London

==Recreation==
===Parks and open spaces===
{{main|Parks and open spaces in London|Royal Parks of London}}
{{see also|List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater London|List of local nature reserves in Greater London}}

[[File:Hyde Park London from the air.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] (with [[Kensington Gardens]] in the foreground) has been a popular public space since it opened in 1637.]]
A 2013 report by the [[City of London Corporation]] said that London is the "greenest city" in Europe with 35,000 acres (14,164 hectares) of public parks, woodlands and gardens.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGlone |first=Conor |date=9 July 2013 |title=London 'greenest city' in Europe |url=https://www.edie.net/news/6/London--greenest-city--in-Europe-/ |access-date=27 March 2021 |website=edie.net |language=en}}</ref> The largest parks in the [[Central London|central area of London]] are three of the eight [[Royal Parks of London|Royal Parks]], namely [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] and its neighbour [[Kensington Gardens]] in the west, and [[Regent's Park]] to the north.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/ |title=Kensington Gardens |year=2008 |publisher=The Royal Parks |access-date=26 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527231143/http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/ |archive-date=27 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hyde Park in particular is popular for [[#Sport|sports]] and sometimes hosts open-air concerts. Regent's Park contains [[London Zoo]], the world's oldest scientific zoo, and is near [[Madame Tussauds]] wax museum.<ref name=Tussauds>{{Cite web |title=Madame Tussauds, London |url=http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/madame-tussauds.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427094710/http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/madame-tussauds.htm |archive-date=27 April 2011 |access-date=26 March 2021 |publisher=Madame Tussauds}}</ref> [[Primrose Hill]] is a popular spot from which to view the city skyline.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mills |first=David |title=Dictionary of London Place Names |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=9780192801067 |oclc=45406491}}</ref>

Close to Hyde Park are smaller Royal Parks, [[Green Park]] and [[St. James's Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |year=2008 |title=Green Park |url=http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/green_park/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904010152/http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/green_park/about.cfm|archive-date=4 September 2009 |access-date=26 March 2021 |publisher=The Royal Parks}}</ref> A number of large parks lie outside the city centre, including [[Hampstead Heath]] and the remaining Royal Parks of [[Greenwich Park]] to the southeast, and [[Bushy Park]] and [[Richmond Park]] (the largest) to the southwest. [[Hampton Court Park]] is also a royal park, but, because it contains a palace, it is administered by the [[Historic Royal Palaces]], unlike the eight [[Royal Parks of London|Royal Parks]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/services/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/park_details.htm?parkId=268 |title=Park details – Hampton Court |publisher=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |access-date=26 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826172424/http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/services/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/park_details.htm?parkId=268 |archive-date=26 August 2015}}</ref>

Close to Richmond Park is [[Kew Gardens]], which has the world's largest collection of living plants. In 2003, the gardens were put on the [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|UNESCO]] list of [[List of World Heritage Sites of the United Kingdom|World Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kew.org/ksheets/pdfs/k16kewhistory.pdf |title=Kew, History & Heritage |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=24 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829192523/http://www.kew.org/ksheets/pdfs/k16kewhistory.pdf |archive-date=29 August 2008}}</ref> There are also parks administered by London's borough Councils, including [[Victoria Park, London|Victoria Park]] in the [[East End]] and [[Battersea Park]] in the centre. Some more informal, semi-natural open spaces also exist, including [[Hampstead Heath]] and [[Epping Forest]],<ref name=Epping>{{Cite web |url=http://217.154.230.195/NR/rdonlyres/A3CB6563-4D0D-4C35-AC7F-818C28306E79/0/OS_EF_Dogs.pdf |title=Epping Forest You & Your Dog |website=brochure |publisher=City of London |access-date=13 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704191340/http://217.154.230.195/NR/rdonlyres/A3CB6563-4D0D-4C35-AC7F-818C28306E79/0/OS_EF_Dogs.pdf |archive-date=4 July 2011}}</ref> both controlled by the [[City of London Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ramblers |url=http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/parks/name/c/corporationoflondon.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029232404/http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/parks/name/c/corporationoflondon.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2008 |title=Corporation of London Open Spaces |publisher=Ramblers |access-date=12 December 2011}}</ref> Hampstead Heath incorporates [[Kenwood House]], a former [[stately home]] and a popular location in the summer months when classical musical concerts are held by the lake.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100200800k00800f |title=Kenwood House |publisher=English Heritage |access-date=26 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305202033/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100200800k00800f |archive-date=5 March 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Epping Forest is a popular venue for various outdoor activities, including mountain biking, walking, horse riding, golf, angling, and orienteering.<ref name=Epping/> Three of the UK's most-visited theme parks, [[Thorpe Park]] near Staines-upon-Thames, [[Chessington World of Adventures]] in Chessington and [[Legoland Windsor Resort|Legoland Windsor]], are located within {{convert|20|mi}} of London.<ref>{{cite news |title=The best theme parks near London |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/best-theme-parks-in-and-around-london |access-date=5 January 2024 |work=Time Out}}</ref>

===Walking===
[[File:Horse Ride, Wimbledon Common - geograph.org.uk - 692221.jpg|thumb|The Horse Ride is a [[tree tunnel]] (route overhung by trees) on the western side of [[Wimbledon Common]].]]
[[Walking in London|Walking is a popular recreational activity in London]]. Areas that provide for walks include [[Wimbledon Common]], [[Epping Forest]], [[Hampton Court Park]], [[Hampstead Heath]], the eight [[Royal Parks]], canals and disused railway tracks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://www.innerlondonramblers.org.uk/ideasforwalks.html |title=Inner London Ramblers – Walk Ideas |first=Phil |last=Marson |website=innerlondonramblers.org.uk}}</ref> Access to canals and rivers has improved recently, including the creation of the [[Thames Path]], some {{convert|28|mi|km}} of which is within [[Greater London]], and The [[Wandle Trail]] along the [[River Wandle]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/wandle-trail |title=Wandle Trail – Map |website=Sustrans}}</ref>

Other [[long-distance path]]s, linking green spaces, have also been created, including the [[Capital Ring]], the [[Green Chain Walk]], [[London Outer Orbital Path]] ("Loop"), [[Jubilee Walkway]], [[Lea Valley Walk]], and the [[Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk]].<ref name=":0" />