Outdoor things to do in London
Parks, rivers, viewpoints and walks: 29 Roves in London for when you want fresh air.
The Roves
Forest Hill
The Overstuffed Walrus
A free museum in Forest Hill famous for its overstuffed walrus, with gardens and views over London.
Hampstead Heath
Sunset over the City from Parliament Hill
The protected view of St Paul's and the skyline, best as the sun goes down.
City of London
Free Views from the Walkie-Talkie
London's highest public garden, and it's free if you book a slot ahead.
Haggerston
Hackney City Farm
A free little farm off Hackney Road with pigs, goats and a good café.
Barbican
The Jungle in the Barbican
A hidden tropical conservatory on top of a concrete arts centre.
Holland Park
The Kyoto Garden
A Japanese garden with a waterfall, koi and peacocks wandering about.
Maida Vale
Painted Boats in Little Venice
Walk the canal from Little Venice towards Camden past rows of painted narrowboats.
Bethnal Green
Sunday Flowers on Columbia Road
Get there early for the best blooms, or late for bargains as traders shout last orders.
City of London
The Heroes of Postman's Park
A tiny park with a wall of tiles honouring ordinary people who died saving others.
City of London
Victorian Leadenhall Market
A painted Victorian market hall that played Diagon Alley in the first Harry Potter film.
Clerkenwell
Ride the Mail Rail
Little trains through the Post Office's secret railway under London.
Covent Garden
London's Oldest Restaurant
Rules has been serving in Covent Garden since 1798. Think game, pies and puddings.
Primrose Hill
Picnic and Sunset on Primrose Hill
A grassy hill with one of the best free views of the London skyline.
Greenwich
Stand on the Prime Meridian
Put one foot in each hemisphere, then take in the view from Greenwich Park.
Regent's Park
Lions and Penguins at London Zoo
The world's oldest scientific zoo, right in Regent's Park.
Westminster
Underground in the Churchill War Rooms
The secret bunker where Churchill ran the war, left as it was in 1945.
Covent Garden
Bacon Naan at Dishoom
Bombay café breakfasts in Covent Garden. The bacon naan roll is legendary.
Greenwich Peninsula
Cable Car over the Thames
Glide high over the river between Greenwich and the Royal Docks.
Isle of Dogs
Mudchute City Farm
A huge free city farm on the Isle of Dogs, with llamas and pigs under the Canary Wharf towers.
South Bank
A Wander Along the South Bank
Book stalls, street performers and the Thames, from the London Eye to Tower Bridge.
Richmond
Deer Spotting in Richmond Park
Hundreds of wild deer roam London's biggest royal park.
Dunstable
Elephants and Rhinos at Whipsnade Zoo
The UK's biggest zoo, on the Chiltern Hills: drive or walk round 600 acres of animals.
Battersea Park
Battersea Park Children's Zoo
A small zoo for little ones, with meerkats, otters and farm animals in Battersea Park.
Tooting
Swim at Tooting Bec Lido
One of the biggest open-air pools in England, lined with colourful changing doors.
Greenwich Peninsula
Climb Over the O2
Harness up and walk right over the roof of the O2 to a summit 52 metres up.
Camden
Street Food Lap of Camden Market
Hundreds of stalls by the canal: eat your way round the world in an afternoon.
Hampstead Heath
Wild Swim in the Hampstead Ponds
Cold, green and wonderful: London's famous swimming ponds.
Kew
Treetop Walkway at Kew
Walk through the treetops, then warm up in the Victorian Palm House.
Tower Hill
Walk the Glass Floor of Tower Bridge
Stand 42 metres above the Thames on the high-level walkways.
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