London is known for its vast busy city but also its gorgeous parks and green spaces. With Hyde Park, Green Park and Regents Park in the city center just to name a few, there is always a chance to get your dose of mother nature just a skip hop and jump away from the main roads and tube stations.

Here are my favourite weekend walks you can do without getting on a plane or leaving the City.

1.The Wilderness – Hampstead Heath; If it is a nice day you can even go swimming in the outdoor ponds – I dare you!! The Heath is the most amazing place to explore and get lost in. Every time I go to the Heath I manage to stumble upon a new path or area. Grab your muddy shoes and explore the wilderness of London. To get there; Get the Northern line to Hampstead station or the overground to Hampstead Heath station.

2. The Canals – Little Venice to Kings Cross; This one isn’t ‘wilderness’ but it is a lovely walk or ride and a great way to soak up London’s culture. Start at Little Venice in Paddington (Beany Green Cafe which was on my best smashed avo brunch blog post recently) and meander around towards Camden Town and eventually Granary Square in Kings Cross. There are some really pretty houses on the canals, the London zoo, lots of locals living on wooden boats, graffiti in Camden and talented buskers. Want more? Keep walking up the Regents Canal towards the Islington area. Endless beauty.  To get there; The nearest tube station is Paddington.

3. The waterfront – Southbank; Waltz along from Borough market up towards Jubilee Gardens near the London eye. Avoid the peak touristy times so you aren’t bumping into people but this is a great walk and get your camera ready for all of London’s iconic views. There is so many musicians and artists to take in and sometimes a market or book sale. You won’t be bored. To get there; Get the Jubilee or Northern Line to London Bridge.

4. The manicured landscape – Kew Gardens; it doesn’t matter which time of the year you go, it is always beautiful. The colours of the Autumn leaves are stunning, the Christmas lights are magical and the spring brings out bright flowers by the hour. Kew gardens is the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world and right on London’s doorstep. To get there; get the District Line or Overground to Kew Gardens station and walk.

5. Pride and Prejudice style – Morden Hall Park; A stunning park located in South London full of little quaint foot bridges over the meandering river. The trees are stunning. It honestly looks like something out of a movie with Mr Darcy. To get there; ride the Northern Line all the way to the end, Morden.

6. To See The Deer – Richmond Park;  Only a short tube ride to the outskirts of London and you can walk around the knee high grass fields amongst the wild deer. There will be people riding their horses, keen runners getting their km’s in and a whole lot of natural air, not to mention the cute little English pubs to get lunch at. To get there; get the Overground or District line to Richmond.

So pack some water, a rain coat (just in case, it is London after all), some snacks and a charged phone and off you go what mother nature has to offer.

K

*images sourced from Google.com