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 can boast a myriad of options from the royal parks headed by Kev Gardens and Hyde Park, to the smaller and more romantic ones like Holland Park.

They stand out because they have witnessed historical events and are home to ruins, memorials and natural wildlife spectacles. There are different options to explore them and it is best to take a guided tour. Here is a list of options for you to choose your favorite.

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

But it is not only limited to groves and paths to relax, you can also see and enjoy:

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

If you opt for a guided tour, the possibilities are endless and include exclusive experiences such as the traditional tea time. You can enjoy a selection of cakes and snacks typical of the United Kingdom. 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 additional cost when purchasing tickets for Kensington Palace or immerse yourself in its history and other experiences with a guided tour focused on the gardens from 140 €.

• Duration: approximately two hours.

• Means of transport: the guided tours usually set a meeting point. If you go 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 be quite crowded, especially in summer.

Next to Kensington Gardens is one of **London'**s most important parks. In the meadows of Hyde Park you will find a fountain in honor 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 breathtaking and is one of the most popular options for discovering the park. In fact, booking a bike tour of the local parks is ideal to see Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James Park in one day. This way, you will be introduced to their history and probably take in other sights of the city.

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 to enjoy 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 its interior from 51 €.
• Duration: two to three hours.
• Means of transport: if you go on your own you can get there by subway 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 houses one of the largest and most diverse collections of plants in the world, with more than 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 best 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 be visited from April to September.
• The art galleries of Marianne North and Shirley Sherwood.
• The Hive: a space that emulates the operation of a bee hive.
• Treetop Walkway: an adventurous attraction that allows you to explore the gardens from the treetops.

When you buy the London Pass you have access to the experience at no additional cost. And if you are 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 tour specifically of the grounds.

Details of interest

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

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

• Means of transport: the tours usually set a meeting point, you will have to arrive 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 you can learn to differentiate each plant.

Regent's Park is a park famous for Queen Mary's Rose Gardens, where you will find more than 30,000 rose bushes. It dates from the nineteenth century and maintains its essence in places like the open-air theater, dedicated to events and festivals during the summer. It is also popular because it gives direct access to one of London's zoos: the ZSL Zoo, which has more than 700 species of animals.

In general, 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 its history.

Details of interest

• Price: it is free, but it gives access to ZSL Zoo and, if you decide to visit it, the entrance fee starts at 37 €. In addition, there are guided tours 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 subway or bus lines that you can use.

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

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

It also has a pelican lake that offers a natural spectacle between 14:00 and 15:00. They can even be fed following 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 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 like 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 like the Covent Garden neighborhood. 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, being able to see even a knot garden of the seventeenth century.

This park also has spaces where you usually make a stop to enjoy the 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: entrance to the gardens starts at 13 €, although there are also guided tours of London's secret gardens from 266 € per person.

• Duration: about two hours.

• Means of transport: this type of experience usually includes 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 can explore other plans more in line with your itinerary.

London's parks are made to be enjoyed by bike and Richmond Park is no exception. It is 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 go London neighborhood by neighborhood and get into this park, as well as other wonders that may include Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and Green Park.

Details of interest

• Price: free, but there are guided experiences 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 get to the park on your own.
• Disadvantages of this option: not all bike tours pass through this park, you should check before booking.

Mudchute Theme Park offers endless spaces where you can relax and have fun. Its main attraction is the farm where they have more than 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 close to a herd of friendly goats.
• Explore different breeds of rabbits and guinea pigs.

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

Details of interest

• Price: admission is free.

• Duration: two to six hours.

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

• Advantages of this option: it has ideal areas 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 rescues 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 are visiting London in summer you can take advantage of the variety of outdoor events and festivals that take place in its facilities.

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

• The greenhouses and their exhibitions.
• The natural forest 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.

• Means of transport: even if you book a guided tour you will probably have to get there on your own. There are several subway and bus lines.

• Advantages of this option: you can learn about the history of Japan and its connection with the UK, as well as other areas of Holland Park.

Victoria Park is one of the outstanding parks to take advantage of outdoor activities in London. It is an oasis of relaxation usually frequented by locals and tourists looking for a quiet place. 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 themed tours are also offered that take you through its history, landscaping, photo spots and cultural importance. One of the most outstanding guided tours is the 35 Broadway Market, which usually passes through the park.

Consider that London in springtime is breathtaking and in this park you can appreciate the blooming of the gardens.

Details of interest

• Price: admission is free, but there are bike, segway or 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 subway stations are Bethnal Green and Mile End.
• Disadvantages of this option: there are few options to book online, most are located directly in the park.