Though Edinburgh tops the UK’s list of greenest cities, London is no slouch in the parks department. Hyde Park, which covers over 350 acres, is home to lakeside walking paths, statues, gardens, and Speakers’ Corner—a historic spot for public speeches that has hosted the likes of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and George Orwell. If Hyde Park is “the People’s Park,” as its been nicknamed, St James’s Park is perhaps the most royal swath of greenery. Though it’s open to the public, this is where many of the monarchy’s ceremonial events happen—the park sits right in front of Buckingham Palace. For London’s largest National Nature Reserve, head to Richmond Park, which covers around 2,500 acres and is home to ancient woods, extensive grasslands, and herds of free-roaming deer. And all of these parks, plus many more (London has eight Royal Parks and some 3,000 green spaces in total), lie within one of the continent’s most populous cities.
To keep lush greenery insight throughout your stay, check in at Como Metropolitan London, a contemporary hotel that overlooks Hyde Park. The light-filled, nature-inspired interiors—designed by Linzi Coppick—feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and the property’s Como Shambhala Urban Escape spa offers holistic treatments to help you keep your zen throughout your travels.
