10 Autumnal Walks In Central London
The Hampstead Circular
More than just a park, the best way to discover the best bits of Hampstead Heath is to take an amble around the four-mile Hampstead Heath Circular Walk. A good place to start is Parliament Hill Café: from here you’ll take in Kenwood House art gallery, Hampstead Grove and Burgh House before working your way back up Parliament Hill. Even if it’s chilly, you should opt for a dip in one of the famous bathing ponds (if you’re shy, there’s a women-only pool) – you can always warm up at Kenwood’s Brew House afterwards.
Parliament Hill Café, Highgate, NW5 1QR
Visit CityOfLondon.gov.uk
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is a former hunting park in Greenwich and one of the largest single green spaces in south-east London. One of the Royal Parks of London, and the first to be enclosed, it covers 183 acres, and is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site. When it comes to autumnal strolls, this one is up there with the best, mostly due it its range of indoor attractions (just in case it rains) – the Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory are all within the park’s borders. As well as checking out the remains of Queen Elizabeth’s Oak (and the tranquil flower, herb and orchard gardens) the real draw here is the views from the hills that stretch across the Thames, towards St Paul’s Cathedral.
Greenwich Park, Greenwich, SE10 8XJ
Visit RoyalParks.org.uk
Brompton Cemetery
One of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries in London, Grade I-listed Brompton Cemetery is a resting place for over 200,000 people, a haven for wildlife and a popular destination for walks. Far from being morbid, the cemetery is alive with the fascinating stories of all the people buried there since the 1830s, including some well-known names like Emmeline Pankhurst and John Snow. Beneath the spectacular trees and undergrowth are over 35,000 gravestones and monuments, plus a newly restored chapel café and visitor centre. The perfect place for a reflective stroll.
Brompton Park, Kensington, SW10 9UG
Visit RoyalParks.org.uk
Victoria Park
Perhaps most familiar to some as the former home of Field Day, Citadel and this summer’s series of All Points East festivals, Victoria Park is the City's oldest purpose-built park. Within, there are beautiful trees and plants to watch the seasons change, fun play areas for little ones, two cafés offering delicious fare (we like the Pavilion Café to the east), and ducks to feed. If you fancy taking to the water yourself, there is a fleet of floating swans to peddle around on the lake. A modern addition to the park is the Memoryscape trail, an audio trail winding through the park that visitors listen to using headphones – just download from the council website.
Victoria Park, Bow, E3 5TB
Visit TowerHamlets.co.uk
Primrose Hill
One for celeb-spotters, this is a gentle walk that starts from the bottom of Regents Park and works its way up to the delights of Primrose Hill and its sweeping views over central London, Belsize Park and Hampstead. The summit features a York stone edging with a William Blake inscription, which reads: “I have conversed with the spiritual sun. I saw him on Primrose Hill”. Once back at Regents Park you can feed the ducks, go for a ride on the pedalos or pay a visit to ZSL London Zoo.
Primrose Hill, Camden, NW3 3NA
Visit RoyalParks.org.uk
Hyde Park
Set right in the centre of the capital, Hyde Park offers both world-class events and concerts together with plenty of quiet places to relax and unwind – we like the Rose Garden. Another of the Royal Parks, visitors can dip their toes in the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, brave an open-water swim in the Serpentine, or just admire the views across the lake from the waterside Lido Café. Those not content with a leafy stroll around Hyde Park’s 350 acres can opt to have a go at boating, tennis or horse riding.
Hyde Park, Kensington, W2 2UH
Visit RoyalParks.gov.uk
The Jubilee Greenway
The Jubilee Greenway was completed in 2012 to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic Games. The most recent addition to the Walk London routes, the Jubilee Greenway is 60km long – one km for each year of the Queen's reign – and links together all the major Games sites. The greenway is one of the most extensive walking and cycling routes across London, and visits some of the city's most-well known landmarks. Our favourite pitstops include Little Venice, Chapel Market and HMS Belfast. An ideal weekend walk begins at Little Venice, along the canal and up to Camden.
Various locations from Buckingham Palace to the Thames Barrier
Visit TFL.gov.uk
Battersea Park
This Grade II-listed park is one of London’s most interesting. Within, there are five different sub-gardens (herb, Old English, Russell Page, winter and sub-tropical gardens, which date back to 1863), plus cricket pitches, an array of sculptures and a children’s zoo. Come autumn, the park’s highlight is the promontory – a piece of embankment that juts out 12m into the Thames. A cluster of Japanese maples occupies this garden’s centrepiece creating a beautiful array of autumnal colours – perfect for Instagram.
Battersea Park, Battersea, SW11 4NJ
Visit BatterseaPark.org
Kyoto Gardens
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s largest park comprises 54 acres of gardens, children’s play parks, sports areas and large areas of woodland abundant with wildlife. Contained within the park is the beautiful Kyoto Garden; a Japanese garden donated by the Chamber of Commerce of Kyoto in 1991. Autumn is the best time to see this traditional garden in all its colourful glory. A tranquil spot with tiered waterfalls and a pond full of koi carp, the garden is filled with stone lanterns, maple trees and – if you’re lucky – one or two peacocks.
Holland Park, Kensington, W11 4UA
Visit RBKC.gov.uk
St James’s Park
Not just greenery and a series of picturesque lakes, 57-acre St James’s Park also encompasses The Mall and Horse Guards Parade, and is surrounded by landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Whitehall. To be honest, this one’s worth the walk just to see St James’s Park’s best inhabitants – the flock of pelicans, which have resided here for almost 400 years. We suggest a stop-off at Rochelle Canteen in the ICA post-wander – its classic British dishes of pheasant pie and winter greens will warn you right up.
St James’s Park, St James’s, SW1A 2BJ
Visit RoyalParks.org.uk
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