50 shades of grey? Wrong... London is more like 50 shades of green. Here are some places where you can get in touch with nature in the city.
London!! This urban metropolis has an abundance of concrete, flagstones, cobbled streets and glass skyscrapers. You might think it's just another classic city, full of buildings, streets, bridges and multi-storey car parks, where 50 shades of grey predominate.
But in fact, the city offers much more than that.
In fact, the UK capital beats many other cities in the number of wooded spaces: 47% of London has green areas. Although a large part of this statistic comes from private gardens, there is no shortage of parks, woodlands, nature reserves, botanical spaces and even farms.
It's no surprise that London has more green spaces than any other European capital, which is good news for locals and tourists with any lifestyle. It has been scientifically proven that nature is essential for our well-being, and whether you prefer trees, hills or tropical plants, know that London has something for everyone.
After an exhilarating day of exploring these verdant expanses, you'll want to unwind in a way that continues to enhance your London experience. If you are looking for a balance of luxury and comfort after a day in the green, the 5-star hotels in London at hotels-of-london.com offer a complete range of high-end facilities that blend seamlessly with the beauty of the city. These hotels can be the perfect capstone to your nature-filled adventures, providing a relaxing, elegant retreat in the heart of this bustling city.
1. Royal Parks
The eight Royal Parks are London's best-known and undoubtedly most beautiful natural paradises. They are Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Green Park, St James's Park, Regents Park and Greenwich Park. Spread across Greater London, the Royal Parks have relaxing and easily accessible gardens that can be enjoyed by everyone. In these huge open spaces, you can often spot wild deer, swim in a bathhouse, go boating and horse riding, enjoy open-air concerts, theatre and cinema shows, look at statues and fountains or simply have an old-fashioned picnic. Even during the winter, the Royal Parks are often packed with athletes of all ages working towards their goals. Here, some runners are preparing for their first 5 kilometre parkrun, while more experienced runners are training for the Ironman, often with their canine friends. You can see that there is a certain partnership between everyone who exercises here.
2. Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew
Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, London's nature mecca, is at the end of the District Line. They have more wildlife than you can imagine. Whenever I feel down and need some time to myself, I spend the day at Kew Gardens. A highlight is the Palm House, a hot and humid greenhouse that looks more like part of the Sumatran jungle than London's Zone Three.
An unmissable attraction at Kew is the treetop walkway, a wooden walkway in the treetops that allows you to admire the gardens from above. There is also a great variety of plants and trees among the different greenhouses and plots, and you can even learn a little about the importance of bees in the structure of the almost 14 metre high hive.
3. Epping Wood
This huge expanse on the London/Essex border gives the impression of a place miles away from the urban chaos, but it's just a quick trip from the Central Line. All the history, culture and adventures on offer are complemented by the presence of Iron Age forts, the former Royal Gunpowder Mills and rafting activities.
For me, the peace and tranquillity are what make these 2,400 hectares of Epping Forest a real treasure. It's the perfect place for long walks and, although it's not deserted, it's not usually crowded either, except for a few dog walkers, cyclists exploring the trails and children climbing trees alongside their families. This happy place is the only outdoor space in London where I feel comfortable camping. (Although technically not allowed, it is possible to camp here as long as you act discreetly, don't make a mess and move on if asked).
4. In other parts of the city
But large, renowned natural spaces aren't all you'll find in London. Rooftop gardens, smaller parks and urban agriculture gardens can be found all over the city. And I can't fail to mention Camley Street Nature Reserve, a conservation area in the heart of King's Cross, Postman's Park, a small public park with memorials commemorating acts of heroism, and the London Wetland Centre, where you can go birdwatching.