Why London?
London, one of Europe's greenest cities
There are a lot of things London thinks it does best but actually falls a tiny bit short.
But, if there's one thing
we do excel at, it's our lovely, lovely parks. Everyone knows London has got loads of parks. In
fact, a new study has revealed that we’ve got the most green spaces out of any European city.
London’s parks, canals, reservoirs and riversides form an important network of spaces and public
places. Alongside London’s trees, these green and riverside spaces play a valuable role in
improving the quality, character and economy of the capital.
With 3,000 parks of varying sizes designated by the boroughs as ‘public open space’, London is a
green city. Together they cover almost 18 per cent of London which is more than the area of the
city covered by railways and roads combined
Green Spaces
My Favourite Green Spots in London
Greenwich Park
Overlooking the River Thames and home to some of London’s most iconic views, Greenwich
Park is an amazing mix of 17th century landscape, stunning gardens and a rich history
that dates back to Roman times.
Follow in the footsteps of England’s kings and queens with a walk through ancient
tree avenues. Visit the tranquil Flower, Herb and Rose Gardens , explore the Park’s
wildlife or enjoy a snack at the
Pavilion Café.
Location
Greenwich, London SE10 8QY
What I like about it
Though one of the hillier of London's parks, Greenwich is a beautiful spot that has something for everyone. Flower gardens, large ponds, open-spaces to roam; and even a few deer tucked away for the wildlife lovers.
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Stave Hill Ecology Park
Stave Hill Ecological Park is managed by TCV’s Urban Ecology team as a nature reserve, educational facility, research area and place of recreation. The Park has been designed and managed to form a mosaic of grassland, woodland, scrub and wetland habitats which support a wide variety of wildlife.
Location
Timber Pond Road, Rotherhite, London SE16 5AX
What I like about it
This ecological park is a bit of a hidden gem for those not from the Rotherhithe area. However, it's well worth the visit, as it is an important sitew for wildlife and biodiversity. The top of stave-hill, while a bit of a climb on a hot day, offers fantastic views of the city.
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Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens is a botanic garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1840, from the exotic garden at Kew Park, its living collections include some of the 27,000 taxa, while the herbarium, one of the largest in the world, has over 8.5 million preserved plant and fungal specimens.
Location
Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE
What I like about it
Yes, this may be one of the few of London's green spaces that costs to enter, but it is defaintely a must-see for anyone who loves plants and a beautiful, long stroll. It boasts flora and fungi from all over the world, has different displays every season, and even does a fantastic light show at Christmas.
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Photos of London's Green Spaces
