London's Most Stunning Woodland and Nature Walks

Live Your Summertime Fairytale With These Magical London Nature and Woodland Walks

May 22 2020 by Lily Panych

Running out of ideas of places to go during your allotted recreation time outside during lockdown? Well, you're in luck, because you live in an ancient city with a fair bit of lovely green space all around.

It would really take a lifetime to explore all of London's magical natural nooks and crannies, so waste no time getting inspired to look past your local park. We help you get started with a few highlights: park and garden destinations that are so quintessentially London, you'll think you've gone back in time. Most include ruins or architecture that date back to the Victorian, Edwardian, or even Gothic eras (which means some quality photo opportunities await you). Pack some snacks, lace up your best walking shoes, maintain your social distance, and, most of all, thank your lucky stars you were forced to lockdown in London.

Image Source: Getty / Roy JAMES Shakespeare

1. The Ruins of St. Dunstan in the East (Central London)

Ideal for those promised photo ops or else simply sitting and meditating, this former church dating back to around the time of the Great Fire of London was badly damaged by a German blitz bomb in 1941.

Abandoned by the Anglican Church and partly reclaimed by nature, the City turned the ruins into a public park in 1967, and since it then has been providing an ethereal refuge for visitors right in the city centre. Usually frequented by the banker types who work in the area, these days you'll have St. Dunstan mostly to yourself, so make it a stop on a longer walk along the Thames and across London Bridge.

Image Source: Getty / Sam Mellish

2. Hampstead Heath's Edwardian Pergola Trail and Hill Garden (Camden)

Tucked inside Zone 2, less than four miles from the city centre, Londoners have been rambling the Heath and gasping at the hilltop views for over 200 years.

While there are multiple pathways and highlights, we suggest aiming for the exquisite Edwardian Pergola, found by starting your journey from Golder Hill Park in West Heath, one of the highest points in the area. Follow the aptly named Pergola trail to arrive at the little-known Pergola and Hill Garden, certain to be resplendent in late spring and summer. Be certain to round out your walk by taking in Sandy Heath, a unique landscape full of bogs and hollows.

Image Source: Getty / Sam Mellish

3. Abney Park Cemetery (Stoke Newington)

Built as one of the 19th century's "Magnificent Seven" garden cemeteries of London (yes, that's a thing), Abney Park stands apart as the only one originally laid out as an arboretum. So, if tombstone scanning isn't your thing, focus on the biodiverse woodland surrounding you, and keep your eye out for butterflies such as the Speckled Wood (the grounds form one of North London's largest breeding sites). Built on over 32 acres, you can certainly get your exercise in and while away a Victorian-inspired afternoon all within this single open space.

Image Source: Getty / Barry Lewis

4. Sydenham Hill Wood and Cox's Walk (Dulwich)

Perhaps the most remote-feeling of all our suggested rambles, the London Wildlife Trust's oldest nature reserve forms part of the largest remaining tract of the old Great North Wood, a natural oak woodland that dates back to the 13th century. Picking up the Cox's Path by crossing an ornamental footbridge over an old railway track will bring you past some breathtaking remnants of Victorian gardens and those aforementioned ancient oak trees. Take it slow and you may even spot a woodpecker or one of the other 200 species that call this reserve home.

Image Source: Flickr user Wajid Qureshi

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5. The Parkland Walk (Haringey)

This pathway has piqued the interest of intrepid London walkers for years due to its combination of multiple elements of a quality trek: hills with views, deep woodland, and graffitied ruins. Start right off with a cardio-pumping climb to the Rose Garden at Alexandra Palace, then head downward to pass through two ancient woodlands that feature cordoned-off tunnels replete with some hilariously incongruous street art, statues, and abandoned toys. The final bit brings you along a verdant stretch of long-disused railway tracks, eventually spilling out into Finsbury Park.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sophia Panych

6. Regent's Canal

We simply mustn't round out a warm weather write-up of places to amble in springtime London without mentioning a Canal walk. At 8.6 miles in length and counting 12 locks, this former best-kept secret is now more popular than ever with locals, but for good reason – it's the perfect waterside escape from the city streets. Wave hello to the folks quarantining in their narrow boats in Little Venice and be sure to stop periodically along the way to fuel on some home-brought snacks and drinks. If you prefer travelling via two wheels, this is also a perfect option for cyclists.

Image Source: Getty / Alex Segre

Walking London