Top Rated Parks to Visit in Harold Hill

"3 km from city center 12 out of 40 places to visit in London. Hyde Park is visited by millions of tourists and local people every year and it is one of the eight royal parks in London. The Hyde Park covers an area of 350 acres and is home to a number of famous landmarks like the Serpentine Lake, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain and the Speaker's corner."

"Richmond Park, a national nature reserve, comes up trumps thanks to its population of 630 red and fallow deer roaming free. Come here anytime of the year for peaceful deer spotting, but for a more spectacular site, plan a visit during breeding season (Autumn) and watch as the red stags and fallow bucks compete for females by roaring, barking and clashing antlers. Make note, this is a park not a zoo, so take precaution and keep at least 50 metres from the herds."

"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."

"A little further afield but worth the trip is Richmond Park. London’s largest park is home to deer and various other wildlife, woodlands, hills, trails for riding and walking and large open fields."

"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 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."

"Hampstead Heath Park London is one of the most loved parks in London. There’s plenty of things to do like visiting the Parliament Hill, Golders Hill Park-with a zoo and a gorgeous butterfly house, an open-air Lido, swimming ponds, splash pools, countless sports pitches and facilities, athletics track, playgrounds, stunning listed Pergola and Hill Garden. The list of things to do at Hampstead Heath doesn’t end!"

"There’s a reason why you’ll often hear Londoners waxing lyrical about Hampstead Heath. Besides the great views from Parliament Hill and the famous swimming ponds, the wild park is home to a variety of woodland and meadows, so there’s plenty to explore."

"Less than an hour from central London, Kew Gardens provides the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city – and of course some Instagram gems. Set over 300 acres and comprised of over 50,000 living plants, this UNESCO World Heritage Site will take you on a captivating journey through a variety of ecosystems. There’s plenty of things to do in Kew Gardens, so set aside at least a few hours, although you could easily turn it into a full day trip from London!"

"Enter the Royal Botanic Gardens, as Kew Gardens are officially known, and you are enveloped by blazes of color, extraordinary blooms,…"

"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."

"Close to London’s center, this is a relatively small Royal Park bordering the Mall – the red road which leads to Buckingham Palace. The Mall is also the Queen’s ceremonial route. On the other side of the park is the Horseguard Parade, where you can see the annual Trooping of the Color as well as the palace guards practicing their moves."

"If visiting Buckingham palace or taking a jaunt through central London, St James's Park is the perfect rest stop. Stunning lakes which home many a duck and beautiful gardens, what more could you want?"

"The residence of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, this is one of England's most lavish stately homes. Set in a 55-acre park landscaped…"

"Made up of two lakes surrounded by marshland and filled with all manner of toads, frogs, newts, birds and dragon flies, try one of the many organised activities such as pond dipping, bird watching, close-up observation and sketching of pond invertebrates. For those who want to help the environment, get involved in the Wednesday and Saturday conservation workshops. Thames Park, John Harrison Way, SE10 OQZ, greenwichecologypark.com"

"Between Waterloo and Hungerford bridges you can retreat to the landscaped Victoria Embankment Gardens, where you will find an unmatched tranquillity in this tourist area. In the summer recline on deckchairs and take in a bandstand performance."

"The Hideout Kafe has been a St. Albans resident for about a year now even though they can’t seem to spell their own name properly. It is a very cute little place operating on the former site of Sunnyday blinds, bringing a little ray of sunshine to us all. Annoyingly on the day we visited it was far too cold to eat in their little courtyard garden so we had to squeeze inside."

"Papparadelle with beef shin ragu; Trullo, 300 - 302 St Paul's Road, London N1 2LH, tel 020 7226 2733; www.trullorestaurant.com. Padella is truly one of London’s greatest gems, but it’s also hard to grab a seat at the best of times. If you want the same exceptional pasta, but with the ability to book a table in advance, sibling restaurant Trullo is for you."

"Restaurants Italian Highbury"

"The Courtyard, The Royal Exchange, City of London, London, EC3V 3LR. Wonderfully British dishes have been given a luxurious touch at Fortnum’s city site for wide-ranging appeal. Think Scotch eggs with piccalilli, steak and chips or a loud and proud knickerbocker with a toasted marshmallow top."

"This genuinely friendly family-run Italian is popular with locals and visitors alike on account of its authentic food and charming service. Bacco may have all the visual trappings of a contemporary Italian restaurant, but at its heart is an old-fashioned trattoria so diners can expect classic pastas and simple antipasti as well as more expensive dishes come evening. It’s also handy for theatre-goers."

"05/06/2021: We visited one evening as a pre-booked table for 4. The menu was nice but disappointingly two out of the four staters we order had been taken off the menu as they had run out of ingredients. The food was good, but not exceptional and the service pleasant but hit and miss, slow and some of the drinks we ordered etc did not turn up until we chased them."

"Hours:Mon to Fri 1230 – 1500, 1730 – 2300 Sat 1230 – 2300 Sun 1230 – 2230; Open on Christmas Day"

"Hours:Mon to Fri 1200 – 1500, 1730 – 2300; Sat 1230 – 1530, 1730 – 2300; Sun 1230 – 1530, 1730 – 2230"