Best Nature and Wildlife Areas in The Boot

"Sprawling Hampstead Heath, with its rolling woodlands and meadows, feels a million miles away – despite being approximately four – from the City of London. Covering 320 hectares, most of it woods, hills and meadows, it's home to about 180 bird species, 23 species of butterflies, grass snakes, bats and a rich array of flora. It's a wonderful place for a ramble, especially to the top of Parliament Hill, which offers expansive views across the city."

"Escape to the country without leaving the city with a trip to Hampstead Heath, just a few kilometres from Central London. This wild and undulating expanse of green space spans nearly 800 acres, with woodland, playing fields, swimming ponds and meadows. Hike up Parliament Hill for unbeatable views or take a dip in the Hampstead ponds on a hot summer’s day."

"One of the city’s wildest green spaces, Hampstead Heath spans a huge proportion of north London. Stroll across the grass and clamber through the gnarled trees or take in the view of London from atop Parliament Hill. If you fancy a dip, the lido is on one side of the hill and the bathing ponds on the other."

"This farm is little further out of London, but a whole day of adventure and fun can be enjoyed here, thanks to a huge array of facilities, besides the friendly animals. There’s indoor soft play at the Bundle Barn, an alpine toboggan run, Dino Dig and Splash play area and an adventure playground. Unlike most of the other city farms in London listed, there is a small entry price for this one (£10) but this includes entry to all indoor and outdoor play areas, activities, animals, bird shows and a tractor ride to the dairy farm."

"A post shared by Georgiebd (@georgie.bd) on May 26, 2018 at 10:23am PDT. Cycle along the paths or take a stroll at Lee Valley Regional Park. Stretching 42km (26 miles) along the river Lee, past Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and up to Ware in Hertfordshire, there is plenty of opportunity to spot wildlife, relax or play."

"Situated in North London, Highgate Wood is one of the four ancient woods of the London Borough of Haringey (together with Queen’s Wood, Coldfall Wood and Bluebell Wood). Containing an impressive variety of trees and shrub species, the Highgate Wood is the home for many foxes, grey squirrels, as well as multiple species of birds, bats, butterflies and spiders. Besides the fact that it was included among the eight Green Heritage Sites in London, Highgate Wood also attracts visitors with its recreational facilities like children playgrounds, cafés, walking trails and sporting fields."

"If you're a gluttonous piggy like us 🐷🐷 and are willing to take the salmonella risk by devouring the leftover cookie dough from the mixing bowl then you will enjoy hearing about this. You can relive those childhood memories (in a safe to eat way…) at @_nakeddough 🍦 . We enjoyed two bowls here 🍪 White Choc Chip x Vegan Lotus Biscuit 🍫 Vegan cookies & cream x salted caramel & honeycomb ."

"If you’ve ever wanted to eat raw cookie dough while baking, then head to this Camden Market stall called Naked Dough. You can get yummy, safe-to-eat cookie dough, complete with vegan options. The brand was started by two friends who worked in the food industry."

"Did you know the UK’s first cookie dough cafe also delivers?. Get your hands on this delicious cookie dough, they’ve got amazing flavours like vegan buttery biscuit base and hazelnut goodness. Perfect for hitting the sweet spot."

"Churning its way to the top is Snowflake after founder Asad and gelato Chef Paolo opened up their first shop in 2012. With eight years now under their belt, they have several stores across the city delighting the busy commuters, tourists and passers-by with their specialities, handmade with love using some of the world’s finest ingredients. Despite expanding, each gelato is made by hand using the traditional Italian method, allowing each one to be naturally unique, just like a real snowflake."

"Where: Selfridges, Westfield, Bayswater, South Kensington, Marble Arch, Soho & The O2. Winner of no less than 25 Good Taste Awards, founder Asad and gelato chef Paolo named their ice-cream company Snowflake because all their ice-cream is made by hand, no two batches are the same."

"Housed in the grandly historic St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, there are few better places to ease the tensions of a long train journey than the St Pancras spa. Inspired by the area’s Victorian architecture, patterned tiling, exotic fauna and stone floors abound throughout, while the treatment menu draws on traditional rituals from around the world, with the new Ko Bi Do Fountain of Youth facial being a must-try. Day passes are available from Monday to Thursday, giving access to the spa’s gym, sauna, steam room and relaxation pool, while spa days start from £140 for the Lunch Escape: a 60-minute treatment, use of the facilities and a two-course lunch at The Hansom."

"Kings Cross St Pancras, North West London Instant Book. A seductive subterranean spa in the heart of London, St Pancras Spa carries the romance of golden age of travel, while the hotel serves the most delectable afternoon tea."

"A blend of treatments from around the world are on offer here. St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Road, King's Cross, London, NW1 2QP. Tube: King's Cross Station"

"Situated in the fancy Broadgate Circle near Liverpool Street, Yauatcha City is a huge restaurant with a stunning outdoor seating area adorned with cherry blossom - a perfect date spot. If you fancy taking your other half, a great friend or a family member out for lunch, their Yum Cha set menu gives you a LOT for the price and takes away the stress of ordering - just pick a veggie or a meat option, your cocktail and wine/tea of choice and they'll take care of the rest. The set menu offer runs on the weekend and there are three different price points: £58 per person for half a bottle of Henriot Champagne and the rest of the menu, £49 for the same but with a bottle of wine (you can choose red or white) instead of the champagne, and £47 for a selection of teas as the drink."

"This high-end dim sum paradise has the best location within Broadgate Circle. It wraps around about a third of the public space, with large terraces on both sides. Sit out here on a hot summer’s day, nibbling on delicately crafted dumplings and meat filled bao buns."

"People flock to Yauatch for the brand’s precision-made dim sum (buttery venison puffs are a must). There is also a short menu of more substantial Chinese classics like stir-fried beef rib-eye with black bean sauce."

"For the most authentic (yes, really) Chinese food in London, a visit to Teddington (albeit the less fashionable side) is a must. While the exterior is in need of a little TLC, don’t let that put you off from experiencing the best dim sum in west London. The preparation that goes into each dish is more than a match for more celebrated joints dotted around the capital’s more visually appealing areas."

"Visit one of the largest Chinatown London restaurants for Cantonese dishes and a wide choice of dim sum, with a focus on seafood. Housed over three floors and featuring karaoke rooms and even its own carp pond, Imperial China London knows how to impress. During the weekend, you're also able to delve into a roast meat platter featuring roast duck and barbecued pork."