Hi, welcome back! As I iron out the details of sharing guest guides, I thought it would make sense to share a few of the main guides I’ve written over the years. To start, I want to feature my guide to London, UK. I spent a chunk of my childhood in London. I then returned after university and did an 8 year stint that ended at the end of 2023 when I moved back to NYC. This guide will be a several part series as it is quite extensive. Part 1 will focus on London’s green spaces.
Parks
Nobody does a green space quite like the English. It’s likely the reason the Brits love their walks so much. London famously has some of the best parks in the world, so I thought it appropriate to start this series with my guide to the city’s best parks. It feels funny to start a guide to any city with a focus on how to explore nature, but that is the beauty of London!
London’s ultimate park has to be Hampstead Heath.
You could spend months discovering different secret corners of this park. Depending on which season you visit, I have different advice. Given it is currently summer, I would say to make sure to go swimming in one of the ponds. I am a huge fan of doing a dunk in Kenwood Ladies’ Bathing Pond when the weather permits. There is something super wonderful and communal about it all. To dry off, you can lounge in the adjacent meadow. This women only space feels like something out of a novel on those rare, super hot days of British summer. FYI: there are also mixed ponds, so don’t fret if you’re not a ‘lady’. If you are visiting in a cooler season, grab a coffee in Hampstead (I’ll tell you where below) and stomp along the muddy path to Kenwood House. Have a peak inside, there is a gorgeous art collection with royal origins.
Just alongside the park there is an area called Vale of Health. It seems to live in harmony with nature and wandering the little alleyways always leaves me in awe. There’s a magic in the air here and no matter how many times I visit, I find this special energy remains strong. Given Hampstead is still in central London, it is pretty mind blowing to see how people live so close to nature.
A similar detour is the World Peace Garden. This is tiny and hidden at the base of the park, but it captures the more bohemian side of Hampstead perfectly.
Finally, the neighbourhood has a wealth of cafes and restaurants. Here are a few spots I recommend for before or after your walk in the Heath:
La Crêperie de Hampstead - if I had to give only one bit of food advice in Hampstead this would be it. Grab a crêpe complète and head straight to the park. There is no better way to spend an afternoon.
Mani’s - a great spot to grab a coffee and some takeaway lunch to enjoy as a picnic in the park. This is one of the few old-school, unbranded British cafes in the area. A lot less pretentious than many of its neighbours so expect a simple, no frills experience.
The Holly Bush - a perfect Hampstead pub for lunch before a walk in the Heath (especially if you’re looking to take a postcard worthy photo).
The Duke of Hamilton - I prefer to visit this pub after an evening walk as it is best for dinner. There is also a secret jazz club in the basement. Nightlife is rare in Hampstead, so this is your spot.
The Spaniards Inn - an iconic pub. The food is not the best but it is an interesting space. Great for the end of a hike.
Finally, an Ottolenghi branch recently opened in Hampstead. Their takeaway salads and coffees are always excellent for a picnic.
If you are looking for a park more west, the obvious answer is to visit Hyde Park. Pop into the Serpentine Gallery for a dose of contemporary art. If you would prefer to lounge around, my favourite area of Hyde Park is Kensington Gardens, just below Kensington Palace. It is a perfect place to rest after strolling Kensington High Street. If you walk further along that high street heading west you’ll hit another lovely green space, Holland Park. The best bit is the north corner, where you have a dose of dense forest right in the middle of the city.
Continuing on with the park theme we head back up to north London’s Primrose Hill. This park sits right above The Regent’s Park, which I always describe as London’s version of New York’s Central Park (it also holds a small zoo and is relatively small and urban compared to the two previously mentioned parks). Grab a coffee at the Espresso Bar and check out the hidden St. Johns Lodge Gardens. This is the perfect place to feel alone in an otherwise busy park and my favourite part of Regent’s.
Once you’re done exploring Regent’s cross over into Primrose Hill. This park is all about the view. Hike to the top, it is worth it as you’ll get to enjoy the best view of London’s skyline. There is also a hidden pathway that runs along the northwest corner of the park. I love going for walks there. Once you are tired, visit The Queen’s pub at the base of the hill. They’ve got a nice collection of board games and a decent scotch egg (if you’re brave).
If you want a dose of the English countryside but don’t have time to leave London, visit Richmond Park. You’ll see proper wildlife, with huge deer galloping amongst the people. I always take time to walk along the nearby canal, as it is a particularly lovely little stretch of the River Thames. Once you’ve had enough walking, visit Petersham Nurseries for a farm fresh meal (their shop is great, too).
Finally, my favourite smaller green space in the city is Mount Street Gardens. This is probably the New Yorker in me talking as most Brits would laugh at how petite it is, but I love this ‘park’ as many people do not even realise it is there. It is tucked away right in the middle of Mayfair and is home to a very glorious, gigantic palm tree.
Ok, that is all for now!
Part 2 of this guide will start to explore the actual city with a focus on west London. Thanks for reading and if you’re headed to London soon, I hope this guide helps you inject a lovely dose of green into your time in the famously grey city.
All photographs by Alessandra De Costanzo.