Turning tips into memories

Get started Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • Kids
  • Benefits
  • Membership
  • Get Started
  • Membership
  • Benefits
Get the Best of London Life, Culture and Style
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
Things to do

The best walks in London for reconnecting with nature

By CW Contributor on 7/5/2020

Savour the sunshine while still keeping your distance and staying safe with our guide to the nicest nature walks in London

The best walks in London this spring
The best walks in London this spring
Feeling cooped up and starved of nature? You don't need to leave the capital to find a pretty view or get lost in greenery. Stay in the city and explore some exceptional pockets of nature nestled inside the urban jungle. And while London roads are quieter than usual, it's a good time to grab a bike and discover somewhere new in your home city.

Here are our favourite walks in London for reconnecting with nature.

Panoramic views



Where: Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath is hands down our favourite green space in central London. It's one of the few parks in the capital where you can get truly lost, almost forgetting that you're in London at all. For those who'd rather plan a route than get lost, the circular walk begins and ends at Hampstead Tube. The shorter 4.5 mile version is an easy amble with a climb up to take in the superb views from Parliament Hill, then round the edge of the Heath and past the ponds, past Kenwood House (of Notting Hill fame) then back into the pretty streets of Hampstead. The longer 6.5 mile circuit includes a few more hills plus a detour through Highgate and past the famous cemetery. Plus (in a post coronavirus word) there's also the lure of wild swimming and well-earned pints in the plentiful pubs of Hampstead and Highgate.

Getting there: Hampstead, click here to plan your route

Palladian grandeur




Where: Chiswick House and Gardens

A little taste of northern Italy in the depths of West London, Chiswick House is one of the best examples of a Palladian style villa in the capital. And the gardens remain open, with social distancing in place. Built by Lord Burlington, it also has one of the finest English 'natural' landscaped gardens in the city. Designed by William Kent, they include numerous wooded vistas and water features, such as the famous cascade waterfall dating to 1738. There's also a kitchen garden and a conservatory housing a renowned collection of rare camellias. And, in future non-social distanced times, kids will love the adventure playground in the south gardens.

Getting there: Turnham Green

Pretty panoramas



Where: Alexandra Palace Park and Gardens

Famous for having some of the best panoramic views across London, Alexandra Palace Gardens are over 150 years old, having originally been designed by renowned landscape architect Alexander McKenzie. This was a true Victorian leisure park in its heyday, and continues to be a delight for locals and tourists alike. On a clear day you can see as far as the Crystal Palace TV tower south of the river. Take a stroll about the park, before taking a turn about the boating lake.

Getting there: Wood Green
Woods and water



Where: Hackney Marshes

There's a wealth of rivers, wood and nature reserves to enjoy in Hackney. Follow waterside footpaths along the River Lea and the Lea Canal, then take in Middlesex Filter Beds Nature Reserve at the north of the Marshes. There are woodland trails snaking through the southern end, with occasional vistas of the West End one side and Canary Wharf the other side. There's a circular walking route that stars at the car park off Homerton Road at South Marsh. And if you want to extend your walk, the Olympic Park is next to the marshes.

Getting there: Homerton

Evergreen azaleas



Where: Isabella Plantation, Richmond Park

Richmond Park is famously one of the wildest places in London, with its roaming deer and vast meadows. But hidden in the middle of it all is a very colourful treat. The Isabella Plantation consists of over 40 acres of woodland right in the centre of the park, and was first planted in the 1830s, though not open to the public until 1953. While it contains many rare blooms and trees, it is most famous for its amazing evergreen azaleas which erupt in cascading shades of pink. Introduced originally from Japan, these flowers are at their very peak in April and May, so catch them early.

Getting there: Richmond

Tree-lined trail near the end of the line



Where: Lime Trail, Epping Forest

Way out towards the eastern end of the Central Line, Epping Forest is a treasure trove for weekend walking ideas. The Lime Trail is particularly brilliant as an easy 30-minute loop around Bush Wood Flats, which makes it a very family friendly afternoon activity. Nestled at the southernmost part of Epping Forest near Leytonstone, the walk follows easy well-maintained paths and meanders around pretty woodland, including some amazing 300-year-old sweet chestnut trees.

Getting there: Leytonstone

Downhill all the way



Where: Blackheath to Greenwich

The view over Canary Wharf from the top of Greenwich Park is instantly recognisable and on a sunny day, one of the loveliest in London with the old Royal Naval College looming in the foreground. If you're looking for a less taxing stroll then the entirely downhill route from Blackheath to Greenwich is perfect. Blackheath feels like a little village cut off from the metropolis, and as you cross the heath and through the gates to Greenwich Park the wide views open out through tree-lined paths. Marvel at the architecture of the Royal Observatory and views across the Thames.

Getting there: Blackheath


Share:

Easter

London

Walks

Nature

Spring

Bank Holiday



You may also like:
  • May Lifestyle Edit

    May Lifestyle Edit

  • 10 things to do this weekend

    Things to do in London this weekend: 15 - 17 January

  • How to make focaccia gardens

    Recipe: How to make focaccia gardens

  • Charity fundraisers tackling Coronavirus

    Want to help those affected by coronavirus? Charities and fundraisers to donate to now

  • SHORE THINGS: HOW TO BRING THE BEACH HOME

    How to bring the beach home

  • André Holland and Joanna Kulig in The Eddy, Netflix

    The Eddy, Netflix review ★★★★★

Your update on what’s on in London from theatre to visual arts, from fashion to pop-ups and more…
minimum six characters
 
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Your update on what’s on in London from theatre to visual arts, from fashion to pop-ups and more…
You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Stay tuned! (And check your email).


  • The Culture Whisper team
  • What is Culture Whisper membership
  • Corporate membership
  • Give a gift membership
  • Retrieve a gift membership
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.


To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper


Sign up by Email or Facebook.

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we sent newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.


OR
LOG IN

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

Sign up to CW’s newsletter
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
×