A nature lover’s guide to hidden parks and green spaces in Central London!
Last updated on May 18th, 2026 at 05:52 am
In amongst the busy streets and famous landmarks of London, there are still plenty of peaceful corners where nature quietly sits for you to take a break. From hidden gardens and leafy squares to quiet riverside walks and tucked-away parks, Central London is full of green spaces where you can sit in a calm place to relax, spot a bit of wildlife, or simply escape the crowds for an hour or so. This post shows you some of the city’s best hidden central London escapes for both nature lovers and simply curious travellers!!
Did you know…..?
……London is actually one of the greenest cities there is!
With its millions of trees and masses of little parks all over the city, as well as big parks like Epping Forest and Richmond Park its actually not too bad – even in the central city!
And since 2017 there has been an enormous push to make London even more green. This is some of what the city has done:
- Restored 26km of river
- Created and restored over 350 hectares of green space
- Planted 85 hectares with over half a million trees – including two new woodlands
- Cut air pollution to nearly half
Not a bad effort at all!!!
So, when you’re in London there are all the normal must-do sights of course. But if you want some green space, away from the madding crowds, then read on. These places I have found in Central London are all quite close to the key sights. (I tell you which ones are close by). And they all give you that breathing space to enjoy between the throngs at the key sights!
Note that I am not including the famous central parks like Hyde Park, Green Park and St James Park, and the walkways along the Thames. They tend to be overrun and over paved – hardly the relaxing oasis you might be looking for.
And on the outskirts of London there are the famous Epping Forest, Hampton Court Park, and Richmond Park but it will take all day to get to each of those and enjoy them. Instead I will show you some more “wild side” spaces – right in Central London! These are imho the best green spaces in London.
First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. They are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels, and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content – and at no extra cost to you. Cheers!
Plan for your trip
Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!
Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!
Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.
Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.
Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains.
Car rental – use DiscoverCars – they are my ‘go-to’ car rental site
Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!
Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith. Top picks for the nature lover in London are:
- Secret Gardens of the City of London Private Tour
- GoBoat Rental for Regent’s Canal & Paddington Basin
- Canal Boat Ride on Camden Lock
Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!
Now lets get to the green stuff!
For the more peaceful and off the beaten path parks and paths – try these best green spaces in London – and I mean central London!
Spoiler – my favorites are no 1 and no 10!! (And the bonus – but that’s a bit different as you will see!)
1. Holland Park and the Kyoto Garden
Quite close to Kensington Palace and Gardens (25 min walk) Closest Station – Holland Park.
The Kyoto Garden is a pretty Japanese Garden in Holland Park. It was opened in 1991 as a gift from the city of Kyoto. It is small but detailed – take time to notice the details like the koi carp and mandarin ducks in the pond, winding cobbled pathways, and the traditional Japanese stone lanterns. Take a longer walk through Holland Park which also has a tranquil feel to it and is definitely one of the best green spaces in London.
2. Chelsea Physic Garden
Close to the Thames, the National Army Museum, and Battersea Park, quite close to Buckingham Palace and St James Park. Closest station – Sloane Square.
This is a historic garden – the oldest botanic garden in London! It was created in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London and has 4 acres of garden.
The Chelsea Physic Garden has over 4,500 medicinal, edible and useful plants. It is open Sunday – Friday from 11am to 5pm and with an entrance fee (£5-15). You can also take a tour here. It is not necessarily a calm and peaceful spot – depending on how many visitors are there at the time. But given its history I had to include it, and when I was there it was very peaceful! It is high in the list of the best green spaces in London
3. Culpeper Community Garden
Close to Sadler’s Wells Theater. Closest station – Angel.
A gorgeous community garden with a dedicated wildlife garden and pond as well as plots for people without gardens at home. It is hidden by high walls and surrounded by trees, and has a decorative garden and lawn as well – all managed organically. They have created a real oasis in the city where you can just sit and reflect on life.
4. Regents Park – and the boy with the frog
Close to Primrose Hill, The London Zoo, the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Lord’s Cricket Ground. Closest station – Regents Park.
Even though it is quite a popular park, for some reason the inner circle – near the statue of the boy with the frog (which I loved enough to mention in the heading!), Queen Mary’s rose Garden, and the Japanese Garden can be very peaceful. Take your time to browse in this area which rates high in the best green spaces in London.
5. Barbers’ Physic Garden
Close to the Barbican Conservatory, Museum of London, St Pauls Cathedral and Postman’s Park. Closest Station St Pauls or Moorgate.
Three for the price of one here! The Barber’s Physic garden was built on a derelict bomb site, which was once where the thirteenth of twenty one bastions were built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 122! within the grounds of the former Roman walls of London and we can still see the remains of a bastion of the Roman fort on the main road before the gardens.
The garden aims to show how plants have been used by surgeons in their work from back in mediaeval times up to the current day in medicine and surgery. There are about 50 plants in this display.
Nearby is Postman’s Park not far behind St Pauls Cathedral – so its good to visit at the same time. And of course the Barbican Conservatory is right behind the Physic Garden – you need to book well ahead for that though!
6. Regents Canal path
Close to Camden Town Little Venice, Regents Park and Queen Mary’s Rose Garden. Closest Stations – Warwick Avenue, Regents Park, or Camden Road.
Take the Regents Canal from either Camden Town or Regents Park to Little Venice. Its is relatively peaceful walking along Regents Canal with plenty to see on the way – especially the colorful canal boats. It will take you 1-2.5 hours depending on your pace and where you start.
You can also do this by boat! Its a fun break from the craziness of London sightseeing! Hire a boat and explore with GoBoat Rental for Regent’s Canal & Paddington Basin, or you can take a tour on a Canal Boat Ride on Camden Lock
7. St Dunstan In The East Church Garden
Close to London Bridge, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, and HMS Belfast. Closest station – Monument or Tower Hill.
St Dunstan In The East is one of the oldest churches in the city. It was damaged and rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666, but destroyed again in the Blitz of 1941. The city then turned the remains of the church into a public garden in 1967. It has a bit of a gothic vibe with the ruins being taken over by plants. And even though it is small and really in the heart of the tourist area, it can be quite peaceful.
8. Primrose Hill
Close to Camden Market and Regents Park and quite close to London Zoo. Closest station – Chalk Farm or Swiss Cottage.
Walk up to the top of the hill for lovely views over the city where you can see icons like the London Eye behind Regents Park and the zoo. Walk down to see the Shakespeare Oak. In 1864 100,000 people attended the planting to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth in 1564. The tree died but was replaced 100 years later, on April 23, 1964, by actress Dame Edith Evans!!
9. Phoenix Garden, Soho
Close to the West End theaters and Covent Garden. Closest station – Tottenham Court Road.
Another tiny but beautiful green space in the city that is run by a charity and worked on entirely by volunteers. They have a focus on a sustainable approach to wildlife and providing a home to many different species including frogs and fish in their ponds. It is an amazing achievement and a lovely spot to take a breather in some green.
10. Camley Street Natural Park
Close to Kings Cross and Harry Potter’s Platform 9 and 3/4. Closest Station Kings Cross St Pancras.
The small but lovely Camley Street Natural Park is tucked away between King’s Cross and St Pancras, on the canal. It may be small but it shows exactly what can be done in a small space – grassland, wetland habitats, woodland, and marshland!!! This is a fantastic example to anyone that thinks a small space cant be used to protect wildlife! I loved this spot and sat for ages on the canal and in the garden area itself.
Bonus: Hampstead Heath and the bathing ponds
You may not realise it but you can wild swim in London! I mean I have swum in the Thames – but wouldn’t be wanting to do it right in London. (I was much further up the river.) But here in Hamsptead Heath you can swim. There is a lady’s pond, a men’s pond and a mixed pond – all natural water spaces (as well as a Lido pool.)
Aside from that you have the whole of Hampstead Heath to wander in with its meadows, woodland, and city views from Parliament Hill.
This is not so central as all the other places – but it doesn’t take that long to take the tube to Hampstead Heath Station (30-60 minutes depending where you start from).
Frequently asked Questions about traveling to London
Q: When is the best time to visit London?
A: Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) have mild weather, fewer crowds, and long daylight hours. Summer (July–August) is busiest and most expensive. Late April has always worked well for me too, but I may have been lucky with the weather!
Q: Is London expensive to visit?
A: Yes—London is one of Europe’s most expensive cities. A rough guide for a daily budget is: – Budget: £70–£120, Mid-range: £150–£250, and Luxury: £300+
Q: Do I need a visa or ETA for London?
A: Yes. This is the official site.
Q: How many days do you need in London?
A: You can see the highlights in 3 days, but to be more relaxed and see more of the top sights and be able to really enjoy the museums and some of these green spaces, then 4–5 days is better. To get to some of the sights further out in the city like Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Palace, and/or to go on day trip then allow 6-7 days. See my mini itineraries below for more information.
Q: How do I get around in London?
A: Public transport is the best way to get around London by using the underground (tube) and buses, and sometimes trains. You can buy an Oyster Card for local transport which you top up and use as you go, but it is easiest to simply use your bankcard. You will be charged a maximum daily fee or for the rides you take – whichever is cheapest. Note that buses can sometimes get caught in London’s notorious traffic – so avoid buses in rush hour times!
Where to Stay in London
If you are a first time visitor, personally I like to stay on or near the Piccadilly line. It is easy to get from Heathrow, and it has many of the sights or starting points for your day on this line. Great options are hotels near the West End / Covent Garden (higher end prices) or South Kensington (high – mid range) stations or near Earls Court (mid range to budget options).
An alternative is to stay near Westminster (higher end prices on the Jubilee, District and Circle lines) – near many of the top landmarks. Of course you can stay in the outer zones – it just takes longer to get to the city and may cost a little more in transport – but not by that much.
Hotels are not cheap – a rough guide to prices is budget: £90–£140, mid-range: £150–£300, and high end: £400+. These are very highly rated options at each level.
Luxury
The Ritz London or Raffles London at The OWO
High end
Sofitel London St James or Grand Residences by Marriott – Mayfair-London
Mid range
Budget
The Blackbird or The Barkston
Backpacker
Wombat’s City Hostel London or Onefam Waterloo or YHA London Central
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