Top 10 Parks in London

704

1. Hyde Park

As one of the largest parks in the city, the Hyde Park has been in every Londoner’s heart ever since King Henry VIII acquired it from the church to use it as his hunting grounds. It was also the location of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the venue for numerous debates, demonstrations, and protests. The Apsley Gate, which was designed by Decimus Burton, is the most impressive entrance to the park. Near the Queen Elizabeth Gate at Hyde Park Corner is a colossal statue of Achilles erected in the honor of the Duke of Wellington.

Main Attractions

• Diana Memorial Fountain

• 7 July Memorial

• The Lido

• Serpentine Lake

• Speaker’s Corner

• Tennis Center

Restaurants near Hyde Park

• Serpentine Bar & Kitchen

Serpentine Road, Hyde Park, London W2 2UH

• Benares Restaurant

1st Floor Berkeley Square House, London W1J 6BS

• Park Terrace Restaurant

2 – 24 Kensington High Street, London W8 4PT

Bars & pubs near Hyde Park

• Mandarin Bar

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA

• Zuma

5 Raphael Street, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DL

• The Nags Head

53 Kinnerton Street, London SW1X 8ED

Nearby tube/rail stations

• Hyde Park Corner

2. Bushy Park

Situated just north of Hampton Court Palace, the Bushy Park is one of several vast open spaces that sprawl across the borough of Richmond upon Thames. Named after the large number of hawthorn bushes that grow within its boundaries, the area is believed to have been inhabited since the Bronze Age. In 2014, Bushy Park, along with the Hampton Court Park and the Hampton Court Golf Course, was designated as a new Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Main Attractions

• Woodland Garden

• Water Garden

• Red and Fallow Deer

• Pheasantry Welcome Center

• Diana Fountain

• Chestnut Avenue

Restaurants near Bushy Park

• Charm Thai Dining

86 High Street, Teddington, Middlesex, Greater London TW11 8JD

• La Familia Restaurant

99 High Street, Hampton Hill, Middlesex TW12 1NH

• The Teddington Arms

38-40 High Street, Teddington TW11 8EW

Bars & pubs near Bushy Park

• Boaters Inn

Canbury Gardens, Lower Ham Rd, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5AU

• The Canbury Arms

49 Canbury Park Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 6LQ

• Swan Inn – Shepherd Neame

22 High Street, Kingston upon Thames, Hampton Wick, Surrey KT1 4DB

Nearby tube/rail stations

• Teddington Rail Station

• Hampton Wick Rail Station

• Hampton Court Rail Station

3. Green Park

Located between Hyde Park and St. James’s park, the Green Park is one of the most unique parks in London. The name of this 53-acre park is self-explanatory. This peaceful retreat, located between Piccadilly and Constitution Hill, is free from any lakes or buildings as opposed to its neighboring parks.

Main Attractions

• Buckingham Palace

• Canada Memorial

• Canada Gate

• Gun Salutes

• Daffodils

• Deck Chairs

Restaurants near Green Park

• Langan’s Brasserie

Stratton Street, London W1J 8LB

• The Ritz Restaurant

The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR

• The Wolseley

160 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EB

Bars & pubs near Green Park

• Rivoli Bar at The Ritz

The Ritz, The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR

• Mahiki

1 Dover Street, London W1S 4LD

• DUKES LONDON Hotel

35 St James’s Place, London SW1A 1NY

Nearby tube/rail stations

• Green Park tube

4. Kensington Gardens

Kensington Gardens is located immediately west of the Hyde park and was once a private garden of the Kensington Palace. The gardens, covering 275 acres, have Kensington Palace as the backdrop. Over the Long Bridge, towards the Lido, is the Kensington Gardens’ prized asset – the Serpentine Gallery and the tea pavilion of 1930s with a lantern and golden ball on top.

Main Attractions

• Diana Playground

• Albert Memorial

• Peter Pan Statue

• Italian Garden

• Diana Playground Café

• Kensington Palace

Restaurants near Kensington Gardens

• Serpentine Bar & Kitchen

Serpentine Road, Hyde Park, London W2 2UH

• Thistle Kensington Gardens Hotel

104 Bayswater Road, London W2 3HL

• Clarke’s Restaurant

122 & 124 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BH

Bars & pubs near Kensington Gardens

• Mandarin Bar

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA

• The Swan

66 Bayswater Road, London W2 3PH

• The Churchill Arms

119 Kensington Church Street, London W8 7LN

Nearby tube/rail stations

• Kensington High Street Tube

5. The Regent’s Park

Located in the Northwest of London, the Regent’s Park was created by John Nash who planned to build palaces for the elites. The park is a photographer’s delight as it’s home to over 12,000 roses of 400 varieties. The Park has the largest dedicated outdoor sports area in central London with excellent facilities for playing football, rugby, and volleyball.

Main Attractions

• The Hub

• Queen Mary’s Garden

• Garden Cafe

• Open air theater

• London Zoo

• Boat House Cafe

Restaurants near The Regent’s Park

• The Regent’s Bar & Kitchen

Queen Mary’s Gardens, Inner Circle, Greater London NW1 4NU

• Queen’s Head & Artichoke

30-32 Albany Street, London NW1 4EA

• L’albufera Restaurant

Albany Street, London NW1 3UP

Bars & pubs near The Regent’s Park

• Queen’s Head & Artichoke

30-32 Albany Street, London NW1 4EA

• The Metropolitan Bar

7 Station Approach, Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LD

• Jetlag Sports Bar

125 Cleveland Street, London W1T 6QB

Nearby tube/rail stations

• Baker Street Tube

6. Battersea Park

Across the Queenstown Road, along the south bank of the Thames between the Chelsea and Albert Bridges, lies the Battersea Park. Back in the 1800s, it was a popular spot for Londoners to engage in duels. Those days have long gone and the park is now complete with sports facilities, a children’s zoo, a beautiful boating lake, and modern art museum in the Pump House. The riverside Peace Pagoda, donated by Japanese monks in 1985, and the Festivals Gardens are of special interest.

Main Attractions

• Children’s Zoo

• Festival Gardens

• Pump House Gallery

• The Couper Collection (floating art museum)

• Carlyle’s House

• National Army Museum

• Boat House Cafe

Restaurants near Battersea Park

• La Gondola Al Parco

Battersea Park, London SW11 4NJ

• The Butcher & Grill

39-41 Parkgate Road, London SW11 4NP

• San Gennaro Restaurant

22 Battersea Park Road, Battersea, London SW11 4HY

Bars & pubs near Battersea Park

• The Prince Albert

85 Albert Bridge Road, London SW11 4PF

• The Union Arms

109 Battersea Bridge Road, London SW11 3AT

• The Lighthouse

441 Battersea Park Road, London SW11 4L

Nearby tube/rail stations

• Sloane Square Tube

7. Hampstead Heath

From Hampstead Tube, Heath Street heads sharply uphill towards the Hampstead Heath, an oasis of uncultivated land where it is easy to forget the urban cacophony as one wanders along leafy avenues, open fields, and shaded woods. The park is one of the highest points in London and is divided roughly into West Heath and East Heath. While the West Heath stretches down towards Golders Green, the East Heath comprises the main body of the heath reaching towards Highgate. The West Heath is home to the lovely Hill Gardens, which has beautiful landscaped walkway through the woods.

Main Attractions

• Constable’s House

• Burgh House

• Fenton House

• Kenwood House

• 2 Willow Road

Restaurants near Hampstead Heath

• Safir

116 Heath Street, London NW3 1DR

• The Wells Restaurant

30 Well Walk, London NW3 1BX

• The Spaniards Inn

Spaniards Road, Hampstead, London NW3 7JJ

Bars & pubs near Hampstead Heath

• The Wells Restaurant

30 Well Walk, London NW3 1BX

• Ye Olde White Bear

Well Road, London NW3 1LH, United Kingdom

• Duke of Hamilton

23 New End, Greater London NW3 1JD

Nearby tube/rail stations

• Hampstead Heath Rail / Highgate Tube

8. Greenwich Park

The Greenwich Park started off as a hunting park and was one of the first of the Royal Parks of London to be enclosed. The Park offers majestic views of the Thames, the Isle of Dogs, and London. The place is also home to the Royal Observatory, which is the location of the Prime Meridian.

Main Attractions

• The Royal Observatory

• The General Wolfe Statue

• Pavilion tree house

• Wilderness Deer park

• Boating Lake

• Playground and Tennis court

Restaurants near Greenwich Park

• Gurkha’s Inn

17 Colomb Street, London, Greenwich SE10 9HA

• Pavilion Tea House

Charlton Way, London SE10 8QY

• Inside Restaurant

19 Greenwich South Street, Greenwich, London SE10 8NW

Bars & pubs near Greenwich Park

• The Greenwich Union

56 Royal Hill, London SE10 8RT

• Trafalgar Tavern

Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9NW

• Spanish Galleon – Shepherd Neame

48 Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, London SE10 9BL

Nearby tube/rail stations

• Baker Street Tube

9. St. James’s Park

St. James’s Park is the finest and most carefully planned royal park in London, which may be due to its closeness to Buckingham Palace. The highlight of the St. James’s Park is its lake that has two islands – West Island and Duck Island. These islands are home to a considerable population of waterfowl that includes a colony of pelicans.

Main Attractions

• Pelicans

• Horse Guards Parade

• Inn The Park

• Allotment

• The Blue Bridge

• The Mall

Restaurants near St. James’s Park

• Inn The Park

St James’s Park, London SW1A 2BJ

• Avenue

7-9 St James’s Street, London SW1A 1EE

• Sake No Hana

23 St James’s Street, London SW1A 1HA

Bars & pubs near St. James’s Park

• The Red Lion

8 Parliament Street, London SW1A 2NH

• ICA Bar & Café

The London Office, 62 Pall Mall, Carlton House Terrace, St. James’s, London SW1Y 5HX

• Rockwell Bar & Room

The Trafalgar Hotel, 2 Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Square, London SW1A 2TS

Nearby tube/rail stations

• St James’s Park Tube

10. Richmond Park

One of the largest parks in the city of London, Richmond Park is a popular attraction amongst tourists due to its large deer population. The Park offers visitors everything from tall oaks, beautiful gardens as well the magnificent sights of Central London. It is a popular hideaway for the locals looking for peace and some quiet moments.

Main Attractions

• Red and Fallow deer

• Isabella Plantation

• Pembroke Lodge and Gardens

• King Henry’s Mound

• Shire Horses

• Golf Course and Playground

Restaurants near Richmond Park

• The Victoria

10 W Temple Sheen, Richmond, Greater London SW14 7RT

• The Plough

42 Christchurch Road, London SW14 7AF

• Stein’s

Richmond Towpath, 55 Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 6UT

Bars & pubs near Richmond Park

• The Rowbuck

130 Richmond Hill, Richmond TW10 6RN

• The New Inn

345 Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 7DB

• Dukes Head Inn

42 The Vineyard, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6AN

Nearby tube/rail stations

• Richmond Tube / Rail

Image credit : Marcschulz, John Thaxter, Diliff, Garry Knight, Morio, Maciek Kwiatkowski, Oast House Archive , Tom Page, CGPGrey