Guest post by Dakota Murphey
The UK boasts many beautiful parks, each with its own character, unique features, and scenic appeal. From sprawling city views to serene lakes or historical landmarks, these inviting green spaces offer a welcome retreat for locals and visitors alike.
While all of the UK’s parks are too numerous to mention individually, their value, healthy attraction, and importance collectively are clear. They are natural wonders that are free to enjoy, appreciate, and celebrate by travellers from around the world. Perhaps by a first-timer on a trip to Scotland, someone visiting London’s renowned sights, or a visitor looking for a hidden gem in England.
Whether you’re exploring hills, valleys, coastlines, and countryside trails on your travels, this article explores some of the UK’s most popular parks and green spaces and their wondrous attributes.
The UK has 15 designated National Parks, including the stunning Lake District, Exmoor, and the Brecon Beacons and 46 areas that are officially described as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Scotland, likewise, has 40 National Scenic Areas (NSAs) that between them, cover more than 34,000 km2 of Great Britain. National Parks were formally established to protect these stunning landscapes now and for future generations to enjoy.
The diversity of parks can be experienced by anyone visiting any one of England’s 10 National Parks, which include:
Many have their own unique character, with the South Downs having the largest number of residents living there and the Lake District, as its name suggests, is made up of 16 listed bodies of water. In the northwest of England, the Lake District was granted UNESCO World Heritage status due to its majesty, beauty, and scale.
Thanks to its sheer beauty, this entire area is perfect for outdoor swimmers, hikers looking for undiscovered walks, and visitors keen to enjoy a leisurely boat trip. There are great pubs with sheltered pergolas in beer gardens with pretty lakeside views, and multiple spots to camp out under the stars following a day of exploring.
Fortunately, when it comes to finding a peaceful retreat for a picnic or relaxing after a busy day exploring London’s amazing neighbourhoods, famous sights, attractions, and shops, there are plenty of parks and attractive green spaces. The most well-known are grouped into eight Royal Parks which are iconic and have their own unique and appealing qualities.
St James Park is the oldest and lies at the heart of ceremonial London and Green Park has fantastic lawns where visitors can enjoy deck chairs in the summer. Kensington Gardens, once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, welcomes visitors to explore its regal surroundings and enjoy life from a Royal perspective. The park’s ornamental flower beds and serene water features make it one of London’s most picturesque spaces with historical significance added by the Diana Memorial Fountain.
To combine parks with great nearby attractions, Greenwich Park is close to the Royal Observatory for anyone wishing to learn more about astronomy, time zones, and the UK’s illustrious seafaring past and Regent’s Park affords easy access to London Zoo. On the other hand, Hyde Park is known for being an entertainment zone with most London parks having an epic variety of cafes, artistic features, children’s playgrounds, activity zones, outdoor gyms, sports facilities, and incredible views stretching across the capital.
Scotland is as famous for its natural beauty, sandy beaches, lochs, and rugged landscapes, as its bagpipes, haggis, and kilts. In fact, with its bright colours, tartan has become synonymous with Scotland, alongside its passion for golf and the popular tipple, whisky. When it comes to Scottish greens (and not its 560 registered golf courses) its National Parks are, not surprisingly, the UK’s largest. Indeed, The Cairngorms in Scotland spans an area covering approximately 4,530km2.
Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, boasts its own royal park adjacent to Holyrood Palace. Holyrood Park offers dramatic landscapes right in the heart of the city. The park’s most prominent feature is Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano. Every August, Edinburgh comes alive with the Fringe Festival, and the Meadows, a large park south of the city, becomes a hub of festival activity. Its wide-open spaces host numerous performances, food stalls, and pop-up venues, embodying the vibrant spirit of the Fringe.
For visitors to Wales, there are three attractive, designated National Parks, including Snowdonia, the Pembrokeshire Coast, and – possibly the most famous – the Brecon Beacons. These areas are recognised for their national significance and are admired the world over for their unique landscape, historical significance, and cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, Bute Park is the Welsh capital Cardiff’s greenest offering. Located in the centre, and stretching along the River Taff, this expansive park was once the grounds for Cardiff Castle. Today, Bute Park offers visitors a diverse range of amenities, including arboretums showcasing a variety of tree species, meticulously maintained floral gardens and dedicated wildlife conservation areas. The park’s tree-lined paths and historic features make it a firm favourite for locals, dog walkers, and tourists alike.
The UK is famous for its theme parks with 500 amusement parks in operation and Blackpool Pleasure Beach being one of the most well-known. Legoland Windsor is another great theme park, while Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight was founded in 1843, making it the world’s third-oldest amusement park. The diversity and variety of parks are a testament to their importance as natural green spaces and recreational entertainment zones.
The UK capitalises on its green spaces and parks both locally and internationally. Any money generated is used to reinvest in the area and encourage communities or visitors from across the world to benefit and contribute. These benefits range from recreational use, or promoting people’s collective health and well-being, and the wider benefits of multiple rewilding projects and conservation.
Venturing outside major cities, the UK offers a wealth of historic gardens that tell stories of the nation’s past. Prior Park Landscape Garden in Bath, managed by the National Trust, is a prime example. This 18th-century garden showcases the genius of poet Alexander Pope and landscape architect Capability Brown. Likewise, the Cotswolds is a charming medley of country villages, green rolling countryside, colourful gardens and some castles you can actually stay in.
In every sense, the UK’s parks and gardens showcase a diverse natural beauty on a grand scale. Northumberland is often voted the most popular National Park and the Peak District National Park, Britain’s first national park, is an unparalleled point in central England. Known for its stunning vistas, from rolling hills to dramatic rock formations, the Peak District provides endless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.
Whether you’ve been exploring a bustling city or are already in the heart of the countryside, parks are beautiful and healthy retreats where you can admire the natural beauty of the UK or visit some of the local attractions close by. Hopefully, this selection of famous parks has piqued your interest to explore many more areas across the UK. Whenever you’re planning to visit and stay in the UK, each park provides an idyllic and pretty space to relax en route to your next adventure!
Which of the UK’s most popular parks and green spaces will you explore next? Find a pleasant place to rest your head after a day exploring with our homes and cottages in the UK and browse the whole portfolio of gorgeous homes around the world on Oliver’s Travels. Contact our friendly concierge team for any advice and help booking a myriad of extra experiences!
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