Stuck in the office or on the train? At least let your eyes wander around London's green spaces — some famous some less so.
Hyde Park
Home to the Serpentine, Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain and Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park offers visitors a bit of history, a bit of politics and a lots of watery fun.
Holland Park
Located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Holland Park is the borough's largest park. It's home to the Kyoto Garden, donated by Kyoto's Chamber of Commerce in 1991.
The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
This park houses the famous London Zoo, the Open Air Theatre and Primrose Hill. It also holds central London's largest outdoor sports area, as well as more than 400 varieties of roses. Which must make it one of London's most fragrant parks too.
Queen's Park
This park includes six all-weather tennis courts, a pitch and putt course as well as small zoo (in case you don't have time for Regent's Park's), cafe and a children's playground.
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is 183 acres of green space — the most historic of all the Royal Parks. Dating back to Roman times, it boasts exquisite views taking in the Shard, the Square Mile and The O2 (it's worth getting out of breath to go up there). You can also visit the Queen's House, The Royal Observatory, and the Old Royal Naval College, often used to shoot Hollywood blockbusters. Look out for is the meridian line, representing the Prime Meridian of the world, Longitude Zero (0° 0' 0").
Golders Hill Park
Opened to the public in 1898, Golders Hill Park has variety of attractions to keep visitors entertained. You can even adopt some of the adorable animals in the zoo, including the laughing kookaburra and the ring-tailed lemur.
St James's Park
St James's is full of royal history. While Henry VIII used the park as hunting ground, Charles I took his final walk through the area of the park, ending at the Banqueting Hall where he was executed later that day. The heart of ceremonial London, the park includes The Mall and the Horse Guards Parade.
Waterlow Park
Waterlow Park offers visitors great views, history, sport and an abundance of nature. Situated within the park is Lauderdale House, built in 1582 for three times Lord Mayor of London, Sir Richard Martin. Here, visitors can attend special exhibitions and performances.
Cannizaro Park
Only open to the public for the last 60-odd years, Cannizaro Park is a vast green space located in Wimbledon. Once a private garden forming a part of the Duke of Cannizaro's estate, many of the park's trees were brought in from around the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Richmond Park
It is said that the royal connections of Richmond Park go further back than any other. Beginning with Edward (1272-1307) the area was known as the Manor of Sheen, but it was under Henry VII's reign that the name to Richmond. Charles I brought his court to Richmond to escape the plague in 1625, turning it into a park for red and fallow deer. To this day, deer are the park's trademark (helped in recent times, thanks to a dog called Fenton).
