Best Parks in London
Best Parks in London
London might be a polluted, grey city but it also boasts some glorious green spaces! When city life is grinding you down bring a picnic, put up a deck chair and bask in the peaceful beauty of some of London’s best parks…
St James’s Park
Details
Horse Guards Road, The Storeyard, London SW1A 2BJ, England
St James’s Park
St James’ Park is one of the Best Parks in London so it’s strange to think it was once a horrible, dark swamp with a leper hospital nearby!
The swamp became Henry VIII’s Royal Hunting Grounds when he built St James’s Palace in 1536. It’s now home to the several royal birds, including 3 very naughty Pelicans, ducks, geese, swans, moorhens, coots and grebes. The 3 pelicans Louis, Vaclav and Gargi are fed fresh fish between 2:30pm and 3pm every day.
To the west lies Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards lies to the east, St James’ Palace to the north and Birdcage Walk to the south. If you want to try and catch the Changing of the Guard head to Buckingham Palace or Horse Guards Parade at 11am each morning. Alternatively bring a picnic, pull up a stripey deckchair and watch the birds on the lake. If you’re more of a people watcher you’ll see lots of ministers and civil servants rushing off to their meetings on Whitehall. St James’ Park is definitely the most romantic of the parks with its lamposts, sweeping willows and an incredibly photogenic blue bridge.
We walk around St James’ Park on our FREE London Tour, which runs every day at 11am and 2pm.
Opening Hours: 9am-9pm
Getting Here By Tube
St James’s Park (District and Circle Line)
Green Park (Piccadilly, Victoria and Jubilee Lines)
Getting Here By Bus
3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 53, 77a, 88, 91, 148, 159, 211, 453
Getting Here By Car
Q Park, Parking Garage, Stowell Street
Regents Park and Primrose Hill
Originally Royal Hunting Grounds, Regents Park is one of the best parks in London. It features artificial lakes, an open-air theatre, children’s playgrounds, sports pitches and the London Zoo in the north side of the park. Baker Street is to the south with Madame Tausaud’s and The Sherlock Holmes Museum. To the west lies Camden Market and the canal. Head up to the top of Primrose Hill for stunning views across London and the best place in London for watching the sunset.
Opening Hours: 9am-9pm
Getting Here By Tube
Regents Park (Bakerloo Line)
Baker Street (Hammersmith & City, Circle, Jubilee, Metropolitan & Bakerloo Lines)
Great Portland Street (Hammersmith&City, Circle, Metropolitan, Bakerloo Lines)
Camden Town (Northern Line)
St John’s Wood (Jubilee Line)
Getting Here By Bus
2, 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82, 113, 139, 189, 274, 453, C2.
Getting Here By Car
NCP Car Park, Regents Park, Bolsover St, London W1W 5EE
Holland Park
Holland Park used to be the grounds of Cope Castle, a large Jacobean Mansion. It was then renamed Holland House before being badly damaged in WW2. It is now one of the best parks in London. Take a refreshing stroll around Holland Park and you’ll soon feel like you’re in the heart of the English Countryside. Be sure to check out the peaceful Kyoto Gardens or play with the giant chess-set. The soup and carrot cake from the cafe is delicious, but the pigeons will try to steal it from you if you decide to sit outside!
Opening Hours: 9am-9pm
Getting Here By Tube
Holland Park (Central Line)
Ladbroke Grove (Hammersmith&City, Circle Lines)
Notting Hill Gate (Central, District&Circle Lines)
Getting Here By Bus
7,12, 23, 27, 28, 31, 52, 70, 94, 328 and 452.
Getting Here By Car
Holland Park Car Park, Abbotsbury Rd, Kensington, London W14 8EP
Hampstead Heath
Details
Hampstead Heath
Untamed and wild; Hampstead Heath has 791 acres of meadows, woodlands, playing fields, swimming ponds and stunning views from Parliament Hill.
Kenwood House lies to the north of the park and is one of London’s best-kept treasures and an architectural masterpiece. The stately home is surrounded by tranquil gardens, with a fine art collection and gorgeous interiors. The tea&cake in the coffee shop is also well-deserved treat after a long walk around the park.
Opening Hours: 9am-6pm
Getting Here By Tube
Golders Green (Northern Line)
Hampstead (Northern Line)
Kentish Town (Northern Line)
Hampstead Heath (Overground)
Getting Here By Bus
The following buses will drop you off at various parts of Hampstead Heath:
C2, H3, C11, 24, 46, 168, 210, 214, 268
Getting Here By Car
There are 3 Car Parks to choose from:
East Heath: NW3 1BN
Jack Straw’s: NW3 7ES
The Lido: NW5 1LN
Hyde Park
Hyde Park covers 350 acres and is situated right in the heart of London. You can enjoy tennis, cycling, horse-riding and you can even swim around The Serpentine Lake (if you’re brave enough). You can also visit The Royal Albert Hall, The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum and The V&A to the south of the park. Visit Speaker’s Corner on a Sunday Morning to listen to people’s views on current events or enjoy feeding the ducks on the lake!
Opening Hours: 9am-9pm
Getting Here By Tube
Lancaster Gate (Central Line)
Marble Arch (Central Line)
Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly Line)
Knightsbridge (Piccadilly Line)
Getting Here By Bus
North : C2, 6, 7, 10, 16, 19, 23, 36, 52, 73, 82, 98, 113, 274, 390, 414
South : 2, 36, 137, 148, 159, 436
West : 9, 10, 14, 19, 22, 52, 74, 94, 148, 414
East : 8,15, 23, 30, 38,274
Getting Here By Car
Q Park, Park Lane, London W1K 7TY