If you are planning a trip to London with children, you will surely be pleased to know that in the city they will have many opportunities for outdoor fun. The playgrounds of London, in fact, are really beautiful, with corners created to make the little ones happy. Don’t expect simple slides and swings, but wooden parade ships, sandboxes, suspension bridges and much more.
Those traveling with children know well that, during the day, it is essential to dedicate a few hours exclusively to them and in London there is no shortage of opportunities. The parks of the English capital are, in fact, perfect for those traveling with the family and need to take a break between one tourist attraction and another.
Having lived in London for 7 years with two small children I have had the opportunity to explore every corner of it and walk around all its beautiful parks. Therefore, I thought of writing this guide to the London Playgrounds, to be of help to those planning a family trip to the English capital.
I’ll tell you about the playgrounds to visit in London and their characteristics, I’ll tell you which are my favorites and I’ll explain how to reach them.
Qhat you will find in this post:
- Holland Park playground
- Diana Memorial Playground e Hyde Park playground
- Battersea Park playground
- Children’s Garden, Kew Gardens
- St.James Park playground
- Horseferry playground
- Primrose Hill playground
- Gloucester Gate playground, Marylebone Green playground e Hanover Gate Children’s playground, Regent’s Park
- Coram’s Field
- Tumbling Bay playground
- Lollard Street Adventure playground
- Greenwich Park playground
Indice dei contenuti
London’s Playground map
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Holland Park Playground
I thought I’d start this guide to London’s playgrounds by talking about my absolute favorite, the Holland Park Playground.
Located in Kensington, in one of the most exclusive districts of the English capital, Holland Park Playground can certainly be defined as one of the most beautiful playgrounds in London, with its imposing wooden structures, perfectly blending into the surrounding environment.
Forget the parks found in Italy. Here, children can experience fun adventures between walkways, ropes, high slides and towers to conquer. You will then find climbing frames, swings, swings and an area with sand.
All games are challenging and designed to be enjoyed by children of all abilities.
If you’re now thinking that this park doesn’t suit the needs of younger children, don’t worry. Also in Holland Park, not far from the Adventure Playground, you will also find a playground with more traditional equipment, such as swings, slides and easy climbing structures.
Holland Park has a lot to offer adults too. Not to be missed are, in particular, the famous Kyoto Gardens, peaceful Japanese-style gardens.
How to get to theHolland Park Playground
The park can be easily reached by bus or metro, getting off at the homonymous stop.
Diana Memorial Playground and Hyde Park Playground
Hyde Park and adjoining Kensington Gardens extend over a large area of the city centre.
One of the most beautiful playgrounds in London, the Diana Memorial Playground, inspired by the adventures of Peter Pan, is located right inside Kensington Gardens.
Its strong point is the large wooden pirate ship, inspired by that of Captain Hook. Here children can climb and play in complete safety.
The ship is surrounded by an expanse of sand and all around there are other games, slides, tents and an area dedicated to music.
The entrance to this playground is not allowed to adults without children and inside there are also toilets suitable for children.
If your children aren’t tired yet, after walking around Hyde Park, you could reach the Hyde Park Playground, another nice play area, equipped with climbing frames, swings and a slide.
How to get to the Diana Memorial Playground
The closest tube station to Diana Memorial Playground is “Queensway” (Central Line).
If, on the other hand, you prefer to stroll through Hyde Park first and reach the Hyde Park Playground, get off at Hyde Park Corner or Knightsbridge (Piccadilly Line).
Battersea Park Playground
Battersea Park covers 50 hectares on the south bank of the Thames. The park is home to the Battersea Park Children’s Zoo, a stop that you could include in the itinerary of your trip to London with children, and another one of the most beautiful playgrounds in London, the Battersea Park Playground, with four distinct play areas aimed at different age groups.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- The Adventure Playground: Aimed at children aged 8-14, with tall slides and climbing frames;
- The Young Kids Play Area (4 – 7 years): in this play area there are climbing frames and simpler slides;
- The Toddler Play Area: characterized by a colorful wooden train, this play area is also suitable for the little ones. Here, there are also traditional play equipment, such as swings and slides;
- Go-Ape Treetop Adventure: A paid adventure park.
How to get to the Battersea Park Playground
You can reach the park by tube, getting off at the Battersea Park stop.
Children’s Garden, Kew Gardens
Among the most beautiful playgrounds in London, the Kew Gardens playground must certainly be mentioned, considered the largest botanical garden in Europe.
This playground is suitable for children between the ages of 2 and 12 and includes four different areas: Earth Garden, Air Garden, Sun Garden and Water Garden.
Here, children will find bamboo tunnels, wooden structures, trampolines, slides, sand and fun water games.
If you want to know more, you can read my article dedicated to Kew Gardens.
You can access to the playground with the Kew gardens ticket .
How to get to the Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens can be easily reached by tube, getting off at the Kew Gardens tube station..
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St.James’s Park Playground
Another of the London Playgrounds that is really well structured is the St. James’ Park Playground. Its convenient location makes it the ideal playground for a break if you and your family are headed to Buckingham Palace.
This is a park particularly suitable for small children or up to 7-8 years.
Here, children can enjoy themselves in a beautiful play area with stones, bridges, walkways, slides and ropes to climb on.
The park is fenced, which makes it possible for children to run around freely.
How to get to St.James Park Playground
St.James Park can be easily reached by tube. You can get off at St James’s Park or Charing Cross Station.
Horseferry Playground
Hidden behind Westminster Abbey, in the Victoria Tower Gardens, and located within walking distance of London’s most famous attractions, the Horseferry Playground is also perfect for those who want to give the children a break between one visit and another.
Inside, you’ll find a sandbox, swings, a large slide and a water feature installation designed to represent the River Thames.
How to get to the Horseferry Playground
The Horseferry Playground is part of the Victoria Tower Gardens and can be reached with a walk of about 10 minutes from Westminster tube station.
Primrose Hill Playground
Another beautiful playground in London is the one found at the foot of Primrose Hill, a gentle hill located north of the city and easily accessible from the centre.
The recently improved playground has a sandpit, traditional games, and climbing nets.
How to get to the Primrose Hill Playground
Primrose Hill is easily accessible from Chalk Farm Underground Station (Northern Line). The park is located just at the foot of Primrose Hill.
Gloucester Gate playground, Marylebone Green playground e Hanover Gate Children’s playground, Regent’s Park
A must if you are traveling with children, Regent’s Park is considered one of the most beautiful parks in London and hosts, in addition to the London Zoo, more than one playground.
Inside, you will come across the Gloucester Gate Playground, the Marylebone Green Playground and the Hanover Gate Children’s Playground.
Glouchester Gate Playground
Glouchester Gate Playground is an accessible, modern space made from natural materials.
Here, in addition to swings, slides and a sandbox, children can play with a 50-metre zip line, climbing equipment and water games.
Marylebone Green Playground
In the southern part of Regent’s Park, there is the Marylebone Green Playground, a fun play area with climbing frames, swings and sandboxes divided into three themed zones.
- The Traditional Zone: with swings and climbing frame;
- The Art Zone: inspired by the annual “Frieze” art exhibition;
- The Natural Zone: with stilt houses, rocks and trees to climb.
Hanover Gate Children’s Playground
The Hanover Gate Children’s Playground is also a traditional playground, also suitable for younger children, with slides, swings, structures and ropes for climbing.
How to get to the Regent’s Park
Regent’s Park can be reached by tube. You can get off at Baker Street, Regent’s Park or Warren Street.
Coram’s Field
You cannot write an article about London’s playgrounds without mentioning Coram’s Fields, a park that no adult can enter without a child.
In this playground, located in the heart of London, children can have fun with games suitable for all ages. There is an adventure play area, including a zip line, swings and high slides; a sensory and musical area; an accessible play area; two large sandboxes and an aquatic area open in the spring and summer months.
How to get to Coram’s Field
Coram’s Field can be reached by subway. The nearest stops are Kings Cross, Charcery Lane and Russel Square.
Tumbling Bay Playground
The Tumbling Bay Playground, located inside the Queen Elisabeth Olympic Park, is another beautiful playground in London.
In the park, children have sand pools, tree houses, rickety bridges, rocks and lots of space to run around in total freedom and safety.
How to get to the Tumbling Bay Playground
The park can be reached by underground, getting off at Hackney Wick Overground Station.
Lollard Street Adventure Playground
Another particular playground in London is the Lollard Street Adventure Playground. It is a play area for all children between the ages of 6 and 16, which combines indoor and outdoor spaces.
Here, among other things, children will find wooden games, swings, walkways, bridges, a 20-metre tower, nets and slides.
To access the park it is necessary to register the children by filling in a form. To find out more, you can take a look here.
How to get to the Lollard Street Adventure Playground
The park can be reached by underground, getting off at Kennington or Vauxall and then walking for about ten minutes.
Greenwich Park playground
If you spend a day in Greenwich, you will surely spend a few hours visiting Greenwich Park. Here, your children can play in the beautiful playground.
It is a modern and inclusive play area with a maritime theme. Here, you will find swings, slides of different heights, a walker, wooden houses, a sandpit and water games.
If you don’t know what else to see in Greenwich, you can find a one-day itinerary here.
How to get to the Greenwich Park playgrounnd
Greenwich can be easily reached by the underground line known as DLR (Docklands Light Railway), Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich stop. The park is located in the northeast corner of Greenwich Park.
Check out my post about the Cutty Sark here.
I hope you enjoyed this article! Now you know where to take your children for a break between visits.
If you don’t know where to start, I can help you organize the London travel itinerary for you and your family. Take a look at the tailor-made London service.
Let me know in the comments if you liked the article.
Francesca
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