Top Rated Parks to Visit in Wilmington

"Hyde Park is central London's largest green space, expropriated from the church in 1536 by Henry VIII and turned into a hunting ground and later a venue for duels, executions and horse racing. The 1851 Great Exhibition was held here, and during WWII the park became an enormous potato field. These days, it's a place to stroll and picnic, boat on the Serpentine lake, or to catch a summer concert or outdoor film during the warmer months."

"The place where the Great Exhibition of 1851 was situated, Hyde Park represents a traditional natural landmark of London. The largest from the continuous series of parks that form the so-called London’s green lung, Hyde Park was created in 1536 by Henry VII and it was originally intended to serve for hunting activities. Even today, the park remains full of history and cultural symbols."

"The 350-acre space is located right in the heart of London, making it easy to access and easy to find if you’re learning your way around London. During the summer months, this park is filled with happy picnic goers, and is certainly big enough to make sure social distancing procedures are followed, too."

"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."

"Richmond Park, at almost 1000 hectares (2500 acres), is the largest Royal Park in London and is home to around 650 free roaming deer. The pastoral landscape of hills, woodlands, ponds, gardens and grasslands set amongst ancient trees offers a peaceful respite to visitors. The Park is designated as a National Nature Reserve (NNR), a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC)."

"Richmond Park is the biggest park in London, at a whopping 2,500 acres. As the largest royal park, you can expect hundreds of deer enjoying the open space as well as a range of other wildlife including bats, birds and wildflowers. There are also stunning views which stretch so far you can see St Paul’s Cathedral."

"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)."

"Easily one the most cherished green spaces in London, this is a very popular and much-loved area of London which can be found in the well-heeled area of Hampstead. The ‘Heath’ is a natural-looking park with a variety of landscapes including hills, ponds, woodlands and open grassy places. For the more active visitors the area is home to eight playgrounds running tracks, three swimming pools, grassland, woodlands, ponds and sports areas."

"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."

"Enjoy the huge outdoor space – 330 acres (134 hectares) – at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. See the peaceful Japanese garden, the amazing trees of the arboretum and explore the stunning glass conservatories. Pack a picnic (or pick up food from one of the restaurants) for the perfect relaxing day out in London."

"One of Richmond’s most famous attractions is perfect for visiting all year round. Wander around the ever-changing gardens and explore the wildlife, with attractions that include an indoor rainforest climate in the Palm House, an 18-metre high Treetop Walkway and guided walking tours."

"Smaller than the other green open spaces in the heart of London, St. James’s Park is surrounded by other important tourist spots:. Originally purchased by Henry III, the park was completely transformed by James I, who wanted it full of exotic animals and birds. Since then, the aspect of St. James’s Park suffered further modifications, but it continues to be a significant part of London’s identity."

"St James’s Park is the park you’ll walk through between Horse Guards’ Parade and Buckingham Palace. It has a lake, plenty of ducks and swans and a really nice kids’ playground just steps from Buckingham Palace. This would be a good place to take a kid friendly breather before or after the changing of the guard."

"I’ve always felt torn between the two, and I’ve been incredibly grateful for London’s parks lately. It’s so nice to get a nature fix even while being confined to the city."

"One of London’s best views can be seen from the top of primrose hill, making the hike up well worth it. Passing through meticulously manicured gardens with beautiful flowers and fountains with a walk uphill to where the view awaits. A great place to watch the fireworks or simply get one of London’s best views, with plenty of green space for a picnic or a rest."

"While Primrose Hill isn’t a playground as such, Regent’s Park (and specifically Primrose Hill) is a wonderful place to just spread out a picnic blanket and look at the London skyline. With a toddler in tow, it’s important to bring some bubbles or other things to keep them occupied, but there is plenty of space for them to run around."

"St Mary at Hill is the old fisherman’s church, as for centuries, the fish trade was carried out at nearby Billingsgate and in the surrounding streets. So it is by Wren (1670-6), except the tower of 1780, on the site of an earlier church dating from the twelfth century. The historian Stow says that Thomas Becket was a parson there."

"You can BBQ in Highbury Fields so it’s always a popular spot with North Londoners come summertime but the park also has plenty to offer all year round. It’s got plenty of sports facilities and a playground for the kiddies, and is a great place to escape to when Upper Street gets a bit too much."

"A family favourite for hordes of Richmond locals, this neighbourhood Italian (family-run, of course) has been doing its thing on Kew Road for more than a decade. It may be dressed up in fashionable contemporary garb, but this is a diehard trattoria at heart and the food presses all those familiar comfort buttons – arancini balls, homemade pasta, saltimbocca, calf’s liver, tiramisu. The decked forecourt gets rammed in summer."

"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."

"The pandemic has postponed the ‘launch proper’ of new West Dulwich modern Indian restaurant Heritage, but the team behind it are raring to go. So much so that, in this interim period, they’ve launched a takeaway service featuring a range of set dining sharing boxes (£38 – £42 for two). The restaurant comes from executive chef Dayashankar Sharma, who honed his skills in the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants, Tamarind and Zaika among them."

"Coming from an ex-Tamarind chef, Heritage aims to cook "nostalgic family-taught dishes and unusual foods from lesser-known Indian regions and communities"."

"Restaurants Austrian Marylebone. If your idea of romance is waltzing round old Vienna to the sound of Strauss, you can capture some of that old ‘Blue Danube’ magic with a trip to this instantly comforting Mittel-European number from Messrs Corbin & King. Schnitzels, sausages, ice-cream coupes and – of course – incomparable viennoiserie provide welcome sustenance, with excellent hot chocolate and coffee adding that vital X factor."

"Corbin and King’s refined Marylebone homage to Viennese waltzes past and present is always a fine, low-key luxurious breakfast venue, and in the spirit of fried batter its Austrian crêpes, served either with apricot and brandy jam or a gianduja-approximating hazelnut and chocolate, make a winning centrepiece around which to build an Austrian feast."

"Sheer yakh (which roughly translates to mean “frozen milk” in English) is a traditional Afghan dessert that’s not dissimilar from Indian kulfi. One of the best places to get your fill of sheer yakh in London is at Afghan Sheeryakh. All of the sheer yakh at this Hanwell dessert parlour is organic and hand-made – a fact that the owner and staff both pride themselves on for good reason."

"While from south of the Thames you can see Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and all the jazzy buildings of the City, from the north side you can snap a shot of Tower Bridge with the Shard right behind it. If that doesn’t have Instagram written all over it I don’t know what does. Bonus points if you get the Girl with a Dolphin fountain and a red bus driving on the bridge in the shot too."

"Number 9 on my list is a great location to capture Tower Bridge with some foreground and background interest. The Girl and the Dolphin fountain creates a great focal point and if you stand in the right place, you can use the statue to frame the iconic bridge. If you are lucky and the clouds are moving towards you then this can make a great long exposure photo as seen below."

"On the north side of the River Thames close to The Tower Hotel is where you will find this stunning statue created by artist David Wynne. This may be one of my favourite angles to take photographs of Tower Bridge. Visit this Instagrammable place around sunset for great light and into the blue hour."

"St Etheldreda’s Church is the oldest church in London, and one of only two in the city which have survived since the reign of Edward I. The exact date in which the building was constructed is unknown but is expected to be between 1250 and 1290. Dedicated to the Anglo-Saxon saint Etheldreda who founded the monastery at Ely back in 673 the church was purchased by the Catholic Church in 1874 and opened in 1878. As such it’s now one of the oldest operational churches in England owned by the Catholic Church."

"St Ethelreda Ely is a fragment of a medieval ecclesiastical palace belonging to the Bishop of Ely. It used to be the chapel and dates from 1293. The crypt incorporates older walls that may have been part of the Roman basilica."