Top Rated Parks to Visit in Willingale

"Hyde Park is the largest park in central London and another of the capitals important Royal Parks. There are plenty of free things to do in Hyde Park, including taking a stroll through the colourful Rose Garden, visiting the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain (or one of the parks many other statues and memorials), stepping inside the free Serpentine Art Gallery, listening to the speakers at Speakers Corner or sitting beside the large Serpentine Lake to watch the swans and pedalos for a while."

"Covering 350 acres, Hyde Park is London's largest open space and has been a destination for sightseers since 1635. One of the park's highlights is the Serpentine, an 18th-century man-made lake popular for boating and swimming. Hyde Park is also where you'll find Speakers' Corner, a traditional forum for free speech — and heckling."

"It may not be the biggest of London’s eight royal parks, but if you’re going to talk about parks in London, then Hyde Park is a pretty good place to start. Stretching from Kensington Palace to Mayfair, the park encompasses plenty of must-see spots, including the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain and the Serpentine lake."

"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."

"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)."

"For generations, Londoners have headed to Hampstead Heath to escape the dirt and noise of the city, and this unique 791-acre expanse…"

"Not only does it play host to some of the best festivals in the capital but it’s home to the Pavilion Cafe (great for a top notch breakfast), a model boating lake and a new weekly farmer’s market on top of all the green space. It may always be full of joggers and sunbathers but the place is so big you’ll never feel crowded."

"Victoria Park isn’t the quietest of spots (it’s known as the People’s Park and is one of the most popular outdoor spaces in London), but it has lots to offer. Whether you fancy perusing it’s variety of gardens and lakes or taking a walk around the Victoria Park Market on a Sunday, there’s something for everyone to enjoy."

"It’s no secret that I love Victoria Park’s brilliant Sunday market. Head to the section of the park just past the Gore Gate to discover a gastronomic delight. Each week, farmers truck in with their stalls brimming with the kind of fresh fruits and veg you couldn’t even dream of finding in the supermarket."

"Stretching beyond Greater London’s boundaries to regions like Hertfordshire and Essex, Lee Valley Park contains a multitude of different attractions including heritage sites, nature reserves, lakes, countryside and urban areas. Visitors can enjoy numerous activities such as golf, camping, boating, cycling, horse riding, ice skating and bird watching. From 2005 to 2012, Lee Valley Park was modified to become the Olympic Park for the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Paralympics."

"This is an enormous stretch of parkland that follows the River Lee from Ware to the Thames East India Dock Basin. The park lends itself to plenty of sporting activities in the river (white water rafting, fishing, kayaking) and on land (camping, bird watching, cycling, golf, horse riding, ice skating). There are many examples of fine architecture within the park including Myddelton House and the remains of the Augustinian Waltham Abbey."

"The 26 miles (42 km) long linear park extends beyond Greater London’s borders into the neighbouring counties of Hertfordshire and Essex. The area has many lakes,  watercourses and open spaces. They are linked by footpaths and cycle tracks."

"Waterlow Park makes for a great alternative to Hampstead Heath and is still a bit of a hidden gem thanks to its more famous neighbour. As well as three ponds, the lawns are all well maintained and Lauderdale House on the edge of the park is worth a look too. Plus it’s near to Highgate Cemetery, which houses Karl Marx, Douglas Adams and more."

"It’s not just the height of Highgate Hill that makes you look down your nose at the rest of London. The air tastes sweeter up here, the trees are leafier, and everything is a bit less, well, Londony. And Highgate’s loveliest spot?"

"St Paul’s Church Covent Garden was the first new church in London to be built since the Reformation almost a century before. It was designed and built by Inigo Jones, the architect also responsible for other famous London buildings at Banqueting House, Whitehall and Queens House, Greenwich. It was built between 1631 and 1633 along with the new Covent Garden Piazza, the first formal square in England."

"Not to be confused with St Paul's Cathedral (a big attraction that comes with a ticket price), this church on the western flank of Covent Garden Piazza is also known as the Actor’s Church. The first Punch and Judy show took place here in 1662, and there are memorials to Charlie Chaplin and Vivien Leigh."

"Also known as the Actor’s Church, this is situated next-door to Covent Garden and was designed by the famous architect Inigo Jones"

"In contrast to the West End's grand aristocratic townhouses, this charming museum is devoted to the life of the city's middle class over…"

"Can you truly understand a culture without knowing what makes its people laugh?. The Museum of Comedy is on a mission to acquaint us all with the ingredients that, when combined, make up the British sense of humour, one Ronnie at a time. More reference library then proper museum, it's a repository of seemingly every book, DVD, VHS and LP that could possibly make you laugh - literally hours and hours of non-stop silliness."

"The Museum of Comedy in London is housed in the crypt of St George's Church. The space was initially converted to be an art gallery before the Museum of Comedy moved in. The museum's collection highlights British comedic history with posters, props, outfits, costumes, films, scripts, and photographs."

"A post shared by National Portrait Gallery (@nationalportraitgallery). In art, there’s nothing more intimate than a portrait, and at this landmark London art gallery, you can get intimate with some very famous faces. From Queen Elizabeth I to Queen Elizabeth II, The National Portrait Gallery displays portraits of the United Kingdom’s most important monarchs."

"Located in an adjoining building to the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery houses a collection of historic portraits of important and famous British people. Nearest tube station: Charing Cross."

"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."

"Before Renzo Piano’s “The Shard” was built, the tallest skyscraper in London was One Canada Square, also known as Canary Wharf. Inaugurated in 1991, with a total height of 771 feet divided into 50 floors, the skyscraper is famous for its pyramidal top, which makes it highly recognisable. The design was the work of the architects Cesar Pelli & Associates, Adamson Associates and Frederick Gibberd Coombes & Partners"

"Famous for its pyramid-shaped roof, unlike the rest of the skyscrapers in this list, One Canada Square is not located in the City of London. Constructed in London’s other renowned financial district, Canary Wharf. It was once the tallest building in London from 1990 until it was surpassed by The Shard."

"It is believed that the first St Magnus The Martyr Church in London was built in 1128-33. Several wooden London Bridges were constructed during the early years of the building, but they never seemed to last. Finally, in 1209, the Old Medieval London Bridge opened."

"This church near London Bridge on the north side was founded around 1067 and stood at the foot of the old London Bridge. (In the churchyard lie some of the old stones from the bridge. ). As such, it was an important meeting place in medieval times."

"This church used to stand at one end of the legendary London Bridge and has a stone from it outside, plus a model of it inside the door 2"