8 best London parks to escape the city bustle

How many parks are there in London? You can probably name a handful of the most famous ones, but believe it or not, the answer is a staggering 3,000. Nearly a fifth (18%) of the capital is covered in parkland, providing residents and visitors with a welcome respite from the knocks and noises of urban life. 

The city’s public gardens are as varied as they are numerous. Some, like Victoria Park in east London and Holland Park in the west, are laidback neighbourhood spots, drawing families to their playgrounds and dog walkers to their wide, grassy fields. Others, like the expansive royal parks, were once recreational grounds for monarchs and their closest allies, and still bear traces of that rich history today in their architecture and design. Intrigued? Here’s our pick of the best 8 parks to explore during your stay in London.

Bookended by Buckingham Palace and Downing Street, this royal green space is the backdrop to the annual Trooping the Colour parade, usually at the start of June. You’ll probably also recognize the dramatic flower beds in front of the palace, created in 1901 as a tribute to Queen Victoria. Flat walking trails lace the grassy lawns, ideal if you have small children or mobility needs. Don’t miss the daily pelican feeding between 2:30pm and 3pm.

Once Henry VIII’s private hunting ground, Hyde Park has been a site of celebrations, protests and refuge in London. As you walk or cycle the leafy trails, look out for Speakers’ Corner , where on a Sunday you might spot an impassioned orator expounding their views. Hire a pedalo for some summer fun on the Serpentine Lake, or explore the Winter Wonderland during the festive season. Crossing West Carriage Drive takes you to Kensington Gardens, home to Kensington Palace and the extravagant Albert Memorial.

If you’re headed for Buckingham Palace from central London (or going the other way), this petite, 40-acre public garden is great for a stroll. Mature trees shade broad footpaths, and springtime daffodils add sunny cheer to the well-tended lawns. It’s also the site of royal gun salutes marking state visits and the opening of Parliament. Look out for the Bomber Command Memorial, paying tribute to WWII aircrew. The Sofitel London St James is within walking distance of these three parks, plus the shops, bars and theatres of Leicester Square and Soho. 

This sprawling area of ​​wild woods and green meadows inspired writer CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia and landscape painter John Constable. It’s also one of London's most famous hill parks, offering spectacular views of the city skyline from the top of Parliament Hill. Pack a picnic and while the day away people-watching, rambling through secret nooks or – if you dare – taking a bracing dip in one of the swimming ponds.

The train from busy Waterloo train station to Richmond takes just under 20 minutes, but it’s like stepping into another world. Keep an eye out for resident deer, which have been roaming freely since the 17th century, or stroll in the Isabella Plantation, famed for its springtime pink and purple azaleas. Also worth a visit is King Henry’s Mound, where, when the weather's good, you can gaze across the city to the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. The trails here can get muddy and slippery during wet weather, so you might need a sturdy pair of waterproof shoes or boots.

As its name suggests, this public space was built for the 2012 London Olympics, and is still home to facilities including a stadium and Velopark. It’s so big that the best way to explore it is on two wheels, so pick up a Boris Bike – there are docking stations outside the Aquatics Centre, Velopark, Timber Lodge and several other nearby locations – and enjoy the wetlands, waterways and striking architecture. Don’t miss the ArcelorMittal Orbit, a twisty steel sculpture with views from the top and an exhilaratingly long, loopy slide down.

You can almost feel the centuries of royal history as you amble around here. The landscaped, French-style gardens date back to the 17th century, and Henry VIII and his daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I were born here, in the Palace of Placentia (which isn’t open to the public). Admire some of the best views in London over the River Thames to the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, and make a stop at the Meridian Line or Longitude 0, the starting point for measuring distances east and west across the world. Looking for a family-friendly hotel in Greenwich? The Novotel London Greenwich is a short walk from the park and next to Greenwich train station.

One of London’s best-kept secrets, this Victorian-era riverside park was used as a defence station during the World Wars, and today is beloved by locals. It’s particularly good for families, with a small zoo that’s manageable for young children, two large playgrounds and a boating lake. Paved trails weave a latticework around sports pitches, tennis courts and cricket nets, and for a few glorious weeks in the spring, an avenue of cherry blossom trees offers a magical, confetti-strewn stroll.

Whether you’re in the mood for a short relaxing amble in nature, a peaceful few hours away from the crowds or to walk in the footsteps of royalty, there’s a park to suit your needs. All that’s left is for you to put on a pair of good walking shoes and get going. Enjoy!