Top Rated Parks to Visit in Virginia Water

"A post shared by Rakel Harboe (@rakelharbo) on Mar 8, 2019 at 1:57am PST. Take a leisurely stroll, zip around on a bicycle, row a boat or swim in the Serpentine at Hyde Park. Whichever way you choose to explore this huge and centrally located park, there's plenty to see and do, with more than 4,000 trees, a lake, a meadow, rose gardens and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain."

"Hyde Park is another enormous park to explore, located right in the bustling centre of the city. The Royal Park was founded by Henry VIII in 1536 when he took the land from Westminster Abbey and used it as a hunting ground. It opened to the public in 1637 and has been popular with Londoners ever since."

"The largest of London’s Royal Parks and one of the most important places in the country for wildlife conservation, spawling Richmond Park covers an area of 2,500 acres on the edge of the capital and is one of the best places to escape the noise of the city and spend a day out in London for free. You can take a long walk through the lush woodlands and around the numerous ponds, cycle along the off-road Tamsin Trail, spot the park’s famous deer and abundance of other wildlife, and climb to the top of King Henry’s Mound for views back over central London."

"Firstly, to get there (Richmond is in zone four, at the end of the District line), and secondly, to ensure you don’t get lost in the sprawling 800 acres of green. The famous wildlife – especially the herds of deer – will make your pilgrimage, and the possibility of being declared missing, worth it. Pembroke Lodge sits at the top of Richmond Park (and even has free parking), where you will can enjoy a traditional English tea in elegant Georgian dining rooms."

"Beautiful grasslands and deer herds are just minutes away from Central London. Head to Richmond Park, one of the best parks in London, which is also a National Nature Reserve to relax in the lap of nature. This park is a famous site for some of the most ancient trees and the rarest species of wildflowers, beetles, and bats."

"Hampstead Heath offers stunning views over the city, but one could be forgiven for not noticing, as there's an awful lot to do there. If you aren't taking a dip in one of the ponds (there are single and mixed options) or the Parliament Hill Lido, you could be running circuits on the athletics track or visiting the Golders Hill zoo. For sheer childhood pleasure, though, the model boating pond is difficult to top (for God’s sake, don’t try to get in for a swim)."

"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."

"Alternatively, if you are not interested in visiting Camden, you could try visiting two of the recommended morning attractions (e.g., Windsor Castle and Kew Gardens). You’ll need to use public transit to reach the morning attractions and to get to Camden but the attractions in Camden are all within walking distance."

"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."

"This is a well-known park in Westminster, central London and it’s a great pit stop for a picnic lunch if you’re tired after a morning of sightseeing around the area. A sunny day here is a day well spent and the playground is sure to please children from toddlers to under-eights thanks to its sand, swings and climbing areas."

"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?"

"After being re-landscaped in 2002, the beautiful garden at Bloomsbury’s Russell Square was given a fountain. It rises from the centre of the square. While it may be small, it still offers excellent paddling opportunities for children and their parents."

"Located southeast of the city center, Crystal Palace Park was named for the impressive iron and glass structure that was built just three years earlier in Hyde Park and then moved to the top of Sydenham Hill in 1854 for the new park's opening. Although the original structure burned in 1936, the Crystal Palace Museum was built by the same company as the palace, and today it contains photos, scaled replicas, and artifacts from the grand edifice that visitors can enjoy while at the park. The original Italian Terraces and Sphinx-guarded staircases that once surrounded the palace still stand, giving visitors perspective on the actual size and presence of the former building."

"Cycle from Clapham to Crystal Palace- nothing like being a tourist in your own city💓💓 • • • #crystalpalace #dinosaur #dinosaurs #london #england #lockdown #staycation #bikerides #tourists #cycles #southlondon #selondon #cycle #home #park #crystalpalacepark #hills #family #familytravel #familiestravel2_ #londoncycling #journeynotdestination #familybikeride #travel. A post shared by Family Travel (@familiestravel2_) on May 24, 2020 at 2:35pm PDT. Channel your inner T-Rex in the dinosaur park, get lost in one of the UK's largest mazes, or simply explore the many ponds, playgrounds and green spaces Crystal Palace Park has to offer its visitors."

"They’re not the most anatomically accurate dinosaur sculptures ever made, but from 1854 they are the world’s first – and youngsters go crazy for them. They, like the fiendish maze (considerably less fiendish in winter when the hedges are bare), were among the many attractions of the cutting-edge Victorian pleasure grounds created to surround the Crystal Palace, relocated from Hyde Park (no.22) to the top of Sydenham Hill. Not all have survived; the palace itself burnt down in 1936 – but the simple pleasures that remain, combined with many later additions (including an urban farm and skatepark), make for a charming and idiosyncratic park."

"More of a yard than a proper park, Postman’s Park is still one of the largest green spaces in the City of London yet it remains a hidden gem. It’s also full of plaques dedicated to everyday heroes – these stories of self-sacrifice were collected by artist George Frederic Watts and turned into a memorial in 1900 – making it a very peaceful spot."

"Mildreds is a bit of a classic, having served vegetarian meals in Soho since 1988. It now caters to vegans too, offering up flavors from Asia, South and Central America and the Middle East, alongside British classics and Mildreds’ famous burgers. I highly recommend the Sri Lankan sweet potato curry, and the shimeji mushroom gyoza dumplings are delicious, too."

"Vegetarian haven Mildreds is delivering from its King’s Cross and Dalston locations. There’s a vegan Sri Lankan curry, mock duck bahn mi, heat-at-home meals, and more."

"Our award winning chefs only blend the finest herbs & spices to produce delicate, authentic dishes. You can now relax at home and order your favourite dishes, freshly prepared and have them…"

"Tucked behind Lambeth Palace, the playground here won’t thrill anyone over the age of about four – though there are things to climb on, a sandbox, and swings. But the location, in central London, make this a good pit-stop between cultural visits – particularly if the Jubilee Gardens playground by the London Eye, with its climbing web and little else, is too crowded. Archbishop’s park is completely cut off from the street, so children can roam freely across the large grassy field."

"On the cusp of Westminster and Lambeth you’ll find the excellently located Archbishop’s Park, which is great for little ones aged four and under. It makes an excellent place to have a rest in between sightseeing and it isn’t known for being too crowded."

"A peaceful oasis amongst the buzz and bustle of the city, the Culpeper Community Garden is managed by and for the local people. It’s open seven days a week and is just a short walk from Angel station. COVID-19 UPDATE: Culpeper Community Garden is currently closed to the public."