Green Spaces in the Heart of the City
In a city as fast-paced and built-up as London, it can be hard to imagine finding space to slow down, take a walk and reconnect with nature. But tucked between the roads and rooftops are countless green escapes waiting to be explored.
From vast royal parks and peaceful canals to ancient forests and even a cemetery reclaimed by wildlife, London is full of hidden gems perfect for a nature or dog walk. Whether you’re after a quiet moment, a scenic stroll, or a breath of fresh air, these urban oases offer the perfect retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Brompton Cemetery
As a unique green space in the heart of London, Brompton Cemetery blends history, architecture, and nature. As one of the city’s “Magnificent Seven” Victorian cemeteries, it serves not only as a resting place for over 200,000 people (including Emmeline Pankhurst), but also as a sanctuary for wildlife and a peaceful retreat for visitors.
Surrounded by busy streets, Brompton Cemetery offers a tranquil escape with tree-lined avenues, open lawns, and shaded paths. The Grade I listed cemetery supports a rich variety of flora and fauna, including mature trees, wildflowers, birds, butterflies, and small mammals. Its relatively undisturbed environment makes it a haven for urban wildlife.
At 40 acres in size, there is plenty of space for a contemplative stroll beneath the trees and through headstones.
Regent’s Canal
For a peaceful and scenic nature walk through the heart of London, Regent’s Canal weaves together urban life and natural beauty. The walk passes through varied settings, from the leafy serenity of Regent’s Park and the floating gardens of Little Venice to the vibrant street art and greenery of Hackney and King’s Cross. If you fancy getting your feet wet, the canal is also ideal for paddleboarding.
The canal path provides a calm, car-free route lined with waterfowl, reeds, and reflections of the city skyline. Ducks, swans, herons, and even terrapins can be spotted along the water, while the towpath is fringed with wildflowers and greenery.
At 8.6 miles in length, the canal offers a longer walk for those looking to stretch their legs. If you’d prefer a shorter walks, there are plenty of sections worth exploring in smaller bursts.
The Parkland Walk
A hidden gem for nature lovers in London, the Parkland Walk offers a peaceful, green corridor through the city’s urban landscape. The Walk is a great example of how disused infrastructure can be transformed into a vibrant green space, connecting communities with nature in the heart of the city.
Stretching along a disused railway line between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace, it’s London’s longest nature reserve. The path follows the old Great Northern Railway line, with remnants like platforms and tunnels still visible. The line was closed in the 1970s and transformed into a nature trail in 1984. The walk is rich in biodiversity, with foxes, hedgehogs, butterflies, and over 300 species of plants thriving in its semi-wild habitat.
The Walk is 3.1-miles long, offering a gentle stroll for the perfect urban nature experience. It’s also accessible, as it is mostly flat and stile-free, making it suitable for all ages.
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Go to the shopBushy Park
A stunning location for a nature walk, Bushy Park provides a rich blend of wildlife, open landscapes, and peaceful woodland just outside central London. As one of London’s Royal Parks, Bushy Park spans over 1,000 acres, providing wide-open fields, tranquil ponds, and shaded woodland trails.
As a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the park is home to free-roaming red and fallow deer, as well as a variety of birds, butterflies, and aquatic life in its streams and lakes. Meandering paths take you through ancient trees, bramble thickets, and alongside the Longford River, offering a diverse walking experience. The Diana Fountain is worth a pause, which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. This iconic fountain sits at the end of Chestnut Avenue, a grand tree-lined road through the park.
Hainault Forest
Just outside of central London, Hainault Forest is a rich and varied location for nature walks, offering a deep connection with the natural world.
As part of the historic Forest of Essex, Hainault features centuries-old oak and hornbeam trees, creating a dense, atmospheric woodland ideal for immersive walks. The forest includes open meadows, wetlands, and lakes, supporting a wide range of wildlife. The forest supports 158 bird species, including firecrests, wood warblers, and turtle doves. You might also spot badgers, bats, butterflies, and even fallow deer roaming freely
Well-marked paths and gentle terrain make it suitable for all ages, with opportunities for birdwatching, photography, and quiet reflection. The 804 acres provides ample opportunity for outdoor exploration.
Richmond Park
As one of London’s most iconic locations for nature walks, Richmond Park has a vast and varied landscape that feels worlds away from the city. Covering over 2,500 acres, it’s the largest of London’s Royal Parks, with wide, open grasslands, ancient woodlands, and rolling hills.
The park is a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI. It’s home to hundreds of species of plants, birds, insects, and fungi, making it a hotspot for wildlife enthusiasts. Over 600 free-roaming red and fallow deer can be seen, with deer having lived in the park for centuries. Walkers can explore a mix of formal paths and informal tracks. Highlights include Pen Ponds, Isabella Plantation, and panoramic views from King Henry’s Mound. The mound is allegedly where Henry VIII watched for a signal of Anne Boleyn’s execution.
Morden Hall Park
A peaceful and picturesque location for nature walks, Morden Hall Park provides a blend of history, wildlife, and green space in South London. Covering 125 acres, the park features meadows, marshes, and wooded areas that support a wide range of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, and amphibians.
Once a deer park, it retains its historic charm with old estate buildings, bridges, and rose gardens. Combined, they add delightful character to the natural surroundings. Flat, well-maintained paths make it ideal for walkers of all ages and abilities, with plenty of benches and picnic spots.
The River Wandle winds through the park, creating tranquil waterside paths lined with willow trees and reeds. IThe river provides a lush wetland habitat that attracts kingfishers, ducks, geese, and other waterfowl. If you’re looking for a longer walk, the Wandle Trail follows the River Wandle through London.
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Go to the shopWanstead Park and Wanstead Flats
For a rich and varied landscape for nature walks, Wanstead Park and Wanstead Flats combine historic parkland with expansive open space in East London.
The Park features ornamental lakes, ancient trees and remnants of a grand 18th-century estate, creating a scenic and tranquil walking environment. The lakes Perch Pond, Heronry Pond, and The Grotto, a lakeside folly featured in films. Of the ancient trees, one of note is the Repton Oak, a cluster of nine oaks grown as one.
Wanstead Flats provides wide, open fields ideal for longer walks, birdwatching, and spotting seasonal wildflowers. The area supports a range of species, including waterfowl, foxes, bats, and butterflies. Habitats range from woodland and scrub to wetland and meadow. Jubilee pond is a tranquil spot with aquatic plants and waterfowl like coots, mallards, and moorhens. It features an accessible circular trail with benches and a pond-dipping platform. It’s one of London’s largest expanses of open grassland, ideal for birdwatching.
Wanstead Park covers approximately 140 acres, while Wanstead Flats covers around 462 acres. Combined, the two offer plenty of space for you to stretch your legs.
Epping Forest
One of the most captivating locations for nature walks in the London area, Epping Forest offers a vast and ancient woodland rich in biodiversity and history.
Spanning over 5,900 acres, the forest is home to over 55,000 centuries-old trees. With oak, beech, and hornbeam trees, they create a magical, immersive walking experience. The forest supports a wide range of species, including deer, foxes, woodpeckers, and rare fungi, making it a hotspot for nature enthusiasts. Hidden ponds like Lost Pond and Connaught Water attract aquatic birds and offer tranquil spots for reflection
Walkers can explore dense woods, open heathland. Once a royal hunting ground, the forest is dotted with ancient earthworks, historic buildings, and scenic viewpoint. The forest is dotted with ponds, and meadows, with trails ranging from short strolls to long-distance hikes .
To discover more of what London has to offer, take a look at our City Walks in London guidebook. With 15 walks covering some of the most important historical location in the city, you can make the most of your next visit to the capital.
Also take a look at our Walk London map, covering some of London’s greenspaces. Our guide contains maps with suggested walking routes for the Royal Parks, as well as clear sections of the Thames Path.
