Discover Greater London: Nature, Culture and History

Greater London offers reasons to travel that range from protected landscapes and botanical collections to museums and maritime history. The destinations described here reveal different sides of the region: from paths through green spaces to collections that focus on London's history and the world of navigation.

Parks, Gardens and Wildlife Watching

Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve and also London's largest Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Tamsin Trail runs around the park and is a little over seven miles long. It offers a dedicated route for a longer walk through the protected area. Hampstead Heath has three routes of different lengths, with attractions along the way. One of them, Parliament Hill and the Tumulus, is 2.5 kilometres long. Parliament Hill offers views across the city.

Kew Gardens also brings nature and interpretation together. The area known as the Natural Area includes 37 acres of classic woodland. At the Palm House, you can explore an indoor rainforest featuring tropical plants from some of the world's most threatened habitats. Kew interprets its living plant collections in terms of their scientific and cultural significance. The collection comprises more than 68,000 living collection accessions, covering over 27,000 taxa; collection figures may be updated. Paths and routes range from themed trails to family-friendly options. Some routes are seasonal, so the offering may change.

At the London Wetland Centre, wildlife watching goes hand in hand with accessible facilities. The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, in part because of nationally significant overwintering populations of Eurasian teal and northern shoveler. Visitors can also spot bitterns there. Visitor facilities include accessible paths and bird hides; mobility scooters and wheelchairs are available to hire. The Lee Valley Regional Park offers opportunities for wildlife watching. Various water sports are available through clubs and centres there.

History, Collections and Greenwich

The Royal Observatory Greenwich was founded in 1675 and is the home of Greenwich Mean Time. Talks and tours explore the history of time, space and navigation; the visitor programme may vary. At the observatory, you can stand on the historic Prime Meridian of the World. Check current access before your visit. Maritime Greenwich is in Greater London and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Greenwich Pier, you can reach Maritime Greenwich by boat in 27 minutes. Check journey times and services before travelling. The Discover Greenwich visitor centre presents the history, value and significance of Maritime Greenwich; check in advance whether a visit is possible.

As a social history museum, the London Museum tells the story of how London came into being. Its collections include archaeology, digital archives and the changing stories of London and its residents. Together, they represent 450,000 years of history and seven million objects from all 33 London boroughs. If you are particularly interested in paintings, Kenwood House displays significant collections of this kind.

Special Experiences and Different Interests

At the Tower of London, admission to the Crown Jewels is included in the ticket price; check current access before your visit. The Yeoman Warder tour is also included in the ticket price, subject to availability. In Hyde Park, boat trips on the Serpentine Lake are available to hire. The Rose Garden combines roses and herbaceous plantings with seasonal flower beds. The park also hosts the live event Winter Wonderland. If you are planning your trip around a particular live event, check the dates in advance.

For track cycling, Lee Valley VeloPark offers a dedicated destination. London is the world's first National Park City; at the same time, the interests featured here range from wildlife watching and garden design to museums, the history of time and activities on the water.

Discover more destinations: London, City of London, Hammersmith and Fulham, Barking and Dagenham, Camden, Bromley, Merton, Haringey, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Greenwich, Hillingdon, Bexley, Westminster, Kingston upon Thames, Kensington and Chelsea, Southwark, Waltham Forest, Barnet, Croydon, Richmond upon Thames, Havering, Brent, Ealing, Enfield, Hackney, Harrow, Hounslow, Islington, Lambeth, Newham, Sutton, Wandsworth, Redbridge, Longford.

For the broader travel overview: Great Britain.