With a heritage of more than 3,000 parks, 4 million private gardens and 4 nature reserves, London is set to become the first British National Park City by 2019. A tour of its most evocative and surprising green corners.
London is set to become the first British "National Park City" by 2019 — that is, the first city where "green spaces are of high quality, the air is clean and breathable, it is pleasant to swim in its rivers and waterways and buildings are sustainable". In short, a place for good living, as it has been described by its mayor, Sadiq Khan, who also announced that new funds will be allocated to expand existing green spaces and tackle the issue of plastic waste more effectively. "Making London a National Park City is the capital's great opportunity to recognise everything that is being done by communities, businesses and councils to make our city greener, richer in wildlife, and better for the health and wellbeing of Londoners — and to challenge ourselves to do even better," he said.
An ambitious yet achievable project that aims to apply to an urban context a management model closely drawn from that of nature parks — one of (partial) protection, promotion of programmes to foster knowledge of the area aimed at both residents and tourists, and growth of economic activities linked to the sector. All of this through actions, regulations and projects that should gradually make it possible. A new identity for London — a city known internationally for its artistic and cultural offer but which had never before focused on its green credentials, despite being a verdant city that boasts more than 3,000 parks, 16,000 sites of importance for nature conservation, four million private gardens and four national nature reserves.
Varied in character — wild, manicured or quintessentially English, but all beautiful — London's parks are a must-see for anyone visiting the city. Let's discover some curiosities about the green lungs of the British capital.
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Regent's Park is one of London's royal parks and is located in the Westminster area. Well known and popular with both Londoners and tourists, it is home to around 12,000 roses and 100 species of birds, but the event that in our view makes it most worth visiting is the theatre season that takes place in its Open Air Theatre from May to September — this year from 17 May to 15 September. A ticket costs around £16, or approximately €18, and the programme ranges from the legendary Shakespeare to more contemporary works, but all share the same atmosphere: immersive and unique. Here is the link to book seats for this season and browse the programme.
It is certainly not among a visitor's first choices, but Crystal Palace Park is a place that can surprise, especially if you have young children. It is a very large park in south London that features, among other attractions, life-size models of dinosaurs created in the Victorian era and positioned among the trees. It is truly perfect for a relaxing Sunday, perhaps with a picnic and games with the children, and never too crowded. The name comes from the fact that at one end of the park stands the site where the great glass dome was erected for the Crystal Palace exhibition in 1854. If you look carefully, you may also spot the many small parakeets fluttering about in the area.
The first thing to note is that the deer in Bushy Park can only be photographed from a distance of at least 50 metres, as the park's official website makes clear. There are currently around 320 animals roaming freely within this vast green area — the second largest in London (located to the north of Hampton Court Palace) — and they are the park's main attraction, though they are not the only species present: swans, geese and ducks also populate the streams and meadows of the area. It is a lovely spot for a snack, perhaps at The Pheasantry Café, a charming kiosk with outdoor tables that is particularly busy during the summer months.
Clapham Common is an oasis of calm in south-east London, a park known above all for its bandstand built in 1890. The structure, similar to a gazebo and recently restored, hosts concerts. Listening to music here, surrounded by greenery, is a truly wonderful experience. In winter, a village dedicated to winter sports and Christmas is organised, which is also great fun for children.
Greenwich Park is a World Heritage Site and the oldest of the royal parks. Many tourists visit it both to see the famous meridian line and its adjoining museum and to stroll across its vast expanses of green. In our view, however, the best thing to do in Greenwich is to enjoy the sunset over the city from the top of the hill — weather permitting. For a moment of relaxation and a bite to eat, the right spot here is the Pavilion Café, truly delightful.