London has eight Royal Parks — Crown property managed by an independent charity — covering a combined area of over 5,000 acres. Together they form a green lung that runs through the heart of the city, from Hampton Court in the south-west to Greenwich Park in the east.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens form a continuous 600-acre green space in the centre of London. Hyde Park hosts concerts, protests, the Serpentine Gallery and one of London’s most famous open-air swimming spots. Kensington Gardens contains Kensington Palace, the Albert Memorial and the Diana Memorial Playground.
Regent’s Park
Regent’s Park contains London Zoo, the Open Air Theatre, and the Boating Lake. Primrose Hill, at its northern edge, gives the finest view of the London skyline from any park. The rose garden, Queen Mary’s Gardens, is the largest in London.
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is the oldest Royal Park and sits on the site of a Roman temple. It contains the Royal Observatory, from which the Prime Meridian of the World runs, and offers the finest elevated view of the City of London skyline across the Thames.
St James’s Park
St James’s Park, the smallest and most central of the Royal Parks, is home to a pelican colony — a tradition since 1664 when the Russian ambassador gave a pelican to King Charles II. The view from the Blue Bridge across the lake to Buckingham Palace is the most photographed view in any London park.
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