Best London parks for autumn walks

It’s not just the usual assortment of gorgeous British trees like oaks and willows that makes Battersea Park such a special autumn destination – its variety of gardens (from subtropical to winter) make it one of the city’s more fascinating and underrated green spaces. The hybrid strawberry tree with its red bark is a standout, and by autumn’s end, it will be covered in a beautiful layer of fruit and white flowers.

Time Out tip: The Pear Tree Cafe in the middle of Battersea Park is a great place to spend a summer's evening. And, even when the weather is a little bit cooler, you can stop on by to grab a coffee.

Crunch your way through flame-coloured leaves around the palace, check out the cute crop of pumpkins in the walled gardens, and buy fruit and veg harvested from the grounds to take home and feast on once you’ve had enough fresh, autumnal air. How many more autumn vibes could you want?

Time Out tip: Fulham Palace runs 'palace explorers': sessions for kids between the ages of 2 and 5 where they'll plant seeds and discover the joys of the outside world. 

Greenwich Park was laid out by Henry VIII as a deer park for hunting – his fave leisure activity. These days, this gorgeous hillside royal park is a much more chill spot to spend some time. Some of its trees date back to 1600, while there are also avenues of 400-year-old Spanish sweet chestnuts that, come autumn, produce edible nuts for you to collect. If that’s not the taste of autumn, we don’t know what is.

Time Out tip: The park is famous for its collection of ancient trees. There's even one, the Queen Elizabeth Oak that dates back 750 years. 

Hampstead Heath is a romantic setting all year round, but add autumn hues and it reaches new levels. Spend the day wandering across its grassy sprawl, exploring its meadows and magical woodland areas, all tinged in ambers, golds and deep, majestic reds. 

Time Out tip: If you can brave the cold don't skip the famous swimming ponds. And look out for its famous fans, like Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter who regularly take a dip there.

Old Vicky P is usually home to countless ravers throughout the summer festival season, but calm is restored to the area as the days get shorter and the temperatures start to drop. The silver birches, planes, oaks and rare purple-leaved Norway maples are all East End autumnal delights to behold. 

Time Out tip: Stop off at one of the pubs near the park while you're there. Some of our favourites are People's Park Tavern, The Approach Tavern and Royal Inn on the Park.

This 350-acre Royal Park is an oasis of arboreal beauty nestled between the tourist crush of Oxford Street and the Henries and Tabithas of Kensington. With more than 4,000 trees, it is especially amazing in autumn: look out for the buttery yellows and firey oranges of the beeches, limes and chestnuts that line the avenues along the Serpentine. 

Time Out tip: Hyde Park has a rich programme of live events. BST takes place there every year, and if you can brave the crowds, at Christmas time Winter Wonerland takes over.

Head to Holland Park and you’ll find the Japanese-style Kyoto Gardens. A gift to London in 1991 from the chamber of commerce of Kyoto, the garden’s got a waterfall, bridge and a handful of koi carp. This time of year sees its edges fringed with orange leaves and plenty of people using it as a backdrop for their selfies.

Time Out tip: If you're hungry, stop at one of Holland Park's cafes for a lunchtime treat. We'd recommend The Holland Park Café, which has an extensive brunch menu - try the banana bread sandwich, it is award-winning.

Kew Gardens looks flippin’ lush in autumn, and with wild meadows, gardens bursting with pretty flora and treetop walkways to explore, you could stay there until the seasons change again. You can’t visit without making a stop at the Victorian Palm House or the newly restored Temperate House to marvel at their tropical plants.

Time Out tip: The Christmas lights display at Kew Gardens are a great festive thing to do with all the family.

Slap-bang in the middle of London, St James’s Park always serves up some top fiery foliage and, according to Instagram, some very cute squirrels scampering about within it. Swing by the central lake, where you’ll find wildfowl, including pelicans, hanging out, and hop on to the bridge for excellent views of Buckingham Palace. Who knows, you might even catch a (very distant) glimpse of the Royals going about their day. 

Time Out tip: Arrive at the lake between 2:30pm and 3:00pm to see the park's pelicans being fed!

Set in a disused nineteenth-century cemetery, this is the only woodland in Tower Hamlets and its 33 acres are home to a wide variety of wild plants and animals. Autumn often sees pumpkin-carving, bat walks and family-friendly storytelling events taking place in the turning greenery.