parks of London

Explore the Wonderful Parks of London

You may be in the centre of one of the world’s greatest cities, but there’s no shortage of parks to visit in London.

London is blessed with eight much-loved Royal Parks that have long served as welcome retreats from the hectic pace of city life. Whether you feel like a simple stroll, somewhere to take the kids, a quiet lunch on a bench or a couple of hours relaxing in a deckchair, there’s a perfect London park for you. Alternatively you can enjoy the benefits of exercise in the fresh air by going for a run, cycle or even a horse trek through one of the many nice parks in London. Add a huge collection of iconic monuments and statues, and lots of places to eat and drink, to these picturesque green spaces and you’ve got all you need for a really good free day out.
Hyde Park
Tracing its history back to the early 17th century, Hyde Park is one of the largest and oldest parks in London. Many visitors head straight to the Serpentine, the oldest boating lake in the country, where you can still hire a rowing or paddle boat. Less active visitors can enjoy both Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens on Liberty Drives, Electric buggies are run by volunteers during the summer months. A hugely popular 2004 addition to Hyde Park is the Diana Memorial Fountain, a beautiful creation of Cornish granite designed to reflect the Princess’s life, and a wonderful place for children to splash and play in the summer months.
Kensington Gardens
A stroll past the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official residence, Kensington Palace, is a must-do when visiting Kensington Gardens, one of the prettiest of the Royal Parks. Thanks to the legacy of Kensington Palace’s former resident, Princess Diana, this park is a fantastic place to visit with children. The Diana Memorial Playground is a vast playground inspired by the story of Peter Pan. With a huge pirate ship as its centrepiece, it provides one of the best free activities for children in the capital. The Peter Pan Statue and the iconic Albert Memorial are also must-visit landmarks in this park too.
Regent’s Park
Located to the north of the city centre, Regent’s Park is one of London’s most abundantly colourful green spaces. Its Queen Mary’s Gardens section is home to 12,000 roses of 400 species, making it a paradise of stunning displays and sweet scents during the summer months. Regent’s Park is also a major sporting destination, boasting the biggest grass area for sports in the city centre. There is also an Open Air Theatre with a fantastic summer schedule of concerts and plays. London Zoo is also positioned in Regent’s Park, so it’s a great place to enjoy a much-needed rest after a busy day spent seeing the animals.
St James’s Park
London’s oldest Royal Park is at the heart of the ancient traditions of the ceremonial side of London, so it’s a tourist magnet all year round. Home to The Mall and Horse Guards Parade, this is the setting for the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony and other Royal ceremonies besides. Not only is Buckingham Palace at the head of the park, St James’s also counts Westminster, Clarence House and St James’s Palace among its surroundings. But it’s not all about Regal ceremony here; just like London’s other green spaces, this urban oasis is an ideal place to walk, play and relax.
Green Park
As the smallest of London’s Royal Parks, the 40-acre Green Park is sometimes overlooked, despite its central location and having a London Underground station named after it. A popular place for London’s bird population to gather, there is a tranquil feel here, even though many thousands of people visit it every day for exercise, sightseeing or relaxation. This park has a close association with the history of the two World Wars, particularly with Britain’s foreign allies. Not only is it home to the Bomber Command Memorial, it also houses the Canada Memorial which is dedicated to the million Canadians who served alongside the British forces in both World Wars. The Memorial Gates are dedicated to the five million from Africa, the Caribbean and the Indian Sub-Continent who made the same sacrifice.
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