenwich Park
The charity also takes care of Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens, though these two are not officially named one of the Royal Parks of London.
Some of the best parks in London you must visit
1. Hyde Park
When you think of London and London parks, Hyde Park probably pops into your mind. It’s probably the most well-known by name, and it’s also one of the biggest parks in London with 350 whole acres!
Hyde Park is London’s beating heart – major events play out here like the glittering Winter Wonderland funfair around Christmas and the British Summer Time music festivals in July. And the rest of the year? It’s a gorgeous area for walks, cycles, picnics, dips in the Serpentine, and just a generally gorgeous place to spend a day in London.
Image source:Neil de Souza / unsplash
2. Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens are actually attached to Hyde Park, so you can visit them both in the same day! The exact ‘boundary’ between them both is blurred when walking, but Kensington Gardens is a little more hilly with flower gardens and a generally more regal and elegant vibe. Makes sense seeing as Kensington Palace – where members of the royal family live – is just beyond the grounds, and this portion of the park was actually purchased by Queen Caroline in 1728!
Stroll through the sunken gardens or the Serpentine Galleries for some art, and you can emerge on the other side into the gorgeous London neighbourhood of Kensington and Notting Hill.
3. Hampstead Heath
Depending on where you’re located in London, Hampstead Heath can be a bit of a trek to get to, but it’s the PERFECT day out. Hampstead itself is adorable making up that classic English village vibe like out of The Holiday, but the Heath is spectacular. Rolling hills, flowery meadows, and wild swimming ponds that many Londoners dive right into in the summer months. Hampstead Heath is actually huge, so if you visit, pack a bag and a picnic for the full day!
4. Battersea Park
Dipping down south of the Thames, Battersea Park is home to many park run groups as well as the London Peace Pagoda: a gorgeous Buddhist temple! Battersea Park is honestly so underrated in the London scene and we can’t figure out why. It’s quiet, endlessly green, has a boating lake, a sub-tropical garden and classic English garden, and a contemporary art gallery. It’s like a mini city, but without all the pesky high rises around.
5. Regent’s Park
Another of the Royal Parks, Regent’s Park is massive and contains a whole zoo! While the park is huge, the tranquil atmosphere is immaculate, inspiring quiet spring days and crunching autumn walks. The century-old rose garden, Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens, is a must-visit in the summer with various types of roses blooming in a spectacular array of colours. There’s also an outdoor theatre, plenty of cycle paths, and coffee shops and tennis courts within.
As with many of the best parks in London, you could easily spend a whole day here without getting bored.
Image source:Daphne be Frenchie / unsplash
6. Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is a very grand park comprised of gorgeous stretching greens which host a boating lake and deer park, as well as many historically and culturally significant buildings. Fans of Bridgerton especially should congregate here as you’ll spot some of the show’s filming locations like Rangers House and the Old Royal Naval College.
The views at this London park are exceptional, but there are plenty of unsung heroes as well like a sprawling orchard which grows just about any fruit you can imagine, and a rose garden too.
7. Richmond Park
Ted Lasso fans gather, Richmond Park is your home. This area of the city is home to one of the best parks in London and also the majority of the Ted Lasso filming locations, including his favourite pub and apartment! That’s pretty cool, but the real gem of Richmond Park is its inhabitants.
Free roaming red and fallow deer have lived in the park for centuries and made it their home. You’ll find them trotting in the nibbled grass and zipping in and out of trees. It’s magical, like being in a Disney movie, and the Isabella Plantation filled with gorgeous blooming florals just adds to the princess vibe.
Image source:Daniel Buckle / unsplash
8. Holland Park
Nearby Kensington Gardens is Holland Park, a smaller green which is home to an open-air theatre and concert hall and a Japanese garden with koi fish and even herons! The Kyoto Garden is a local favourite which was a gift of serenity from the Japanese city itself, but you shouldn’t miss the Dutch Gardens either! The Design Museum is just around the corner as well, so you can spend the perfect chilled and cultural day out in London.
9. Waterlow Park
Highgate is a quaint and very green part of London with a traditional village vibe, and Waterlow Park is just beyond. Ponds with weeping willows draped over them, pristine gardens and plenty of gently sloping hills, it’s a wonderful spot for a relaxed stroll. The Tudor-era Lauderdale House turned coffee shop will welcome you for a pick-me-up brew before a traipse into Highgate Cemetery where you can visit George Michael’s grave.
10. Primrose Hill
Some consider Primrose Hill to be a part of Regent’s Park, others consider it to be its own thing. Doesn’t really matter which camp you fall into, the point is you MUST visit Primrose Hill! As the name suggests, it’s a hill, which is surprisingly windy but offers gorgeous views of the heart of London. Also, the sunsets from here? Must see, must do, must watch.
Primrose Hill is featured in many filming locations across London, like in Bridget Jones’s Diary and more recently One Day.
11. Horniman Gardens
If you like flower gardens and wildflowers of all colours, the Horniman Gardens are the best park in London for you. They’re part of the Horniman Museum which showcases an impressive collection of natural history tidbits as well as a farm with real animals, and a garden of medicinal plants – it’s perfect for an educational excursion in the fresh air. The white and glass greenhouse-style café is a beautiful place for a pit-stop as well and it’ll add some elegance to any Instagram photo dump or story.
12. St. James’ Park
Located by Buckingham Palace right in the middle of bustling Victoria and Westminster, St. James’ Park offers a reprieve from the city with fountains and ponds, endless greenery, and even parrots? Bit random, but yes, St. James’ Park is home to a chatty flock of bright green parrots that you can find flitting about. There are also pelicans living here, so it’s an unexpected spot for some even more unexpected wildlife sightings.
Maybe the best part of St. James’ Park is the fantastic view of the London Eye flanked by verdant tree tops and (sometimes) blue skies. It’s the photo you see everywhere, and with good reason.
13. Kew Gardens
It’s debatable whether you’d call this a London Park or not, but if you’re into green spaces and serenity in London, Kew Gardens must be included on your list. You will have to pay for your entry here but once you’re inside prepare to be lost in a total wonderland. This is a botanical garden near Richmond, boasting flowers and trees and shrubs of all kinds, preening for your very eyes, and several regal looking greenhouses that reflect the sunshine. Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well – the largest of only four in London – and hosts various yearly events like flower symphonies in the spring and twinkling light shows around Christmas.
Image source:Hoch3fotografie / unsplash
14. Osterley Park
Straddling the east boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow, Osterley Park is a quiet Georgian country estate and a National Trust Property. The turn about the pond and all the beautiful brick buildings of a bygone era will give you total Bridgerton vibes. You can also visit Osterley House (for a fee) and have a tranquil day to yourself pretending you’re part of the old Regency era, looking for a handsome bachelor to fill your dance card. Well… that’s what I’d do anyway…
15. Bushy Park
Another one for the Bridgerton fans (though, really, all of London is), Bushy Park is the second largest park in London and another of the Royal Parks. It’s home to families of roaming deer as well which you can spot on dewy mornings or misty twilights, and it’s home to Hampton Court Palace which serves as the home for Queen Charlotte in the show.
It’s further down south than Richmond, technically just outside of London, but with over 1,000 acres of land, you can stroll, run, and get lost here for days and days. Treat yourself to a delicious pub dinner afterwards, and that’s your day made.
Image source:Josh Goddard / unsplash
16. Victoria Park
Victoria Park (and the following entry on this list) is the place you’ll find East Londoners spending their sunny summer days. It’s beloved, easily one of the best parks in London by public vote, and it’s got a bit of everything. Playgrounds for kids, music festivals for big kids (and by that I do mean adults), lakes, ponds, gardens, and even a vermillion pagoda! It’s just a short walk from Bethnal Green station and located in the heart of a very cool London neighbourhood.
17. London Fields
London Fields is also an East London darling, made particularly special by its proximity to Broadway Market which offers a mouth-watering street food game which you can take away with you to enjoy at the aforementioned park – or, fields. It’s green and gorgeous and an excellent spot for M&S picky bits picnics with friends that extend into the periwinkle evenings in June and July.
18. Hackney Marshes
Hackney Marshes, which extends from Hackney to Walthamstow, is a very underrated bit of city greenery. The area is huge and honestly so untouched? Tourists don’t usually make it here, so if you do, trust that you’ll be getting the real local experience. Hackney Marshes flanks wetlands giving it a very unique vibe, and it’s also a very sporty location. Seriously. There are 82 football, rugby, and cricket pitches here! It’s also where the yearly London Marathon begins – one of the biggest marathons in the world!
19. Putney Heath
If you love dogs, head to Putney Heath. I mean, the Brits love their dogs, so you’ll spot all the cuddly pets being walked at any of the parks on this list, but Putney Heath especially is a favourite for furry friends and their owners. Putney in general is quaint and idyllic, and the Heath is no exception with a true woodsy vibe.
Think dirt trails, tree-covered paths, lily-glazed ponds, and lots of wildlife. In autumn? UGH! Perfect – the colours all come alive in fire and gold making something truly magnificent.
20. St. John’s Lodge Gardens
St. John’s Lodge Gardens is one of London’s best kept secrets and it’s a bit of a stretch to consider it a park, in all honesty, but it’s too special not to include. It’s kind of got Secret Garden vibes because of the fact it’s tucked away within Regent’s Park with no real denoted entrance point – you just have to stumble upon it. It’s ornamented with sculptures and wisteria trellises and arches which will totally enchant you.
Is Regent’s Park better than Hyde Park?
Depends who you ask! Stats wise, Regent’s Park is bigger than Hyde Park and it offers more specific activities and view points like the London Zoo and Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens; but both parks are pretty fantastic. Hyde Park is one of the liveliest places in the city, which is really saying a lot, so whichever one becomes your favourite just depends on your personal taste.
