I don't know how anyone could have anything negative to say about Primrose Hill. Perhaps I'm biased…read moreas it's the closest park to me (Hampstead Heath being the second) but I just find it so idyllic. On a warm day you'll find many people having picnics, walking their dogs, or just enjoying the view. There are also many cafes and shops within walking distance, so if you find you want something to eat you can easily get to a cafe in 10-15 minutes walking. I personally recommend Lemonia or Alma for a nice lunch. Overall I think Primrose Hill is magical and I will spend every possible second of free time I have there

Before gnawing on turkey legs and slabs of rare prime rib, Henry VIII used this patch of greenery…read moreas his hunting grounds presumably while his six wives looked on with royal comportment. The only thing that has lasted through the last six centuries is the patch of greenery which Jamie W. and I trodded upon after walking along the Regent's Canal. It was a swelteringly hot day in London except for one slight breeze we felt once we made it to the top of the hill summit. From there, you get quite the unexpected views of central London. A crowd did gather but nothing like the masses that swarm the Sky Garden or the Shard. I suggest offering to take photos of people in front of the view in order for them to reciprocate in kind. Most were very accommodating, and for those few who demur and refused to take your picture, there's a special place in hell for them where they're constantly blinded by flash bulbs. The walk down the hill was also lovely as you see civilized people doing civilized things like having a white tablecloth picnic or creating a landscape painting under a leafy tree suitable for a mid-priced motel. We just crossed Prince Albert Road to walk through Regent's Park, one of the city's more splendorous parks. RELATED - Exploring London? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3zFACrx

Perhaps you'll miss out on some over-stimulation while visiting The Regent's Park. You won't see…read moremany dancers, won't ride any rides, can't see any guards changing. But come for the scenery and relaxation to see why this Royal Park rivals all others on the list. You'll see roses most of the year, with an explosion of scent and color during high spring. Ask you symmetry fans won't leave disappointed either, with plenty of geometric shapes to satisfy the harshest shape critics. If you bike, even though you'll walk through much of the park. you'll have several roads to explore, including going around the Queen Mary's Garden loop x infinity. After that catch some match game ball sport activity or grab a degree or two from Regent's University on-site. Why not?!? Later in the morning the zoo calls, and if you're not local, you have plenty of hotel choices nearby. Or do like us locals and stroll over from a nearby tube stop. You'll find Baker Street, Regent's, or Camden Townamong others within 15 mins or so, and of course pass plenty of food stops along the way. If you go into too much tourism-withdrawal, you remain close to the London city-center scene, all the while knowing you can escape back to serenity like the royalty did here before it was open to all us plebes. Remember they close those big golden gates at dusk, which is way too early in winter, and look out for me there next time because I'll be returning again and again and again.

Large park with many entrances. Construction has closed some entrances. There is paid street…read moreparking throughout the park. There are maps throughout the park, but not all show where you are. Gardens that change with season as well as rose garden. Loo cost 20 pence. There is a theater. Lots of benches, wide promenade where dogs are allowed off leash.

lovely!read more

It's a big hill in a park area facing London downtown giving you a nicish skyline view. My problem…read moreis there are very tall and wide bushy trees blocking the viewpoint. I get the importance of trees and all that flower stuff. But this is supposed to be a viewpoint and there is a limited space between groups of trees where a crowd is peaking through to see the Gherkin and the Shard buildings. Let the trees branch out somewhere else.

Camden Town can very busy and overcrowded during the day.With people from all the place you might…read morenot realise that just yards away there is a lovely little park called St Martin's Gardens. It has just been renovated to create a children' playground.

If you have not visited the development just north of Kings Cross recently, I urge you to do so…read more It's really impressive, albeit mostly focused around housing and a lot of reasonably high-end retail. There are lots of places to eat (both restaurants and coffee) and there's quite a student vibe, thanks to the Central St Martins art and fashion college being located there. However, if you're looking for an antidote, just cross the canal and then you will find the Camley Street Natural Park. It's a delightful semi-wilderness, with lots of wild planting, trees and ponds, with paths and seating. The drawer for me is their café. They serve teas, coffees, a limited range of alcoholic drinks, fresh organic juices, and cakes and light snacks. These include a soup of the day, sandwiches, toasted sandwiches and paninis. Most of the options are vegan or vegetarian, although there are a few meaty options as well. They have only outdoor seating (albeit under cover), so it is a good option if it is warm (or you are well wrapped up). The quality is really good, but do be prepared for a bit of a wait, especially if they busy, as everything is prepared to order. To be fair, the friendly staff warned us of this, but we were happy to wait and watch the world go by. A bit of a find, and worth knowing about.

You lucky lucky people…read more You're lucky I'm so nice and telling you about a hidden gem in the heart of London. A place to go when you thought you'd seen it all. Somewhere to escape and to learn. Somewhere where children can look a pond bugs and adults can (probably) kiss. We were on an anti tourist walk on a Saturday in and around Camden mostly because I'm a mild masochist who likes a challenge. We wound our way though lesser known parts of Regent's Park and down Regent's canal, only failing when we passed Camden Lock itself. To the east of this is this wonderful little two acre park right next to St Pancras international Station. Blink and you miss it, I would encourage most people to blink. This is two acres of land saved by the London Wildlife Trust and kept as a wildish nature reserve. From the canal it just looks like trees but get in and you will find a mini paradise of eco-conservationism. We were almost alone with the city feeling a million miles away in a pristine wild wetland, meadow and woodland area that has facilities for classes and education. It's wonderful little surprises like this that keep pulling me back to London so seriously...tell no-one, or you'll ruin my anti-tourist walk.

I like this little park, mainly because it is 1min from my front door. I tend to relax here when I…read morewant some me time. Generally the place is overrun with mommy's, pushing prams, heading eagerly to the play park so they can off-load the brats and smoke a fag. This makes the best time to go early in the morning before the ball'ers who want to shoot hoops on the hard courts and the mommy's arrive. As it is adjoined to the Talacre Sports Centre you can watch people play football on the 7-a-side football pitch. My choice is always to find a quiet patch of grass, lay on my back and make out animal shapes from the clouds. Talacre is not worth venturing to especially, but if you are a local it is always nice to have a little greenery near-by. It is just about big enough to have a kick about with a football. It is defiantly large enough to chill with a group of friends with beers and a few stories.

Such a lovely park for children of all ages. There is a really nice playground with two separate…read moreareas for younger children and older children. As an American I was astonished to see that the playgrounds in the UK have much less rigid safety standards then the US and its ... AWESOME! I would have loved to be a child here. I'm pretty sure this playground has a rockwall attached to the slide. I typically use the smaller child side which has a smaller slide, small rockwall and sliding poll. There is also a small train and other small "toy" areas for very young children to play with. If your baby can stand your baby will have something to do here. There is only one baby swing that seems to be in constant use, which is why I'm scoring this a 4 instead of 5 stars. Saturday mornings are a dad fest here... As if all the moms said "get these kids out of the house! I've had them all week!" Will post photos next time I'm here.

Just a local thoroughfare, a few benches (sun trap) and sometimes local children playing ball. Nice…read moreoasis in the middle of city with the hum of traffic going by

As the sign says, Polygon Road Open Space is testament to the lack of imagination of council…read moreofficials. They could not be bothered to a) Think of a name, b) extend the playground/plant some flowers. What is left is a small bit of grass suitable for defecating dogs and drunks. Not that nice, but it's alright, only poor people live here.

This former burial ground still has monuments to various people, including a whole family of…read moresailors/soldiers who were killed off, including a poor 19 year old lad who caught a fever on a captured slave ship back in 1803. Nice reminder that America was a criminal nation for the first 100 years or so, defying international laws when it came to buying and selling people, leaving us to storm their boats whenever possible. The gardens are large but untended, with weedy flowerbeds, circles where fountains should be, and mud in places instead of grass. It's alright to eat your sandwiches though, and there's, surprise, surprise, a lone Thistle hotel next door with an underground bistro!