I love the Parkland Walk...let me refer to Wikipedia to give you a quick overview: "The Parkland…read moreWalk is a 4.5-mile (7.2 km) linear green walkway, in the London Boroughs of Haringey and Islington, which follows the course of the railway line which used to run between Finsbury Park through Stroud Green, Crouch End, Highgate and Muswell Hill to Alexandra Palace." This local reserve is great for walking your dog, riding your bicycle, jogging or simply going for a stroll. Living in Archway, I oftentimes use it as a means to get to Crouch End in a more "natural" fashion...really, it's beautiful to walk along and you always run into smiling, chatting people...there's something about it that makes people happy! If you wanted to experience the entire walk, I suggest you start at Finsbury Park. It will take you approximately 40-45 minutes until you get to the backside of Highgate. You will emerge by a pub called the Boogalo. Right across from it is a café called "The Quarters Café" and I recommend you stop here for a nice cup of coffee, warm soup or a home-made piece of cake. The next part is a little tricky, but eventually you will reach Queens Wood, then Highgate Wood. Afterwards, you're back on the old railway track and you're circumventing Muswell Hill and you will be able to enjoy the stunning views over London. Eventually, you'll reach Alexandra Palace and the entire London will stretch in front of you. I recommend doing this walk on a Sunday, as you can then finish off with a visit to Ally Pally Farmers Market...

The Parkland Walk is a hidden gem of North London, running from Highgate, where you can see the…read moretunnels under the station that are he to bats who use the Walk as a fly-way at night, to the open spaces of Finsbury Park, where people gather for picnics exercise and dog walking (there's also another stretch that runs from the other side of Highgate station to Alexandra Palace, which has a delightful view). The walk is an excellent way to get away from the busy streets and immerse yourself in the tree-lined pathways, as well as take in sights like the famous Spriggan sculpture and the ever-changing graffiti on the bridges. There are Nature conservations spots as well, with a new garden at the Highgate end, acid grasses which are home to slow worms, and sites of burrowing bees along the way. If you want to see another side of London, hop on to the Parkland Walk, and you'll be amazed where it can take you.

Gillespie Park is signatured as "the hidden oasis" within Finsbury Park, but can one say that it is…read morea best kept secret or an oasis? Well, that's why I'm reviewing it, right? Facilities: Gillespie Park isn't necessarily well equipped with much, if anything but the fascinating thing that they have dotted around the park are eccentricly metalic sculputes intertwined into 2 different styles and had around 3 if not 4 within sight. Unfortunately apart from that and an ecology centre located at the Arsenal side of the park, there isn't much else. Great For: Just because Gillespie Park doesn't have much to offer in regards to facilities, it does have some key elements that give it that much needed browny points which are: -The quickest route from Finsbury Park Station to Arsenal Station and when you have tried many routes, you know this to be true -A great place for anyone that wants to do some train spotting -A peaceful hidden away park (so it does tick the hidden oasis box) that in the summer I could forsee there being one or two sunbathers but nothing more -An ecology centre located near the Gillespie Road exit that I have seen some great reviews for **All in all this park although isn't packed with much, it still withstands some great features suited for the peaceful parker. Although it is a spey walk through this park, the peaceful nature radiating off of it will certainly make your day as how it's made mine on multiple occasions**

1* for the path by the train tracks and 3* for the beautiful hidden section near the ecology cafe…read morewith two ponds and a little forest. I walk past an entrance to this park every day to get to Arsenal tube. Seeing as I've lived in this area now for over a year, a sunny Sunday walking back from Finsbury Park seemed the perfect opportunity to visit. We went via the Finsbury Park entrance, the northern tip of it. The first few minutes were... Underwhelming. Some graffiti, a bleak view of the train tracks and a few weeds were all I could see. Then, we came to a clearing and it started to become less 'abandoned alleyway' and more 'awesome green space'! Walking past the wind turbine, we were greeted with a blue ecology house with a cafe and two ponds nearby. The children in the park were having a delightful time spotting wildlife and running about through the small forest area. Other than about 20 people this oasis in the city is practically empty, so is well worth going if you want a few minutes of solitude amid London life.

Oh my, what's not to love!?…read more My brood and I took a long, meandering Sunday walk and came upon the New River Walk -- an unexpected treat amidst the traffic, buses and busy streets of London. A perfectly situated oasis. You can close your eyes and you might think you were out in a forest preserve somewhere! From the Islington Parks site: "This park is part of the historic new river that brought water into London, now a peaceful oasis for wildlife, featuring historic linear water features, notable trees including swamp cypress and dawn redwood." Also, from my observations: ducks, birds, green leaves and grass, a bridge or two, good photo opportunities and minimal rubbish (either the people that use this are respectful of the New River Walk or the clean up crews are very efficient). Nearest Highbury and Islington Station or Essex Road Station. If you are walking in the area or could use this as part of your walking commute -- do pop in! Beautiful.

Nice place for a walk - I often walk there on Sundays when I got from The Cellars (one of my…read morefavourite Sunday roast places) to Camden Passage / Upper Street (one of my Sunday places for friends who visit). It is much nicer than plainly walking in the street and also can show out of towners how peaceful London can still be! The great thing is, no bikes are allowed here so you can have a nice, calming walk. You know you're metres away from the busy streets of London but you don't feel it that much. You just stroll along this river (not a natural river but still very pleasant) and see some wildlife - I even spotted a heron once in one of the little islands (yes, I like birds)! Of course you have squirrels as well because, well, you can't get away from them anywhere in London. Lots of ducks too (they are fairly fat already and I would like to remind the lovely people reading this review that feeding them bread is not actually good for the poor little duckies: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/16/dont-feed-the-ducks-bread-say-conservationists). There is a lovely little bridge at some point, the water is very clean (I still would not drink it, mind you), and given that there is a reasonable amount of bins, so is the walkway.

Somebody might give it 4 stars because it's too sparsely populated, but there aren't many reasons…read morenot to love one of the crown-jewel London parks. I guess maybe if you don't like little baby deer (how couldn't you?). At 955 hectares, you'll be hard-pressed to make it one side to the other, let alone experience all this natural wonder has to offer (or to know what a hectare is). Even those artificial Pen Ponds seem natural, since they've been here since 1746. Be sure to come in spring to marvel at the azaleas in Isabella Plantation, and bring your bike for the myriad trails winding throughout the property, unless you'd prefer to bring your horse instead (horses love baby deer). Cover those baby deer's ears because we should note there's "culling" in February and November (say it isn't so). It's easy to arrive by train or tube if you're not just riding your bike/horse straight from home. If I lived that close (and had a horse) you know I'd be doing that often. Thanks Charles I for spending all those forced-tax dollars on a place you could put a bunch of deer, all those centuries ago. We'll look forward to another visit soon.

Vast and well maintained "wild" park. This is the park to go sight seeing for deer, Canadian geese,…read moreswans, all manner of ducks and lots of pet dogs. We walked 5 miles easy from the pedestrian entrance in Petersham to the large ponds and back. If you're taking the tube, get off at Richmond station and right outside the station, catch bus 371 to Richmond Hill pass the American University. When you get off, make a left and walk for a few minutes, you'll see the park entrance.

There are many parks in Bromley but this is by far my favourite. Whereas they are all well-kept,…read morethis is the most natural and, wandering through the woods and into sun drenched openings, it feels like you're in the midst of the Kentish countryside. Guided walks are organised here so you can find out all about the wildlife around and spend some time enjoying a walk with other people. In the summer, it's the ideal location for a romantic picnic and I've never seen it over-crowded which is the most positive aspect.

I first discovered the Hackney Marshes one Sunday afternoon while cycling along the canal and what…read morea great discovery it was. I love how even though I live in London I have access to this wide open space which feels like the countryside as some parts of it are quite overgrown. If you venture along further into the marshes you will find horses, little bridges and lots of exciting nooks and crannies which makes for a splendid and refreshing afternoon cycle. I would totally recommend Hackney Marshes if you want to get in touch with nature.

You may have seen Hackney Marshes in their starring role in a Nike advert showing folks, famous and…read moreotherwise, playing football to Blur's 'Parklife'. Further back in time it was the haunt of highwaymen when London was a smaller place and this was countryside. The centre of the park is an open grassland with what seems like hundreds of football pitches. In fact it's definite overkill as I've yet to see more that a couple of them in use! Oh well, if you fancy a game of footie, here's one place you can be sure of a pitch to yourself (unless there's some time they all get used that I don't know about!) It's also the site of a very nasty experience for me I was out for a run, and thought it would be nice to run out into and across all that lovely grass. So there I was, cruising along, clouds of dandelion clocks rising around me when I realised they weren't sweet fluffy dandelion seeds, but daddy long legs. And every step I made was raising clouds of hundreds of the things. They are like giant flying spiders. I had a hard time keeping calm on the way to the edge of the park! And even on the path it wasn't totally safe. Along the north side of the park the wind was blowing a steady supply across the path so I had to dodge them like some alien videogame come to life! I now avoid the park in the warmer months! All around the edge of the park there are paths and strips of woodland. The River Lee Navigation runs along the West side, and the River Lee itself along the East. I've seen woodpeckers and a kingfisher alongside the Lee. There are of course positives to having an environment free of pesticides! I suppose I really should be less scared of the bugs

I explored the North East part of this park. In some ways it's a similar open space to Hackney…read moreMarshes. Loads and loads of football pitches! And wild space around the edges. A couple of major differences though: Hackney wins on the presence of the river and canal along the edges (though it's true the River Lea isn't too fragrant right now.). On the other hand Wanstead seems better used, with many of the pitches in noisy use when I passed. There were also larger areas of serious woods. There's some hints of a grander past at Wanstead. Though where I entered the park is bordered by some very ugly blocks of flats, further north, away from the pitches, there's the remains of a grand horse ride, and some rather grand houses along the edge. If you want a manicured park, then this isn't for you. Personally I'm looking forward to exploring more. Maybe I'll make it down to the parts that extend towards Aldersbrook Road next time I go

Wanstead Flats is a runner's dream. Lots of open space and nice if you are tired of the roads, but…read morewant something bigger than the average city park. Plenty of mountain-bikers use the trail routes around here and there are always half a dozen football games going. There are a few pubs near by and the area is massive. Caution - look out for people flying model aeroplanes.

Morden Hall Park is probably one of my favourite parks in the local area. I grew up around the…read morecorner and would often frequent it with my friends or to ride my bike as a child. It is a National Trust park, spanning from Morden through to Mitcham, and you could even walk it as the paths are clearly signposted for one to follow. The park also boasts a large garden centre and a lovely little cafe with a National Trust shop attached. The River Wandle runs through it and in summer you will find children in the streams, fishing or playing. There is also a cute little flower garden which is maintained all year round.

We were in Wimbledon for a car test drive but wanted to walk our dog too so did a quick google…read moresearch and this National Trust property came up. It's beautiful! There's a garden centre and a couple of cafes (though I did find the food at the Potting Shed cafe rather disappointing and tasteless if I'm honest). They've got 'wilder' bits with long grass for dogs to run around and a rose garden (not blooming yet but looking forward to seeing it in the summer) and mowed areas perfect for kids to run around. There are streams running through the park and lovely white bridges. It really is picturesque and not at all what I was expecting to find. The dog loved it too!