Published 2026-09-21 by the Rushxo team. More guides.
Short answer: London is a third green space. The central parks are free and walkable from any hotel; the big ones (Richmond, Kew, Greenwich, Hampstead) are a 25 to 40-minute drive and worth a morning each. Autumn colour peaks in the last two weeks of October; the deer rut in Richmond at the same time.
Late March for blossom in Kew and Regent's Park; June for the roses; the last fortnight of October for autumn colour and the Richmond rut; the first snowfall (rare) for Primrose Hill. Summer weekends the central parks host concerts (BST Hyde Park in July) and the Serpentine Lido opens. Winter the parks close at dusk, about 16:30 in December.
The central parks are on foot or by tube. For Richmond, Kew and Hampstead a fixed-fare car saves the two changes and the walk from the station, and a 6-seat MPV takes a family, a pushchair and a picnic for £90 to Richmond. Related: day trips by car, London with kids, museums.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens together: the Serpentine, the Albert Memorial, Kensington Palace and the Diana playground in one two-hour walk from Marble Arch to High Street Kensington.
Yes, for half a day: the Palm House, the Treetop Walkway and the Temperate House. Tickets about £22 for adults, children under 4 free. It is 10 miles from central London; a car is from £75 and drops at Victoria Gate.
Anywhere: 600 red and fallow deer roam freely. Enter at Richmond Gate for Pembroke Lodge and the view of St Paul's from King Henry's Mound, or Roehampton Gate to hire bikes. Rutting season is October.
All eight are free to enter and open from dawn. Only Kew (not a Royal Park) and the palaces charge.
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