Best Nature and Parks (RV, National, Dog, etc) in Victoria

"Richmond Park, at almost 1000 hectares (2500 acres), is the largest Royal Park in London and is home to around 650 free roaming deer. The pastoral landscape of hills, woodlands, ponds, gardens and grasslands set amongst ancient trees offers a peaceful respite to visitors. The Park is designated as a National Nature Reserve (NNR), a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC)."

"It was very close to Richmond Park but also a perfect spot to easily get anywhere in and around London. There are always deers, majestic stags, and also patches of forest where we love walking through. We loved shooting quite a few engagement sessions in the park, so we got to see the forest changing colors each season and also at different times of the day."

"Richmond Park is the biggest park in London, at a whopping 2,500 acres. As the largest royal park, you can expect hundreds of deer enjoying the open space as well as a range of other wildlife including bats, birds and wildflowers. There are also stunning views which stretch so far you can see St Paul’s Cathedral."

"This enormous, ancient parkland is one of the best places to escape the city while at the same time catching an amazing view of it: the vista from Parliament Hill, which forms the southeast part of Hampstead Heath, is so impressive it’s actually been protected by law. Elsewhere in the park you’ll find a zoo, three swimming ponds (nominal charge which is often ignored) and plenty of quiet spots for a back-to-nature-in-the-heart-of-London picnic."

"The Heath is only four miles from Trafalgar Square and has about 800 acres of lovely countryside. It is rich in flora and fauna, is enjoyed by thousands and is within easy reach of millions!. The landscape has woodland, meadows, heathland and many ponds along its valleys and features such as hedgerows and ancient trees provide links with the past.Kingfishers, reed warblers and all three species of British woodpecker breed, over 300 species of fungi have grown here and many-species of bats are here."

"One of the more natural and untamed parks in London, Hamstead Heath is 320 hectares of parklands with stunning views over London from the top of Parliament Hill."

"If you’re wanting to take your sweetheart for a stroll amongst the flowers, Kew Gardens is one of the best places in London to do it. A botanical garden that hosts one of the “largest and most diverse” collections in the world, Kew is bound to have their favorite flowers somewhere. There are also a number of great attractions in Kew such as the Treetop Walkway, the Pagoda, Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, and Kew Palace."

"According to Wikipedia, “Kew Gardens is the world’s largest collection of living plants”. From the exotic glasshouse gardens filled with succulents and tropical blooms to a stroll down to the Chinese Pagoda, there’s much to see and photograph. A great perk, if you’re a member, you can get to visit Kew before any of the tourists, which means you could almost have the place for yourself, to enjoy as you please."

"One of Richmond’s most famous attractions is perfect for visiting all year round. Wander around the ever-changing gardens and explore the wildlife, with attractions that include an indoor rainforest climate in the Palm House, an 18-metre high Treetop Walkway and guided walking tours."

"St James’s Park might not be the biggest or the flashiest but it is the oldest of London’s eight Royal Parks and the perfect place for picnic, unless you’re afraid of the birds that is. Not only do the famous pelicans take roost on Duck Island but there’s also 17 other species of birds flapping about. But of course all that bird watching is thirsty work, so once you’ve ruffled enough feathers and erm, not taken a pic outside Buckingham Palace, get stuck into that spread."

"St James's is known for its wildlife – the pelicans are extraordinary birds and are fed daily, which is worth watching. It's the eastern tip of the chain of Royal Parks which make for a gorgeous (and very long) day's walk, as it runs into Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. It's perfectly suited to those seeing the sights, as Buckingham Palace is quite literally a stone's throw away and Horse Guard's Parade runs along its edge."

"One of the Royal London Parks, St James’s Park is one of the most visited each year mostly because of the many royal events that take place, like the annual Trooping of the Colour."

"You will find a paddling pool and water splash area as well as a family enclosure. There is also a zip line, boating lake and playground, and a light railway."

"Housed in the old Hampstead Central Library on Finchley Road, Camden Arts Centre began life as a local initiative, providing art classes for the community. Now, it is a powerhouse of contemporary art showing ambitious exhibitions by well-known British and international artists such as Kara Walker, Rose English, Ben Rivers and Jennifer Tee. The bookshop stocks a range of artist’s editions, and the garden is the perfect spot for a sunny afternoon."

"In 1965 a former library was converted into a gallery to promote contemporary art. The exhibitions feature emerging artists, international artists debuting in London, significant historic figures who have inspired contemporary practice, and group shows relevant to current debate. Arkwright Road, NW3 6DG Free entrycamdenartscentre.org"

"Atul Kochhar is the first Indian chef in the world to receive a Michelin star. His new restaurant, Kanishka, on Maddox Street, explores lesser known regions of Indian food. Cooking methods include salting, smoking and fermenting, made necessary by the remoteness of the regions."

"From Sikkim venison tartare to banana old fashioneds, Kanishka is the Mayfair restaurant cooking up impressive dishes in London. If you're after tasty bites and beautiful decor to match, then you've come to the right place."

"Whether you're looking for a place that'll impress or just wanna get a few Instagram-worthy shots, head to Kanishka for all that plus stunning Indian plates and lip-smacking cocktails to wash it all down."

"Let’s start with the obvious: if you’re a science enthusiast and haven’t been to the Science Museum, you’re doing London all wrong. This South Kensington spot is one of the biggest museums in the capital, attracting millions of visitors a year. Inside, you’ll find flabbergasting attractions ranging from the actual Apollo 10 capsule to Stephenson’s Rocket, with tons of interactive exhibits in the Wonderlab for kids, and stunning science documentaries on-screen at its own IMAX cinema."

"Because it’s filled with everything you know about, but probably don’t really know about. Like exhibitions on space exploration with the Apollo 10 command module; a flight simulator; a three-metre-high, 600kg Spacelab 2 X-ray telescope; an immersive VR descent from space with astronaut Tim Peake; and displays on developments in contemporary psychological science, medicine, climate and 3D printing. And an IMAX theatre."

"After a full day in the Natural Science Museum, I then made my parents spend a whole day at the Science Museum. The Science Museum is even more interactive, with lots of games that you can play and cool things you can learn. My personal favourite exhibition at the Science Museum is the space one."

"It includes all the major attractions (e.g., Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the National Gallery), but also includes several lesser known sites and encourages you to explore several of London’s diverse neighborhoods including Westminster, Greenwich, Kensington, and Camden. We suggest using this itinerary as a starting point for planning your 6 days in London, not as a definitive itinerary, and you can edit it to put together your own personal itinerary that reflects your own needs and interests."

"Over 900 years old, this great castle is located in the centre of the city. It has been used for a wide range of purposes over the years including holding the crown jewels and housing various prisoners. It is for this reason that tourists hardly ever miss a chance to take a trip back in time and explore this medieval masterpiece."

"Restaurants Ice-cream parlours Richmond. Danieli’s vanilla ice cream was served to Her Majesty on her eightieth birthday – so you’re in good regal company if you’re partial to a scoop or two of their Italian gelati. These guys care about sourcing the very best ingredients and their huge line-up of flavours goes far beyond the usual suspects – think banana and salted peanut, custard and cherry, pistachio and amaretto or Sicilian cactus fruit."

"A family business based out in the heart of Richmond, Gelateria Danieli is an excellent spot for some authentic Italian gelato. Owners Bridget Hunt and Carlo Valiasindi have made it their mission to educate Londoners on what real gelato is meant to taste like and I’ll be damned if they haven’t done an excellent job at doing just that. All it takes is a tentative lap of pistachio, purchased from their Brewer’s Lane flagship on a balmy day, to realise how many pretenders are actually out there."

"It is reputed that Gelateria Danieli has the tastiest ice cream in the whole of London. In fact, it is believed that even the Queen herself enjoys Danieli’s ice-cream!. The gelateria is a family run business, specialising in authentic high quality Italian gelato."

"Address: 434 High Road, London HA9 6AH (Near Wembley Central Tube station). On the menu: Kentucky Fried Chicken is globally recognised for its secret mix of herbs and spices. There are meals for one and meals for sharing, with mulitple sides."

"It doesn’t matter that your grandma’s apple pie won last year’s village bake-off; this one is better. It’s stuffed full of fruit that is soft but still chunky, sharp but definitely sweet, juicy but not wet, and encased in buttery, magically crisp shortcrust pastry. Choose a drizzle of cream or a melty scoop of vanilla to go alongside; either way you’re going to want a second serving."