Parks and open spaces: London

Royal Parks

Historic parks in central London and along the river Thames 2,000ha/5,000 acres

This impressive collection of outstanding parks and open spaces, including some of the world's most famous green spaces, is among the jewels in London's crown. The central London parks provide invaluable green oases in the heart of the West End, while the generally larger outlying parks offer wide open spaces in suburbia and the added attractions of the nearby river Thames. With their strong connections to the British crown, the Parks are rich in listed buildings, monuments and other sites of archaeological and historical interest. They also offer a busy programme of events.

As well as the principal parks listed below, the Royal Parks office is also responsible for Brompton Cemetry and some smaller open spaces at Grosvenor Gardens, Canning Green and Poets' Green.

All the Parks offer facilities for people with disabilities. See the individual listings on the Royal Parks website or contact the office for details (see below).

Central London Parks (Green Park, St James's Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens)
Bushy Park | Greenwich Park | Regent's Park & Primrose Hill | Richmond Park

Central London parks

A chain of green spaces connecting Westminster and Chelsea include the Green Park, St James's Park and Hyde Park with its famous lake, the Serpentine, all originally established by Henry VIII in 1536 as hunting parks; the small and attractive Victoria Tower Gardens overlooking the river; and Kensington Gardens, attached to Kensington Palace, with its connections to the late Princess Diana.

Local authorities Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster

Promoted routes Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk, Jubilee Walkway

Contact

  • Green Park & St James's Park Park Office, The Store Yard, Horse Guards Approach, St. James's Park,
    London SW1A 2BJ, tel 020 7930 1793
  • Hyde Park The Ranger's Lodge, Hyde Park, London W2 2UH, tel 020 7298 2100
  • Kensington Gardens Park Office, Magazine Storeyard, Magazine Gate, Kensington Gardens, London W2 2UH, tel 020 7298 2100
  • Website: see below

The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill

Originally planned by John Nash for the Prince Regent (later George IV) in 1811, the Regent's Park lies between the northern edge of central London and Camden and includes London Zoo. Adjoining Primrose Hill gives excellent views over central London.

Local authorities Camden, Westminster

Promoted routes Belsize Walk, Regent's Canal (Grand Union Canal Walk)

Contact Park Office, Storeyard ( Inner Circle), The Regent's Park, London NW1 4NR, tel 020 7486 7905 (see below for website)

Bushy Park and the Longford River

Originally three parks enclosed by Cardinal Wolsey and King Henry VIII between 1500 and 1537 and now the second largest Royal Park, with woodland gardens and many streams and ponds fed by the Longford River, a 21km/13-mile waterway created by Charles I to bring water from the river Colne to Bushy Park and Hampton Court.

Local authority Richmond

Promoted routes London LOOP, Thames Path

Contact Park Office, White Lodge, Hampton Court Road, Hampton TW12 2EJ, tel 020 8979 1586 (see below for website)

Greenwich Park

The oldest Royal Park, established as a deer park in 1433, now home to the Royal Observatory and Greenwich meridian and a World Heritage Site, with stunning views down to the river. With the adjoining Blackheath (see South London Parks) it forms an extensive area of green space in this part of London.

Local authority Greenwich

Promoted routes Greenwich Millennium Heritage Trails, Thames Path, Walk the Bid (nearby), Waterlink Way

Contact Park Office, Blackheath Gate, London SE10 8QY, tel 020 8858 2608 (see also website below)

Richmond Park

Originally enclosed as a hunting park in 1637, Richmond Park is now the largest open space entirely within London and a heritage landscape of national importance, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Herds of deer roam a delightful landscape that mixes open ground, some of a genuinely rural nature, woodland, wetland and bog, and well-established parkland trees. The famous Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew adjoin the site (see www.rbgkew.org.uk - admission charge to the Gardens), and Wimbledon Common on the other side of the A3 creates an even larger area of open green space. Another adjoining open space, East Sheen Common to the north, is owned by the National Trust (for more on both these areas, see South London Parks).

Local authority Richmond

Promoted routes Beverley Brook Walk, Capital RING, Thames Path

Publications

  • Richmond Park: The Walker's Historical Guide by David McDowall, ISBN 0 9527847 0 X. David McDowall £6.99
    11 circular walks of 2km/1.5 miles to 11km/7 miles with sketch maps, detailed route descriptions and extensive notes on history and wildlife. Explores all areas of the park from the prehistoric sites and ponds to the Isabella plantation, including a lengthy circuit of the perimeter which is used to illustrate the story of the struggle for public access.

Contact Park Office, Holly Lodge, Richmond Park, Richmond TW10 5HS, tel 020 8948 3209 (see also website below)

Tourist Information Centres

There are a number of TICs in central London, and at Richmond and Greenwich. For a full list click here.

Public transport. All the Parks are easy to reach by rail, Underground, bus and river services. See the website below for details of routes serving each individual Park. See our Public Transport for Walkers page for more about transport in London and how to find detailed information on services and fares.

Explorer Maps 161, 162, 173
Landranger Maps 176, 177
Local street atlases may be more useful in built-up areas. See Walking in London: Maps.

Contacts

Parks and countryside in London | Walking In London | Parks Index | Information Index