A Quick Guide to Exploring London Parks
London does public parks and green spaces particularly well, and there are many to choose from!
St James Park, Green Park and Hyde Park form a chain through most of central London. All of these three are Royal Parks, overseen by the dedicated charity of the same name.
Not all the parks in London fall into the Royal Park system, but they are all pretty grand nonetheless! So here is a quick list of parks in the heart of London which are great to visit.
St. James Park
The King’s Life Guard ride from Hyde Park towards St James Park.
Located right along the Mall in Central London, St James Park connects Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade where the Trooping of the Colour takes place. A lovely green space with a small lake that attracts a wide variety of waterfowl and is home to a resident colony of pelicans.
Considered the “most royal of the royal parks” due to its location bordered by three royal palaces, lots of ceremonial events take place here. Its also a good place to take in some of the Changing of the Guard.
Hyde Park
A huge crowd watches a broadcast of King Charles’ Coronation in Hyde Park.
The largest and probably most well known of London’s urban parks. Hyde Park is a hub of local activity and has seen a lot of history. Connected to Green Park via Hyde Park Corner, the park is known for its abundance of trees, and is divided by the Serpentine and the Long Water lakes, which attract a vast array of ducks and other water birds.
The site of many public and ceremonial events, the park also hosts a very popular Winter Wonderland fair during the Christmas holidays.
Fun fact - the sandy horse path called Rotten Row was once the “place to be seen” on horseback in London, a fashionable meet-up for the upper class to show off their finery. Today it is still maintained as horse path, but seldom used for that.
We had a great time in Hyde Park during King Charles’ Coronation.
Kensington Gardens
A statue of Princess Diana at the Sunken Garden in Kensington Gardens. In the background is Kensington Palace.
Kensington Gardens is actually a section of the greater Hyde Park, located to the west of West Carriage Drive, which divides the park. The expansive gardens surround Kensington Palace, and I would definitely say they are a “must see” while in London.
Many walkways wind you through the various beautifully themed gardens, where you can pick up the Princess Diana Memorial Walk, a nature trail that traverses the greenspaces of Central London.
There are also numerous interesting statues and art pieces throughout the gardens, including the beloved Peter Pan statue, historic Speaker’s Corner and Albert Memorial monuments, as well as the elaborate Queen’s Gate at the southern entrance to the park. You can read lots more about Kensington Gardens in our blog post about Visiting Kensington Palace.
Swans in Kensington Garden’s Round Pond
Green Park
In the middle of this chain of charming greenspaces of Westminster is Green Park. This is the closest park to Buckingham Palace, just north of the palace gardens and across Constitution Hill Road, and so it offers nice views of the palace.
Though it doesn’t have lakes as its sister parks do, the grassy, sprawling lawns of this tree-lined park make it the most tranquil of the three (the three war memorials notwithstanding!) Also has deck chairs if you need a rest!
Hampstead Heath
Further north still, is the 800-acre Hempstead Heath, one of London’s most beloved natural places.
A very large, sprawling park, it has 3 open air swimming pools, splash areas, a butterfly house, various sports & playing fields and an impressive amount of wildlife, making it popular with birders.
It also includes Parliament Hill, one of the highest spots in London with great views, especially popular at sunset.
Victoria Park
Located in East London in Tower Hamlets, Victoria Park is one of London’s most visited parks. It is often used as a free concert venue, and contains gardens, playgrounds and a lake.
A popular site for walking, running and cycling. Interestingly, the park was used as an anti-aircraft base during WW2!!
Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill
A bronze statue by William McMillan in Regent’s Park.
Another royal park to the northwest of this area is Regent’s Park, which is best known for the extraordinary Queen Mary’s Garden, located at its center. The secluded garden is known for its horticultural excellence.
This is a very large, sprawling park which is mostly reserved for pedestrians only, except for the outer rim road which is multi-use. The northern end of the park is home to Regent’s Canal, a vast open water space, as well as the London Zoo. Adjoining the north side of the park is Primrose Hill, where you can hike to the top to enjoy show-stopping views of the city of London.
Battersea Park
A riverside park located along the south bank of the Thames, it features woodlands, children’s play areas, a Japanese Pagoda, and several interesting buildings. Within walking distance to Battersea Power Station.
For more information on Royal Parks, visit their excellent website.
This post was researched and written by Debbie of the Empty Nest Explorers. You can learn more about the Empty Nest Explorers here
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