London is known as a big and bustling city but there are a lot of green spaces in London where you can relax. Here are some of the big parks in London where you can relax, get some fresh air and admire the gardens.
REGENTS PARK
At the top end of the city off Marylebone Road is Regents Park. Underground stations nearby are Great Portland Station, Regents Park and Baker Street.
There is so much to see and do walking through the gardens, it can take you as long or short a time as you like. At 410 acres (166 hectares) you could end up spending the whole day here.
The blossoms in the spring bring the gardens to life
The Queen's Mary's Gardens hold the Rose and Begonia Gardens. When in full bloom this part of the park will be full of colour and well worth a visit.
Walking through here you will find a cascading waterfall in the Japanese Garden Island.
The beautiful cascading waters in the Japanese Garden Island part of Regent's Park
At the northern end of the park is London Zoo, another great place to visit especially for families.
With many walk-through areas, you can get up close to animals and see them in as near an environment as they are from.
It is cuteness overload at the zoo with all the many animals from around the world
Going further north is Primrose Hill with great views of London and a nice spot for picnics. This will make a lovely end to the day or you can head into Camden Town.
HYDE PARK
At 350 acres (23 hectares), Hyde Park is the second largest in London.
If you visit Hyde Park on a Sunday, go to the Speakers Corner to hear peoples views. You can then head over to the Serpentine where you go on a row or pedal boat.
Three quarters of the way through the park you have a view of the Prince Albert Memorial and Albert Hall
If you walk through to the end you'll find Kensington Palace and Gardens.
Kensington Palace is where you will find the history of the past 300 years of Royalty
From May there will be an exhibition on Queen Victoria as this was her birthplace and it was here where she became Queen.
ST. JAMES PARK
With Buckingham Palace at one end and the Horses Guard Parade at the other, St. James Park is my favourite park.
Buckingham Palace from the bridge in St. James Park
At 56 acres (23 hectares), this is the second smallest park in London, but still worth a visit. It's a very central park with a lot of attractions only minutes away like the Churchill War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, the Royal Mews and the Queen's Gallery.
With beautiful gardens, a lake in the middle and wildlife on both the water and the land, this makes it a great park to just sit and relax and watch everything that is going on.
One of the many cute squirrels that call this park home
GREEN PARK
Green park is another central park next to Buckingham Palace. This is definitely the park to relax in with deck chairs available for rent.
With an underground station next to it, this park it's very accessible.
A new addition to the park is the RAF Bomber Command Memorial. This memorial commemorates the 55,573 airmen who lost their lives during World War 2.
The grand memorial to the RAF Bomber Command Memorial at Green Park
KEW GARDENS
This park is 300 acres (121 hectares) and you can catch the underground on the District line, one station back from Richmond.
Another huge park that you can spend all day exploring the gardens, hot houses and do the Tree Tops Walk.
Walking 18m off the ground, you get to see the gardens from the perspective of a bird, far up in the canopy of the trees.
Soaring 18m off the ground, you can walk up amongst the canopy of the trees
From here you can also visit Kew Palace. Home of George III and Queen Charlotte, you can also view Queen Charlotte's Cottage. There is also the Great Pagoda which you can climb although it is 253 steps if you are able.
Both of these attractions require further payment.
I hope that you will get time to enjoy the parks in London. It certainly is great to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city and breathe some fresh air.
