Best Nature and Wildlife Areas in Northfields

"For any list of the best parks in London, it’d be a crime to ignore Hampstead Heath. Closest to the Hampstead Heath overground, or the Hampstead station if you’re going via tube, here you can enjoy your sandwiches on top of Parliament Hill while taking in stunning views of London. It’s even got its very own swimming ponds should the weather be particularly nice."

"Part of what makes Hampstead Heath so special is its wild beauty — check it out in all its rugged glory here. The other part is the stunning views of the capital it boasts, which makes the heath perfect for picnics, as does its proximity to some stellar delis and bakeries. It's also a cracking choice for a weekend ramble — thesetwo take in much of the Heath."

"Get back to nature in Hampstead Heath: an ancient woodland and wild green space in the north of London. Climb Parliament Hill, which offers a breathtaking view of the London cityscape, and explore the heath’s various nature trails and playgrounds."

"The Old Deer Park today is an important site for sport and events. The Pools on the Park Complex offers indoor and outdoor pools plus a gym. There are facilities for football, cricket, rugby, an outdoor gym and both hard and grass tennis courts."

"Full of rare and unusual trees and shrubs, the Isabella Plantation is a beautiful spot set in the depths of Richmond Park. It’s a green space for most of the year, but in April & May, the azaleas bloom and Isabella Plantation becomes a perfect pink paradise. COVID-19 UPDATE: Isabella Plantation is currently closed to the public."

"One of Europe’s largest inland wetland projects, this 42-hectare centre run by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust was transformed from four Victorian reservoirs in 2000 and attracts some 140 species of bird, as well as frogs, butterflies, dragonflies and lizards, plus a thriving colony of watervoles. The glass-fronted observatory affords panoramic views over the lakes, while meandering paths and boardwalks lead visitors through the watery habitats of black swans, Bewick's swans, geese, red-crested pochards, sand martins, coots, bitterns, herons and kingfishers."

"Voted in 2012 as Britain’s Favourite Natural Reserve, WWT London Wetland Centre is an oasis of natural wildlife placed right in the heart of London. Managed by Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, this idyllic wetland reserve is located in a loop of the Thames and occupies more than 100 acres of land. Home for a significant number of unique species of birds, insects, amphibians and other wildlife representatives, the Wetland Centre represents a real natural wonder."

"Just ten minutes from Hammersmith, you'll get lost in the London Wetland Centre and its lakes, ponds and gardens. Aside from the daily guided tours, you can meet the otters, feed the birds, or take part in a host of family activities such as pond dipping and nature walks."

"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."

"One of the greatest pleasures of visiting Italy is discovering one of those tiny, unassuming eateries hidden away in the backstreets that makes the most wonderful food. Anima e Cuore is one such discovery – but in Camden Town. Since being ‘discovered’ by Time Out a few years ago, the 22-cover restaurant has become wildly popular, an issue made worse by the lack of a website and an unpredictable phoneline."

"La Gaffe is a small family-run hotel in Hampstead, their site dates back to 1743 and used to be a shepherds cottage!. The La Gaffe Restaurant opened in 1962, it originally started as a French Restaurant, then a Seafood Restaurant before finally becoming an Italian Restaurant offering a warm and welcoming Italian dining experience in Hampstead. They offer set menus and party menus so they are perfect if you are celebrating a birthday, graduation or any other celebration and need a big function room in Hampstead."

"Cin Cin started life back in 2013 when chef-owner David Toscano launched a pasta van in Brighton as a passion project on the side of his full-time job as a lawyer. Three years later, Toscano ditched his suits for good, donning an apron more permanently and bedding Cin Cin into a bricks and mortar building off thriving North Laine. It soon grew a reputation as the best pasta restaurant in the city, spawning a second site in Hove in 2018."

"Brighton favourite Cin Cin has launched its first London outpost. The Italian bar and kitchen first opened in Brighton’s North Laine in 2016, founded by ex-lawyer David Toscano alongside head chef Jamie Halsall, whose CV includes the likes of Launceston Place and Roux Parliament Square. A second site followed in Hove in 2018."

"Another of London’s most popular museums with younger kids, this is ideal if you have children who like to get hands on, but with collections covering science and technology from the oldest surviving steam locomotive to the model of DNA and the forerunners of computers, this is a museum that you could revisit over and over again. Along with the space and flight galleries, you can follow humanity’s technological advances, medical history, more interactive displays and also the IMAX 3 cinema showing documentaries. Only a few areas are aimed at toddlers and preschoolers, in particular The Garden which is focused on under-fives at the Science Museum- although with exhibits that make noise, a mini puppet theatre, areas to climb and play and the water feature (always a big favourite), this area alone can entertain younger kids for quite some time."

"You could also really go museum crazy, and drop in at either the Natural History Museum or Science Museum, both of which are free. If you’re into pageantry, just round the corner from Buckingham Palace, and officially part of the grounds, the Royal Mews is a fascinating place to visit, and much less popular than its exhibits deserve. Finally, if you’re into afternoon tea, you can experience a fashionable take on the high tea experience at the Berkeley."

"Everything marvelous man has ever made is here in the Science Museum. Countless mind-bending exhibits, many of which are interactive, are arranged in a minefield of galleries across seven floors, and kids with eyes the size of dinner plates are scattered throughout. Expect delighted squeals and children racing each other to the virtual reality space descent."

": Row upon row of glass jars, with everything from tiny organisms, to strange two-headed beasts, to examples of gross diseases, this museum can be very creepy at times, especially when it’s quiet. However, it’s so much more than the freakshow that it is sometimes made out to be, offering a unique insight into the history of surgery and advances in modern medicine. The next few months are your last chance to see the museum before it closes in 2017 for refurbishment, so get going!"

"Granted, there are pubs with more room to manoeuvre than beer shop and “tasting room” HB&B. But then, not many pubs offer the kinds of nectar every beer hound wants to get her sticky paws on. Beers such as Cloudwater’s DIPL, Gypsy Hill and DEYA’s Ramblers, and the very small batch Mill’s Brewing & Oliver’s Cider Foxbic."

"The sage-green exterior and candy-stripe awnings are as welcoming as a hug. And things continue in the same vein inside with the smiling service and owner Kit Kemp’s signature chirpy clashing prints. This property was themed on the area's infamous Bloomsbury Group—look out for paintings by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant in the drawing room and library."

"Decorated in fresh, bold colours by co-owner and Creative Director Kit Kemp, the Charlotte Street Hotel is a Bloomsbury gem. Despite its ideal location close to London’s best theatres, galleries and museums, the lively bar and state-of-the-art screening room may make you reluctant to leave. Rooms from £270, firmdalehotels.com"