London has many local parks which are are a perfect refuge, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of London streets. They’re excellent places to while away a summer’s day. Here’s a selection.
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Alexandra Palace Park
On a steep hillside in North London, the air doesn’t get much fresher than at Alexandra Palace Park. Covering nearly 200 acres of parkland, the views across London are stunning.
Discover the peace and tranquillity of the conservation area – a diverse habitat of wooded parkland, wild scrubland, a pond and meadow. For the energetic amongst you, there’s a wide selection of activities including a pitch and putt course, an ice-rink, a boating lake, a children’s fun park, an animal park, a skate park and walking trails throughout the parkland.
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Battersea Park
On the banks of the Thames, Battersea Park is home to Battersea Children’s Zoo, the Japanese Peace Pagoda and 1km (1,100 yards) of riverside vistas.
The summer boating lake is also a haven for birds and wildlife. As well as working up a sweat over the tennis courts, bowling green and athletics track you can indulge your creative side with an exhibition at the Pump House Gallery. In the summer, it plays host to many community events and charity races.
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Brockwell Park
With views of the City of London skyline, Brockwell Park is located in Herne Hill, South London.
Home to the Brockwell Lido, duck ponds, a café and a bowling green, there’s something for everyone in this 128 acre park. For the more adventurous, try the BMX track or keep fit on the tennis courts; for something more sedate, stroll around the walled garden.
From May to September each year there’s also a train which runs from the Herne Hill Gate to the Lido.
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Brompton Cemetery
In addition to the eight parks, there is London’s one and only Crown Cemetery. Regarded as one of the finest Victorian cemeteries in the country, Brompton Cemetery has a formal layout with a central avenue leading to a chapel based on St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
The grounds hold over 35,000 monuments to people from all walks of life, with many of historical importance.
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Bushy Park
A large area of rural parkland, Bushy Park is home to many free-roaming deer. The famous mile-long Chestnut Avenue, conceived by Sir Christopher Wren, was the formal approach to Hampton Court Palace and is flanked on both sides by horse chestnuts and lime trees. The park also features an artificial river and a large selection of sporting facilities. Various children’s activities take place in Bushy Park.
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Coram’s Fields
Near King’s Cross, Coram’s Fields is a child-friendly park.
It’s named after Thomas Coram, who started a hospital and school for foundling children. The Foundling Museum adjacent to the park tells the story of the hospital and school.
The park boasts a paddling pool, a pets’ corner and a café. Adults are only admitted if accompanied by children.
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Crystal Palace Park
The Crystal Palace was constructed for the Great Exhibition of 1851. A great feat of engineering, the iron and glass structure was moved in 1854 from its original location in Hyde Park to Sydenham, south London. It stood in the park until destroyed by fire in 1936.
Crystal Palace Park is one of South London’s largest and is home to the National Sports Centre, the circular Tea Maze, the Crystal Palace Museum and of course, some famous prehistoric monsters! Still there today, 33 dinosaurs were originally built in 1854 under the guidance of Professor Richard Owen. The park was also home to the first ever FA Cup Final in 1895.
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Finsbury Park
North London’s Finsbury Park was one of the first London parks, developed during the Victorian period. Today, it’s home to a series of large, high profile events.
It also has a lake, children’s playground, an athletics stadium, a softball or baseball diamond and facilities for football and hurling.
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Greenwich Park
A World Heritage Site and the oldest of the Royal Parks, Greenwich Park contains several historic buildings and also has a fantastic view from the top of the hill.
Admire the dramatic architecture of the Royal Observatory, Old Royal Naval College, National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House, or come along for year-round fresh air or summer fun like football and frisbee skimming. The park has a busy events calendar with jazz, opera, theatre and children’s activities.
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Island Gardens
Get a glimpse of old and new London. Set against the backdrop of the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, Island Gardens offers spectacular views across the river to Maritime Greenwich. The ancient heart of Greenwich is within easy reach with pedestrian access via the foot tunnel under the Thames.
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Painshill Park
Near Cobham in Surrey, the 160-acre park is nearly fully restored to its 18th century glory, with breathtaking buildings and landscapes. Make the trip there to see the Gothic Tower, Temple of Bacchus, Grotto and Gothic Temple. The vision of the Honourable Charles Hamilton, Painshill Park was constructed as an 18th century “pleasure garden” full of living pictures.
Events take place throughout the year including the dramatic re-enactment of the Battle of Painshill. A picnic area, restaurant and gift shop are also available.
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Ravebscourt Park
A gem in West London
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Southwark Park
Ideal for picnics, walks and game-playing, Southwark Park is set in the heart of Bermondsey. It has something for everyone: a boating lake, a selection of sporting facilities, a new art gallery, and gorgeous scenery and gardens.
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Syon Park
This 200-acre park on the north bank of the river Thames has something for all ages.
Syon Park has 40 acres of gardens to explore, landscaped by “Capability” Brown in the mid-18th century. You’ll find a renowned collection of rare plants and trees, a lakeside walk and the spectacular Great Conservatory. Built in the 1820s it is thought to be one of the earliest of its kind in the country.
The park contains a garden centre, an aquatic centre – where endangered species of amphibians and mammals splash around in re-created habitats – and a children’s indoor playground. The London Butterfly House within the grounds is also worth a visit on its own.
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Thames Barrier Park
22 acres of parkland in the borough of Newham were designed following an international competition. Described as a “garden for the 21st century”, the Thames Barrier Park offers views of the Thames Barrier and beyond.
As the park is on the banks of the Thames, you can see a great number of river birds here, particularly in winter. Grey herons feed along the shore and teal and shelduck are common sights, as well as the ubiquitous mallards and cormorants.
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Victoria Park
The oldest public park in Britain stretches through London’s East End. Victoria Park was first opened to the public in 1845. It quickly became known as the People’s Park because of the number of important political rallies and meetings held there. It’s bordered by the Hertford Union Canal to the south.
Today, the bathing lake is ornamental, having been replaced with a lido in the mid-1930s. Go and check out the extravagant drinking fountain from 1862 and the only remaining segments of the original London Bridge. There is also a children’s park and paddling pool; summer events are held in the park each year.
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Wimbledon and Putney Commons
The Commons are an area of calm and tranquility in the midst of the urban sprawls of Wimbledon, Putney and Kingston-upon-Thames in South West London.
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