A hidden gem. It is a small park (super quiet and tranquil) with benches, trees, flowers and a koi…read morepond. The main feature of the park is a memorial wall with decorative tiles which record the heroic deeds of ordinary Londoners who lost their lives to save others. A great place to eat lunch, take a nap or read a book. Shhhhhhhhhhh.

Not a huge park. Not a noticeable park. Blink and you might miss it in passing. Not a lot is…read moreseating in park. But what stands this 'park' apart is the historic plaques and history behind it. That it shows plaques depicting how brave people gave up their lives and died for others is astounding. Humbling. Heart warming. The stories behind it are more than just the words you see, and though we don't know full story the words you read will make you think that in a world that seems bad there was once and to any still is People out there willing to come to your aid.

Yes, I'm reviewing yet another square well there are a lot of them around, and I've recently been…read moreexploring them, often with dogs. I had to include this one, as in many ways it's an archetypal garden square, and also beautifully kept. It's down a back street between Upper Street and Liverpool Street, so free from through traffic. Surrounded by grand (Georgian?) houses. The gardens at the centre have iron railings and hedging. Inside they include a strange, but quite pretty building I did theorise was probably a gardener's shed (there's usually one) but apparently it's a ventilation shaft for the Victoria Line. There are also some superb gardens with a variety of paths, borders and little lawns. When giving 5 stars one of the criterion I usually use is that a reasonable number of average people would want to travel to see it. I'm not sure that any square would fulfil that (though promoters of Trafalgar Square might argue, really, would anyone book a coach trip JUST to see Trafalgar Square?). However in this case I decided that this one, because it's both an archetype and very well kept, deserved that mark of distinction compared to other squares. I wouldn't recommend anyone to travel to see it, but, should you be interested in Islington's squares, this one is a good one to include on your list. If you'd like to live there you'd need to be just slightly rich Read the Islington Gazzette story on the Millionaire Square (http://tinyurl.co.uk/1xq5) . Apparently the houses are worth 7 times the produce of an entire country.

Nice little park well situated close to upper street and the n1 centre. Perfect to sit in and relax…read moreon a sunny day after shopping. Well looked after flower beds and treees make this a perfect picnic spot. Beware it does close quite early so don't leave it too late.

Living in New Eltham we are blessed to have this lovely expansive park right on our doorstep. The…read morepark is a great place for walking the dog, for kids to play footie or just to wander through some of the ancient trees. There's a great cafe which is very cheap and does some great hot snacks and just outside the little kids are playing on the swings etc so great for families. It's a well kept park and right next to the university of Greenwich campus so you often see students laying out on the grass in the summer taking life in while they study.

A very large park which houses the famous winter gardens which are hothouses containing exoctic…read moreplants from around the world. These are maintained by the University of Grennwich next door. Adjacent to these is a walled rose garden ideal for relaxing on a summers day. In the center of the park is a childrens playground with a small cafe which serves excellent home cooked meals. The park houses several sports pitches which can be hired from the local council. The Green chain walk runs through the park

Queen's Gardens is a very pleasant green oasis adjacent to the Town Hall in Croydon, and just a few…read moreminutes' walk from the busy shopping centre. It is popular with office workers, and for wedding photographs for those undertaking Civil Ceremonies in the Town Hall, but not that well known to many of the visiting shoppers, who never stray this far. It is a mix of lawns, formal borders and a more informal sunken garden, complete with palms. It has an interesting history: the 'sunken' gardens to the north of the site were formed from the railway cutting which led to the former Croydon Central railway station. During the early days of the railways, the two current stations, West Croydon and East Croydon were built by the London and Croydon Railway (1839) and the London and Brighton Railway (1841) respectively, but the townspeople felt neither station was conveniently sited for the town centre. This pressure led to the authorisation in 1864 of a short branch line from East Croydon station to a new station on the site of the present Town Hall, which duly opened as Croydon Central station in 1868. It was a spacious two-platform terminus, handsomely provided with an Italianate station building in brick. Alas, with a meagre service of just 12 trains a day, passengers found it easier to use the other two stations, and the service ceased in 1871. After pressure from the Council, a service was reinstated in 1886, (this time as 'Central Croydon') but this too lasted only until 1890, when the station closed for good. But one advantage of the legacy was that it provided a large, consolidated site for redevelopment. The Council used this opportunity to build the original Town Hall, Courts, a Police Station and Public Library. The sunken garden was constructed in the cutting and opened in 1896. In 1968, the lawns facing Taberner House were laid out, which at that time remained separated from the sunken gardens by Mint Walk and the Victorian Police Station. The Police Station was demolished in 1980, and the two sections of garden joined together as we see them now. They were opened by the Queen on 21st June 1983.

I was so pleased to discover this small area with urban gardens right in the heart of Croydon…read more Opened by the Queen in 1983 it has blossomed ever since. At one of the weddings I attended, we came down here for photo shoots. With the vast array of beautiful flowers amidst a beautiul fountain, this garden truly represents what tranquility and serenity one can find in the open. As I sat on the bench, I imagined myself coming down there again, to bask in the lovely sunshine and soak in the pleasant scents of the colourful flowers overlooking me. It even gets more attractive because there are a bit more private areas the next level below, like (its like a one storey plan) and you can enjoy a lovely novel in the more shaded areas or for those serenaders, its a nice place too. You cannot miss it. It's just right across the Registry.

Opposite West Dulwich station, Belair Park is a small gem. It's a popular place for local dog…read morewalkers (dogs are allowed off the leash in most of the park) and there's plenty of parking (although it gets crowded for half an hour in the morning and afternoon with parents doing the school run for DCPS Nursery on Gallery Road). There's a smallish (dog-free) childrens' playground with a large climbing frame in the shape of a ship, and there are communal tennis courts for the summer (first come, first served: no booking). The park surrounds a somewhat disappointing duck pond (avoid the rats) but in its eastern edge lies Belair House, a beautiful Grade II listed building, built in 1785 and designed by architect Robert Adam. Belair House is now home to a snazzy restaurant and bar.

What's tiny and frequently filthy but still regarded as a Shoreditch treasure? Hoxton Square. One…read moreof the only green, um, expanses available to local residents and the epicentre of Hoxton nightlife with The Hoxton Square Bar and Grill amongst others on its fringes, a visit to Hoxton Square is imperative if you find yourself within the Shoreditch Triangle. A veritable microcosm of East London, despite its compact size Hoxton Square has it all: great Thai food in the form of Yelo, hip coffee shops such as Macondo's, pioneering galleries like Jay Jopling's White Cube and darling boutiques like Lara Bohinc's eponymous shop. OK, it's not the best kept London park and it's probably sage to look out for syringes and the like if you're dog walking, but Hoxton Square is as good a place as any to enjoy a takeaway coffee during the summer or picnic with friends.

Years and years and years ago, when I first moved to London, I lived on New North Road. The little…read morebit with the church on it, not the big bit. My postcode was N1 6JB. I lived spitting distance from this square and I have seen it change. It once was a scary space with benches that were home to people without real beds and drug dealers, then Hoxton became cool and in came the artists and musicians that would buy cans from the off-licence and drink in the square because it was cheaper that hitting the swanky Bluu Bar. Now it's full of the spill out from bars that have seen better days, it's not as grotty and not as indie. But it's a good summer spot to sit with friends and a great meeting point.

I love Islington Green! It's not a big space but is an almost perfect one. If it was a wee bit…read morelarger it would be perfect. What I love about the space is that it has art work in the middle and is surrounded by the hustle and bustle of Upper Street. So you are part of the city but not of the city as you take a few moments to rest and find solace in this green space, lying under the trees. I enjoy this space for several reasons, one are the benches and for the people watching it offers. Benches are scattered throughout the green which allows people to enjoy the space when it's hot and dry or cold and wet. Since the autumn has arrived I find myself sitting in the park sipping coffee watching the world roll by almost once a week. I don't think I would do that if I had to sit on the grass. I do love pulling out a blanket and sitting in the grass on hot days and in that practice I am not alone. Sitting in the green I can watch people go about their days and imagine what their lives are like, a pass time I enjoy. Islington Green is a little bit of the country in the busy city and I appreciate the city designers for giving us that.

Islington Green is a small but perfectly formed little park smack bang in the middle of Islington…read moreat the meeting point between Essex Road and Upper Street. The perfect place to sit and read or picnic with friends during the summer, Islington Green regularly hosts various food festivals in the warmer months and is conveniently located should you want to take food or coffee away from any number of local restaurants/cafe's and have your grub al fresco!

Pretty little garden!!…read more My last trip to London was 2020! A few months ago: right before the pandemic hit. I stayed across the river bank and this was my view. I got to walk this place along with the tower bridge for morning and evenings. February was still cold and rainy in London so the park was pretty empty. The views are great. And you can see a lot of pretty sights from here. What's not to like,

A Bit of Quiet It is…read moreunlikely this park will appear on many Top 50 Things to Do in London lists, but that's a big part of what makes it so appealing. It is a quiet oasis in an otherwise noisy and crowded center of one of the largest cities in the world. If you want a break or you want to see lesser-known views, this park is well worth a visit. What's more is the walk from Elizabeth Tower - where you're going to be anyway - is less than five minutes.