Traveling by car in London is a great way to spend your time exploring the city’s many attractions. You can go wherever you want and whenever it suits you.
However, London is so full of monuments, museums and other iconic landmarks that one moment you will want to take a break from their splendor. In this case, head to one of the many parks in the British capital.
London has more parks and gardens than any other metropolis. You can find beautiful green spaces anywhere in the city here. They will allow you to breathe fresh air and relax. Where exactly can you go? Here’re some great locations for your car hire trip…
Regent’s Park
This is one of the most beautiful parks beloved by Londoners and travelers. Many years ago, it was the personal hunting ground of King Henry VIII, but it didn’t open to the public until the first half of the 19th century.
While walking along the wide alleys and the emerald lawns, you will stumble upon the Queen Mary’s Garden with a beautiful rose garden. It contains about 330 varieties of roses! In the park lakes you can feed the swans.
The Outdoor Theater comes to life in the park in summer. There’s also the London Zoo on the territory of the park. After walking in the park, you can go to the exit and get straight to Baker Street, where Sherlock Holmes lived.
St. James’s Park
The park is located in the very center of London, so getting there with your hire car will be easy and quick. Once upon a time there was a swamp on this place, then the royal hunting grounds. From the bridge thrown over the park lake, you can admire the magnificent views of London: Buckingham and St. James palaces, the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the residence of the British royal family – Clarence House.
If you’re lucky, you can also meet representatives of the royal family in the park, who sometimes come there for picnics. Pelicans are also a great local attraction. From 2.30pm till 3pm public feeding of these birds takes place in the park. In general, St. James has a stunning collection of more than 30 species of various birds.
Hampstead Heath
Want to relax after an exhausting flight? Pick up Avis car rental at Heathrow airport and travel to Hampstead Heath located 20 miles away from there. It’s the largest and oldest park in London with the area of over 300 hectares.
Its wild and hilly terrain with mowed lawns is a great place to recharge. In the park area you will find forests, meadows, green groves, and gardens. When it’s warm, you can even swim in ponds, lakes, and pools. A small zoo will delight you with parrots, deer, and herons.
By the way, the park offers a breathtaking view of the London center.
Holland Park
This is a very romantic park in a fashionable area of London with picnic areas and lush vegetation. It got its name from the Holland House located there. Now only historical ruins are left of it.
The park has the Holland Park Opera, which holds opera performances in summer, as well as two picturesque Japanese gardens, an artificial lake with fish and ducks, a waterfall, and a greenhouse. Also, there are many squirrels and peacocks in the park, so if you are traveling with children, they will love this place.
On the territory of the park, you will find paid car park, which will save you from having to look for a place to leave your hire car.
Hyde Park
It’s probably the most famous London’s park in the world, and the favorite vacation spot of many travelers. Ancient oaks, plane trees, elms, and cozy shady alleys make this place really cozy. You can lie on the grassy lawns and relax a little.
On the road crossing the park, English aristocrats made a promenade in carriages between the palaces of St. James and Kensington. In the middle of the 19th century, the park became available to the general public.
The most famous attraction in the park is the Speakers’ Corner. In 1872, England passed a law allowing anyone to speak publicly on any topic.
In the park, you can indulge in water activities on the Serpentine Lake, or go rollerblading. There’s even a riding school there. The Serpentine Art Gallery, located on the territory, introduces the art of the 20-21 centuries. Summing it up, Hyde Park is a great place to take a break during your car hire trip in London.
Victoria Park
This is a large park built in the 40s of the 19th century on the site of the former bishop’s estate. A popular spot is a huge open-air area where festivals and concerts take place on the lawns.
There are also rides and a swimming pool. The playgrounds of the park and the zoo are favorite places for children. The park is also full of freely-moving animals, including geese, partridges, deer, goats, and squirrels.
Battersea Park
This is a large park situated on the banks of the River Thames, opposite Chelsea. Until the beginning of the 19th century, agricultural land was located there.
The park was created in the middle of the 19th century and was soon opened to the public. This is a great place for a calm, quiet rest and picnics away from the bustling city life. It differs sharply from the parks in central London with its low number of visitors and lack of crowds.
Want to get a full relaxation? Set off to the Old English Garden – a true oasis of tranquility. The Subtropical Garden is famous for bright flowers and peculiar plants. Also, there’s a water garden with fountains.
Chelsea Physic Garden
The garden in the historic Chelsea district of London was founded in the 17th century by the Society of Pharmacists. This is the second oldest botanical garden in Great Britain after the Oxford University Botanical Garden.
Here you will find plants, rare herbs and olive trees used in medicine and perfumery. The garden has the oldest alpine garden in England, the largest olive tree and the world’s northernmost grapefruit tree. Despite its specificity, we recommend this outstanding place to spend some relaxing hours during your London car hire trip.
