London is famous for its whole range of green spaces, with a park around every corner offering a whole range of activities. If you’re looking to find the best park to let your children roam free after a day of sightseeing, then we’ve got you covered. There is a park in London to suit everyone’s needs and here are some of our favourites.
St James’s Park
Where: Westminster
Opening Times: 5:00 to midnight
St James’s Park is great for children of all ages. The playground was refurbished just last year and is a great energy release for toddlers to 7-year-olds who are free to play in the sand, on the climbing frames or the swings. The park is famous for its range of birds, some of which are friendly enough to feed, so bring lots of bread to keep your little ones entertained. The park also has lots of places for picnicking away the afternoon.
Diana Memorial Playground
Where: Kensington Gardens
Opening Times: 10:00 – 19.45 in summer, although it closes earlier other times of the year
Price: Free, but beware it can reach capacity
In memory of the late Princess, this park was build close to her home at Kensington Palace. It also pays homage to J.M. Barrie who lived near, and the playground is inspired by the adventures of Peter Pan. The pirate ship stands proudly on the sand, surrounded by oversized musical instruments, allowing children to get lost in their imagination.
Serpentine Lido
Where: Hyde Park
Opening Times: 10:00 – 18:00 throughout the summer months. Only open on weekends and Bank Holidays in May
Price: £4.50 for adults, £1.50 for children
The Serpentine Lido has a lot to offer with lawns, sand pits, a climbing frame and a paddling pool all surrounding the lido. The pool is open to swimmers of all ages, but be warned it can become crowded on sunny days. The Lido Cafe Bar is great for a post-swimming snack or lunch with a glass of wine.
Thames Path
Where: Richmond
The Thames Path in Richmond is ideal for a peaceful afternoon walk along England’s most famous river. Lots of children bring bikes and cycle all the way to Hampton Court. Stein’s restaurant, a German beer garden, is a great place to stop off as it offers a small playground for children.
Archbishop’s Park
Where: Westminster
Opening Times: Dusk until dawn every day
This park is the best option for a break from all the sightseeing as it is so central. It is particularly fun for younger children, offering a sandpit, swings and lots of things to climb on. It is cut off from the street so parents can let children roam free without worry and it is a good alternative to the Jubilee the Jubilee Gardens by the London Eye which can become overcrowded.
Brockwell Park
Where: Brixton
Opening Times: 7:00 until sunset
This park is great for cooling off on a sunny day. Younger children can enjoy the paddling pool or the fountains, while older children can swim in The Brockwell Lido. It has beautiful flower beds and is home to a miniature railway, entertaining for children of all ages. The park has a playground but also lots of open space for playing games.
Hampstead Heath
Where: Hampstead
Opening Times: Open daily
This park does not have a playground, but there are ones easily accessible from the park. What is great about the park is its wooded areas and space for playing sports. This park is great to get the whole family active and letting off some steam, followed by a picnic.
Battersea Park
Where: Battersea
Opening Times: Open daily from 10:00
Price: £8.95 for adults, £6.95 for children, or £29.00 for a family ticket
For something a bit different visit Battersea Park that is the home to a children’s zoo. The zoo has everything from monkeys, to lemurs, to otters and is a great day out for the whole family. The park also offers a peaceful riverside walk as well as a play area and a gift shop to keep children entertained, while parents enjoy the cafe.
Coram’s Fields
Where: Bloomsbury
This park is another central London hotspot that has a huge sandpit, small climbing frames and chalks for letting toddlers get creative. The park even offers an adventure playground for older children, with its own zip wire, tunnel slide and climbing equipment made out of natural materials. The three football fields are another big attraction for the park, bringing in visitors from all over. The park even holds a National Playday event every year, be sure to check their website for all the details. It is located inside a beautiful walled garden, a great spot for parents to enjoy the cafe while letting their children play on everything the park has to offer.
Regent’s Park
Where: 1.5 miles from King’s Cross
Opening Times: 5:00 – 21:30
Covering an outstanding 395 acres, Regent’s Park is one of London’s eight Royal Parks and is one of the capital’s most popular green spaces. It was originally a hunting ground for Henry VIII but opened as a public space in 1845. The park offers rowing boat hire, rose gardens, bandstands, tennis courts, ice-cream stands and even an open air theatre. This park is great to explore on a day out, letting your children enjoy one of the several playgrounds. The most exciting of which is at Hanover Gate where there is a timber tree house for older children.
Holland Park
Where: Kensington
Opening Times: 7.30 to dusk
This park is open to everyone and has facilities to please all. Try your hand at football, golf, cricket or netball while your children enjoy the adventure playground. The playground offers climbing frames as well as a zip wire, a giant see-saw and a mini-climbing wall. The park even hosts events for children, so be sure to check their website in advance to see what you can attend.
We hope this article has given you some insight into just what London has to offer for your children. To start planning your trip today, visit Travezi who offer a huge range of cheap hotels in London to make your holiday a memorable one.
