Watch some stunning shots of the Royal Parks as spring and summer unfold, and hear park visitors describe what they love about the parks. 2011 marks 160 years of public enjoyment of the Royal Parks – bringing a breath of fresh air to Londoners since 1851.

This year’s anniversary commemorates the 1851 Crown Lands Act, in which the Crown transferred management of the Royal Parks to the Commissioners of Works and Public Buildings, to create the public open spaces millions of people enjoy today.

The Royal Parks will be celebrating the anniversary with a range of events highlighting its work across heritage, horticulture, cultural activities, sports and leisure. For more information about The Royal Parks visit: www.royalparks.org.uk

Reference : Royal Parks London (PDF’s)

Playing sibling to St James’s Park, Green park is a more peaceful and aged park, with it’s mature evergreen trees and open grassland areas. Covering just over 45 acres, it is surrounded on it’s borders by Constitution Hill, Piccadilly Walk and Queen’s Walk.

Main attractions: Buckingham Palace, Canada memorial, Canada gate, Gun Salutes,

Children: A deck chair area is located to the South of the park and is available from March through to October each year during sunlight hours.

Food and drink: There are two refreshment points in the park offering cold snacks and drinks. One to the North of the park and one to the South, nearest Buckingham Palace.

Sports facilities: None.

Horticulture and wildlife: Green Park is well known for it magnificent display of over a quarter of a million Daffodils which bloom each Spring time

Transport: Two subway and one mainline station border the park along the North edge. There is no on-site car park, nor are there Blue Badge bays located on the surrounding roads. The main entrance is the Canada Gate entrance and the Piccadilly entrance, located by The Ritz hotel.

Reference : Green Park (PDF’s)

Acting as home to the Diana Fountain, located on the famous Chestnut Avenue, Bushy Park’s history is inextricably linked to Hampton Court Palace.

Main attractions: Woodland gardens, Diana Fountain, water gardens, the Phesantry Welcome Centre, Chestnut Avenue, deer.

Children: A pond for model boating is located in the middle of the park and the Hampton Swimming Pool, a thirty six meter open air and heated pool is to the far West of the park, complete with a learner pool, gym and fitness studio. It is open seven days a week. There are an additional two refreshment points also in the park, located to the North central and far East locations within the park area.

Food and drink: The Pheasantry Welcome Centre has a cafe with an outside eating area, an education and community room and an information point.

Sports facilities: Sports facilities includes those for football, cricket, hockey and rugby. There are also tennis courts and bowling green, all of which can be found in the North West of the park.

Horticulture and wildlife: Chestnut Avenue is the grand pathway leading up to Hampton Court, lined by Chestnut Trees, it was built in 1699 to form part of Sir Christopher Wren’s design for a grand entrance to the palace. Red and Fallow deer can be seen in the wooded area to the West of the park, just as they where during the times of Henry VIII.

Transport: The park is surrounded on all sides by tube and mainline stations. There are two on-site parking facilities, one off Chestnut Avenue and the other off Upper Lodge Road, just next to the Bushy Lodge. An additional three car parks are provided for use by disabled visitors.

Author Resourses:- This Author Recommends London’s Gardens and Parks Near London

Green Park

Playing sibling to St James’s Park, Green park is a more peaceful and aged park, with it’s mature evergreen trees and open grassland areas. Covering just over 45 acres, it is surrounded on it’s borders by Constitution Hill, Piccadilly Walk and Queen’s Walk.

Main attractions: Buckingham Palace, Canada memorial, Canada gate, Gun Salutes,

Children: A deck chair area is located to the South of the park and is available from March through to October each year during sunlight hours.

Food and drink: There are two refreshment points in the park offering cold snacks and drinks. One to the North of the park and one to the South, nearest Buckingham Palace.

Sports facilities: None.

Horticulture and wildlife: Green Park is well known for it magnificent display of over a quarter of a million Daffodils which bloom each Spring time

Transport: Two subway and one mainline station border the park along the North edge. There is no on-site car park, nor are there Blue Badge bays located on the surrounding roads. The main entrance is the Canada Gate entrance and the Piccadilly entrance, located by The Ritz hotel.

St James’s Park is located in the heart of London and is well re-known for it’s royal, literary and political associations. Harbouring a lake with geese, pelicans and ducks, it covers over 55 acres and is also home to the The Mall, the place of many national celebrations and events throughout the year.

Main attractions: The Horse Guards Parade, The Blue Bridge and Inn The Park.

Children: Kids can observe and help with the feeding of the geese, pelicans and ducks each day at the south east of the lake every day between 2:30 and 3pm. There is also a playground which has play equipment, and toilets for children. It is open all year, but children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Food and drink: Inn The Park is a licensed restaurant and also offers take away meals. The building has green roof and is made from sustainable timbers. There are also an additional three refreshment points located to the north and west of the lake.

Sports facilities: A deck chair area can be found to the South West of the lake offering great views right across the entire park.

Horticulture and wildlife: The memorial gardens, located in front of Buckingham Palace include a mind blowing 12000 Red Geraniums and are planted each year to match the colour of the guardsmen’s tunics. The Tropical Border is an area which contains plants from the warmer parts of the planet, bringing an exotic feel into London. To the North shore of the lake, the Nash Shrubberies display a mix of trees, shrubs and perennials, all of which are planted in the unique style of John Nash who first introduced them to the park in 1827.

Transport: There are no tube or mainline services running directly to the park, the nearest mainline station is Victoria. There is no car park for the venue, access is found by way of Admiralty Arch and Marlborough Gate.

Situated at the top of a hill, Greenwich Park is the oldest of the Royal Parks and is home to a small herd of Red and Fallow Deer.

Main attractions: It’s high location allows visitors a brilliant view across the River Thames right over to St. Paul’s cathedral. Located next to the National Maritime Museum, it is also host to the former Royal Observatory and the Prime Meridian Line. The park covers over 180 acres.

Children: During the summer, children can pick English apples from the Community Orchard which is maintained by both staff and the local residents. The Greenwich Observatory is directly upon the Meridian Line, it’s zero degree longitude dividing the world into the East and West hemispheres. The observatory, which was established in 1675 was Britain’s first purposely built scientific research facility. A playground is also available for younger souls, complete with play equipment, sand pits and a refreshment kiosk.

Food and drink: The Pavilion Tea House is a licensed restaurant which serves both hot and cold foods. There are gardens to walk around, and also toilets, baby changing facilities and high chairs for the younger visitors use. There are also an additional four refreshment points available for drinks and light snacks.

Sports facilities: A boating lake offers both rowing and pedal boats from Easter through to October on half hour and one hour hire periods. There are also six open to the public tennis courts which are open every day during the summer months and on weekends during the winter.

Horticulture and wildlife: The Wilderness Deer Park is home to Red and Fallow deer, and other forms of wildlife including foxes, bats and other birds and ancient tree varieties.

Transport: Just two subway stations border the park, Blackheath and Maze Hill are the nearest main line stations. Greenwich park does however have it’s own car park, which is open from 7am until the park closes.

Most known for it’s planted avenues of ornamental flowers and large, established trees, Kensington Gardens covers 275 acres and is populated by quiet Italian gardens.

Main attractions: Albert memorial, Peter Pan statue, Italian gardens, the Serpentine Gallery.

Children: The Diana Memorial playground is a free to enter, with a Peter Pan themed play area, complete with pirate ship and beach area. The bronze statue of Peter Pan was donated in 1912 by the author of Peter Pan, J M Barrie. The Round Pond has been used for hundreds of years by the young to sail their model boats and feed the water birds.

Food and drink: The Broadwalk Cafe has a large, year round outdoor seating area and offers a children’s menu of both hot and cold foods. There are an additional 3 refreshment points located to the north, south and central points of the park.

Sports facilities: The Serpentine Gallery is a contemporary art gallery upon which a pavilion is constructed each year by an acclaimed designer or architect. A bandstand is located to the West of the park and is used for band concerts on weekend afternoons.

Horticulture and wildlife: An ornamental water garden is located to the north of the park and has various fountains, statues and water features. To the south, amongst the ever-green trees and wildlife is the Albert memorial, a gold plated statue of Prince Albert, which is accompanied by large scale sculptures and a stone made canopy. Finally, to the West of the grounds is Kensington Palace, birthplace of Queen Victoria and former home to the late Princess Diana.

Transport: Sixteen subways and main railway stations are located around the parks borders. Disable visitors can make use of free electric buggies, each of which seat five people and make half hourly tours of the park. You may get on and off as you wish.

Renown for it’s rose gardens, Regent’s Park covers over 400 acres and has excellent sporting facilities. It’s position also offers great views of Primrose Hill.

Main attractions: The Hub, Queen Mary’s Gardens, an open air theatre, the Garden Cafe, the Boathouse Cafe, the Cow and Coffee Bean, Honest Sausage.

Children: The Hub is a open to the public sports centre with a full exercise studio, changing facilities and a 360 degree view cafe and open terrace. ZSL London Zoo, opened in 1828 was the world’s first ever scientific zoo and holds over 650 species of animal. There are also four playground areas, located at Gloucester Gate, Primrose Hill, Marylebone Green and Hanover Gate.

Food and drink: Food and refreshments are available at the The Hub sports centre, the boating lake, and the tennis centre. Additionally to this, the Boathouse cafe offers families a choice of pasta, pizza, other snacks, drinks and ice creams. More though for ice cream specialists, the Cow and Coffee Bean serves a wide variety of dairy items, including ice cream, milk shakes, cream cakes and a fair trade, organic tea and coffee services. On a similar note, the Honest Sausage Cafe specialises in offering free range, organic sausage and bacon sandwiches. There are another three refreshment points also located around the park.

Sports facilities: The Lawn Tennis Associated credited tennis club is open to the public and also has an on-site cafe open from 9am to 9pm. Boat hire is available on the lake, running from April to September each year, offering both rowing and pedal boats.

Horticulture and wildlife: A community wildlife garden into which there is incorporated artwork created by local schools and community groups.

Transport: Nineteen subway and mainline railway stations are positioned around the parks borders. Car owners should note that the park does not have it’s own parking facilities, although on street blue badge bays are located at various points inside the park.

As the largest of the Royal Parks, Richmond Park covers in excess of 2500 acres of woodland, hills, ponds and gardens and has 650 deer roaming free around it’s grounds.

Main attractions: The free roaming deer, Isabella Plantation, Pembroke Lodge and Gardens, King Henry’s Mound, Shire horses, two 18 hold golf courses.

Children: Bike hire is available from the north east Roehamption gate. Two playgrounds exist at the Kingston and Petersham entrance gates. Power kiting courses are also available with qualified instructors in three separate locations around the park.

Food and drink: Pembroke Lodge and Gardens is a licensed restaurant and cafe, surrounded by rose beds, ancient trees and evergreen magnolias.

Sports facilities: There are two eighteen hole golf courses which are open to the public, with an additional driving range and a well stocked pro shop.

Horticulture and wildlife: The deer are the main attraction in Richmond Park, with a population of 300 Red Deer and 350 Fallow Deer. The Isabella Plantation is a woodland garden with all year round plants, various streams and ponds. Two shire horses also work the park.

Transport: 13 tube and main railway station run along the parks border. There is also one on-site car park with toilet and baby changing facilities.

Located in Central London, Hyde Park is the most famous of all of London’s parks. Covering over 350 acres, and centrally split into two areas by the Serpentine river, the park offers visitors a wide range of attractions.

Main attractions: Princess Diana fountain, 7^th July memorial, Serpentine bar and kitchen, the Lido, Serpentine boat hire, Speakers’ corner, a tennis centre.

Children: There are three playgrounds, boat hire facilities, tennis courts and five food and drinks facilities located around the park.

Food and drink: The Serpentine Bar and Kitchen and the Lido Café both offer hot and cold meals, and an additional five refreshment points are also located around the park.

Sports facilities: Boat hire facilities run from Easter till October and offer both rowing and pedal boats. The tennis centre comprises of six courts with changing facilities, a café and a bowling green. Coaching classes are available. There are also five deckchair areas around the park giving views from the best areas to look out and over London from.

Horticulture and wildlife: The Meadow Wildlife centre covers four hectares of various wild flowers, birds and insects and various grasses, flora and fauna. The Rose Garden offers year round scents and colours from it’s roses, herbaceous plants and shrubs.

Transport: There are over 25 tube and mainline rail stations running around the north, east and south boundary lines of the park. Car users can use two on site car parks, the Serpentine Bridge car park and the Triangle car park, both of which offer full disabled access facilities.

London – An education

Trooping the colour Queens Birthday parade. {March out of Barracks}