LONDON PARKS

In fact, there are so many parks in London that it would be almost impossible to list them all. Every neighbourhood has at least one, even if it is small, there is a green space to enjoy.

DOWNTOWN

• St James Park - With a beautiful arrangement and great views of the Big Wheel at the end of the pond, it is next to the Buckingham Palace and runs along The Mall. It's got plenty of benches to relax and rest your feet from all the sight seeing. It is very looked after and always has magnificent flower and plant displays. And also it has a few big pelicans, apart from swans and multiple ducks.
• Green Park - All day sightseeing, feet tired? Head towards Green Park, a few minutes from Picadilly and right next to Buckingham Palace, it is more peaceful than its neighbouring St James' Park. Great for football matches and picnics or just a walk, in the summer days there are plenty of office workers making the most of the sunny days or having a lunch run.
• Soho Square -If you need to escape the city crowds in your lunchtime, this city square is a very pleasant green space not far from the junction of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. (Map)


(Autumn colours)

NORTH

• Regents Park - huge, with very distinctive areas, a flower garden, beautifully laid out, with the canal and a great sporting area. It also holds the zoo inside it and a huge grass area where many sports leagues take part.
• Hampsted Heath - One of the biggest parks inside of London, with great views of the city, plus lots of sports top noch facilities (including outdoors swimmingpool), is different to other parks because of its hills. It also holds important events like the Last Night of the Kenwood Proms.
• Finsbury Park - 2007 Green Flag award winner, this park has great sports facilities (including an athletics track) and hosts a fantastic summer festival and several other outdoors events.
• Clissold Park - not too big, but great as a local family park. With a small paddling pool for the youngest and a few animals (deers, goats, rabbits and exotic birds), a butterfly tunnel, bowling ground, tennis courts, a pond with ducks and swans and a magnificent view of the Church.
• Highbury Fields - A plain park, but with many tennis courts.
• Lincoln Inn's Fields - The largest square in London and the oldest in Camden. In earlier centuries it has been used for duelling, jousting and occasional public executions!!
• Hendon Park - Edwardian park with sports facilities and a memorial garden with an ornamental pond. Fantastic for a complete day out: bit of exercise, then relaxing with a picnic.
• Alexandra Palace - 196 acres of parkland with lakes and sports facilities, corporate events and outdoor events like funfairs, circus acts, film shoots, team-building events, bungee jumping, balloon flight launches, charity fun runs and many more.


(A festival in Clissold Park)

SOUTH

• Battersea Park - by the river, between Chelsea and Battersea Bridges, it is big and with a great view of the Battersea Power station.
• Clapham Common - holds one of the best fireworks displays during Guy Fork's night, but is also a great space to enjoy the sunshine and numerous events.
• Kew Gardens - These wonderful Royal Botanical Gardens, with admission fee, are worth every penny. They organise Easter egg hunting for the youngest and they have numerous exhibitions (Henry Moore's one starts the year 2008).
• Richmond Park - a family park, with deers running around freely and two big ponds, it truly feels like you are out the city, in the middle of the forest. It also has a cute cafe and nice views of the Thames. In winter is a magnific playground with the snow.
• Chelsea Physic Garden - for those who are seriously into study plants and natural medicine
• Chiswick House - hidden next to the famous Burlington Lane roundabout, it is the finest surviving example of Palladian architecture in Britain, it truly transports you to another era when you cross its walls... with many hidden quiet corner to relax and enjoy your own company.
• Hampton Courts Park - 550 acres of deer inhabited parkland and formal gardens. Although the Palace charges for admission, the park is free and worth the trip.
• Kennington Park - apart from the most common facilities, its highlight is an skateboard. It has an 'old English' flower and herb garden and rose beds. The park offers a wide range of sports facilities including tennis courts, basketball, netball, and an allweather floodlit facility for football and hockey.
• Wimbledon & Putney Commons - neighbour to Richmond, it is a wild park, great for cross country cycling or running. Favoured by the surrounding South African, Australian and Kiwis.


(lots of ducs, swans and even pelicans in London's parks)

WEST

• Hyde Park - Kensington Gardens - the most iconic of them all, it represents the lung of the capital. It also holds the famous "Speaker's Corner" (on Sundays), great open-air concerts and it has historical venue for events like Live-8. It has a mini lido in the Serpentine and a free-admission gallery, as well as Italian gardens, Peter Pan's statue and many other hidden treasures. You can bump into famous celebrities just enjoying a day out. Lots of sports and easily accessible through its many entrances. It closes at dusk.
• Holland Park - beautiful, luxurious and quiet, more of a garden than a park.
  Queens Park - It has been named a Green Flag Park for more than 10 years running! Facilities include six all-weather tennis courts, a pitch-and-putt course, a pétanque pitch, an ornamental garden, a children’s playground with paddling pool, and a cafe.
• Acton Park - was opened to the public in 1888 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It has been awarded the Green Flag award, it offers numerous sports facilities and a café.
• Ealing Common - with good cycling paths.
• Ravenscourt Park - family park with lots of sports activities and nearby the river, where you can go for a row (Hammersmith's rowing club)

  
  (many parks offer sports facilities such as skateboarding)

  EAST

• Victoria Park - fully kitted Victorian Green flag park, is one of the oldest of the 'Premier Parks' in Barnet, with an impressive main entrance.
• London Fields Park - with many sports facilities, the most outstanding is its Lido
• Mile End Park
• Hackney Downs - specially good for sports.
• Greenwich Park - It is situated on a hilltop with impressive, panoramic views across the River Thames to Docklands and the City of London. A great choice for a summer weekend get away, we recommend catching the boat to get there and make the most of the Thames river.
• Crystal Palace Park - The largest of all Bromley’s parks was once the home to the famous Crystal Palace erected in 1854. It's highlights are a maze (free admission) and a Dinosaur Area!
• Blackheath Park - in this website you will find out about all the parks in Lewisham