10 Best Tours of Parks and Gardens in London

Among the best things to do in London is to visit its parks and gardens. The city boasts a myriad of options from the royal parks led by Kev Gardens and Hyde Park, to the smaller, more romantic ones such as Holland Park.

They stand out because they have witnessed historic events and are home to ruins, memorials and natural wildlife spectacles. There are different options to explore them and the best way to do so is to take a guided tour. Here's a list of options for you to choose from.

Kensington Palace Gardens can leave anyone speechless. They are a great place to start because of their beauty and rich history. You can also enjoy a very special tour of the Princess Diana Memorial, designed as a children's playground. It reflects her love for the little ones and is ideal if you are visiting London with children.

But it's not just about trees and paths to relax, you can also see and enjoy:

• The Peter Pan Statue.
• Albert Memorial, the monument dedicated to Prince Albert, who was Queen Victoria's husband.
• The Sunken Garden, which was restored with Princess Diana's favourite flowers.
• The charming lakes and fountains.

If you opt for a guided tour, the possibilities are endless and include unique experiences such as the traditional tea time. You can enjoy a selection of traditional UK cakes and snacks. This activity usually takes place in the Orangery, a former Orangery with a magical atmosphere ideal for tea in the style of the Royal Family.

Details of interest

• Price: You can visit the gardens at no extra cost when you buy tickets to Kensington Palace or immerse yourself in the history and other experiences with a guided tour focusing on the gardens from £140.

• Duration: approximately two hours.

• Means of transport: Guided tours usually have a fixed meeting point. If you're on your own, you can take the train or bus. The nearest stations are High Street Kensington and Queensway.

• Advantages of this option: it usually includes the traditional tea time.

• Disadvantages of this option: the gardens can get quite crowded, especially in summer.

Adjacent to Kensington Gardens is one of **London'**s most important parks. In the meadows of Hyde Park you'll find a fountain in honour of Princess Diana and memorials marking different points in history. Most popular is to stop by the Serpentine Lake to hop on a boat or take advantage of water sports such as rowing and swimming. It is also common to see people walking and having family picnics.

London by bike is impressive and is one of the most popular options for discovering the park. In fact, booking a bike tour of the local parks is ideal for seeing Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James Park in one day. This way, you'll be introduced to their history and probably take in some of the city's other sights.

When visiting London in winter you can take advantage of the Winter Wonderland fair. This event offers a Christmas market with an ice rink and an exhibition of snow and ice sculptures. It is also ideal for roller coasters and live shows.

If New York has Central Park and Madrid has El Retiro, London has Hyde Park. This emblem owes its fame to the beauty of every corner and its appearance in different film productions. You may remember it from Nothing Hill, You to London and me to California or Bridget Jones's Diary.

Details of interest

• Price: admission to the park is free, but there are guided tours that explore inside from €51.
• Duration: two to three hours.
• Means of transport: If you're on your own, you can get there by tube or bus, while guided tours usually have a meeting point.

If you're visiting London, you're probably thinking of buying tickets to Kew Gardens. This botanical garden is home to one of the largest and most diverse collections of plants in the world, with over 30,000 species.

Among its main attractions are:

• The five greenhouses: include aquatic and tropical plants, climate-controlled according to their needs through advanced technology.
• Kev's Palace: London and its finest palaces will leave you speechless and this one is no exception with its 18th century details. It was the former summer residence of the royal family and can now be visited from April to September.
• The art galleries of Marianne North and Shirley Sherwood.
• The Hive: a space that emulates the workings of a bee hive.
• Treetop Walkway: an adventurous attraction that allows you to explore the gardens from the treetops.

Buying a London Pass gives you access to the experience at no extra cost. And if you're curious about its history, you can book a private guided tour separately. Please note that there are experiences that tour London and include entrance to the gardens, but do not offer a specific tour of the grounds.

Details of interest

• Price: You can find tickets from €27, which usually include an audio tour of the highlights. You can also take advantage of a guided tour of the city with entrance to the gardens from €80 or a similar experience with a private tour of the gardens from €372.

• Duration: around two hours for the gardens, can be extended if combined with other experiences.

• Means of transport: the tours usually have a fixed meeting point, you will have to get there on your own and there are several options of bus or metro.

• Advantages of this option: if you choose a guided or audio-guided tour you will understand the history of the gardens and learn how to differentiate each plant.

Regent's Park is famous for Queen Mary's Rose Gardens, where you'll find over 30,000 rose bushes. Dating back to the 19th century, it retains its essence in places like the open-air theatre, which is dedicated to events and festivals during the summer. It's also popular because it gives direct access to one of London's zoos: the ZSL Zoo, which has over 700 species of animals.

Overall, Regent's Park is quite large and is considered one of the Royal Parks. If you want to relax you can head to its lake and take a boat ride. I recommend you to consider a walking tour to see each place in detail and get into the history of the park.

Details of interest

• Price: It's free, but gives access to ZSL Zoo and, if you decide to visit, admission starts at €37. Guided tours are also available from €17.

• Duration: at least two and a half hours.

• Means of transport: You will probably have to get there on your own and there are several metro and bus lines you can use.

• Advantages of this option: you can take advantage of its proximity to the zoo to optimise your time.

St James Park is another of London's royal parks and one of the oldest. Henry VIII used it as a private hunting ground and for royal events. Today, it is one of the most popular places to watch the changing of the guard and see the views of Buckingham Palace from its hills.

It also has a pelican lake which provides a natural spectacle between 14:00 and 15:00. They can even be fed according to the instructions of the park rangers. This park is also ideal for enjoying bike rides through its history, preferably with a guide.

It is in the heart of London between Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster. Given its proximity you may want to consider tickets to Westminster Abbey.

Details of interest

• Price: the park is free.

• Duration: almost three hours.

• Means of transport: you usually have to get to the park to join the guided tours, but you can take advantage of the fact that it is close to some of London's tourist bus stops.

• Advantages of this option: you can get breathtaking views of Buckingham Palace.

• Disadvantages of this option: It is one of the busiest parks in London, especially in summer.

London' s secret places are sure to make you curious. Among them, there are some gardens such as Chelsea Physic Garden, which I like for its medicinal plants. In addition, it has greenhouses that preserve exotic plants brought from America and the Pacific.

London offers tours that pass through these gardens and are combined with other striking places such as the Covent Garden neighbourhood. Another point of interest is London Garden. Few people know that it is one of the best museums in the city because it combines a natural experience, and you can even see a 17th century knot garden.

This park also has spaces where you can stop for a traditional tea time. And if secret places are your thing, you have the alternative of booking a bike tour of London's hidden places.

Details of interest

• Price: Entry to the gardens starts from €13, although guided tours of London's secret gardens are also available from €266 per person.

• Duration: around two hours.

• Means of transport: These types of experiences usually include transfers.

• Advantages of this option: can include a guide, entrance fees to the gardens and an English tea experience.

• Disadvantages of this option: can take up a large part of the day, if you are going to see London in one day you may want to explore other plans more suited to your itinerary.

London's parks are made for cycling and Richmond Park is no exception. It's one of the largest, with hills ideal for a walking route. It is also very popular for:

• The Rose Gardens.
• The ruins of the old Richmond Palace.
• The herd of deer that often provides a natural spectacle.
• The panoramic views of the River Thames.

You can book a bike tour to take you from one London neighbourhood to the next and explore this park, as well as other wonders that may include Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and Green Park.

Useful details

• Price: free, but guided experiences are available from £51.
• Duration: between two and four hours.
• Means of transport: If you take a guided experience, it is likely that the guide will set a starting point or you will have to make your own way to the park.
• Disadvantages of this option: Not all bike tours pass through this park, you should check before booking.

Mudchute Theme Park offers plenty of places to relax and have fun. Its main attraction is the farm where they have over 100 animals. You can observe them and learn about their conservation, as well as feed some species that are used to contact with visitors.

On summer weekends they offer experiences for groups where you can do different activities such as:

• Entering a sheep field.
• Get up close to a herd of friendly goats.
• Explore different breeds of rabbits and guinea pigs.

The rest of the year you may consider booking a personalised private tour to get to know London and choose to stop off at their facilities.

Details of interest

• Price: admission is free.

• Duration: two to six hours.

• Means of transport: you usually have to get there on your own by bus or underground.

• Advantages of this option: it has areas ideal for children and if you go with a guide you can better understand the history of the farm and the park.

The Japanese Garden in Holland Park has a natural design that brings out the most prominent elements of Japanese culture. Here you can find pagodas and Koi ponds, as well as the ruins of a Jacobean mansion. If you're visiting London in the summer, you can take advantage of the variety of outdoor events and festivals that take place here.

The park's ecology centre often organises activities and educational tours of the natural environment. There are also guided tours that allow you to discover other areas of Holland Park:

• The greenhouses and their exhibitions.
• The natural woodland where you can see peacocks and other wildlife.

Details of interest

• Price: The gardens are free, as are the Holland Park facilities, but guided tours are available from €17.

• Duration: at least two hours.

• Transport: Even if you book a guided tour you will probably have to get there on your own. There are several metro and bus lines.

• Benefits of this option: You can learn about the history of Japan and its connection to the UK, as well as other areas of Holland Park.

Victoria Park is one of the top parks for outdoor activities in London. It is an oasis of relaxation frequented by locals and tourists looking for a quiet place to relax. Here you can have picnics, enjoy bike rides and, if you're lucky, coincide with festivals at certain times of the year.

Its swings are ideal for children and there are also themed tours that take you through its history, landscaping, photo spots and cultural significance. One of the most popular guided tours is the 35 Broadway Market, which often passes through the park.

Consider that London in springtime is breathtaking and in this park you can see the gardens in full bloom.

Interesting details

• Price: admission is free, but there are bike, segway and walking tours from €10.
• Duration: one to two hours.
• Means of transport: most tours are offered within the park itself, but you must get there on your own. In any case, the nearest tube stations are Bethnal Green and Mile End.
• Disadvantages of this option: There are few online booking options, most are located directly in the park.