went to the park last week with our children and saw the new slide area which is absolutely…read moreterrible. To be able to get up to the slide, you have to crawl through small holes which are very dangerous if you step backwards and forget that it's there.. I'm surprised it's been allowed. Also considering it's near Great Ormond Street Hospital, you would think it was more of an SEN friendly park. Such a shame.

I spent a beautiful Monday at this park with my 2 year old, and I can say -- it was a solid choice!…read more *Only adults with children are allowed in. Seems like a funny rule, but then you realize that if not for it -- this place would be overrun with booze and picnics. So, thanks park people! *It's a privately run park. It's a large expansive square that is entirely closed on each side (comforting for those with toddlers that like to escape). There are multiple play areas for different ages that are fun and have quite a bit to do. My son found his way to the one water portion of the park and sat in it for approximately 3 hours. It was a bit unkept unfortunately, but I blame that more on annoying parents that think leaving their busted pails and spades and water bottles is "helpful." It's not helpful, pick up your shit. The water was kind of gross as it was standing for quite a long time, so while I wasn't thrilled with it for the gross factor, he loved it and they splashed around for hours in the sand and water, so -- there you have it. There's a small cafe within as well -- best for ice cream. I went for a bottle of water and they were "out of water today." I've probably never heard this before. Weird. So, ice cream it is. Overall it could use a bit of a facelift but its a great green space in the city to take the kids!

Woah! This park has it all! Also known as St Mark's Park…read more(after the street on which is located) Kensington memorial is brilliant and the perfect place for kids and adult to go crazy. This park has been recently refurbished and I am very happy because its like 10 mins away from mine. It is wheelchair accessible, has a adventure playground with colourful apparatus+ sand box, a larger play area for older children with space rockets climbing frames etc and a large water park that is an absolute blessing on these hot, hot day! And the best part?! It is all free!! There is also a small shop(open during the summer months) that sells hot/cold snacks and chairs and tables you can eat at. Lots of toilets, grass, shade etc. It also includes tennis courts, football, junior cricket classes and One O'clock club which is managed by Family and Children's Services. The park was opened in 1926 in memoriam to those who fell in the Great War.

Beautiful playground in London. We came on a weekend on Father's day, so it was a madhouse. I would…read morelove to come check this playground out again when it's not on a holiday weekend. My kids loved the sandpit, mini wooden houses, and pirate ship. Would recommend!

Staying near this playground was the best decision we made in our trip to London! Our 5 year old…read moreloved it and wanted to go every day. He loved the pirate ship, and the many nooks to hide and explore. We loved that the gate is attended and kids can't leave without a parent, so we were very comfortable letting our kid go wherever he wanted out of eyeshot within the playground. There are clean bathrooms and a snack bar. If you have a kid in the 3-8 range this is the best place to bring them in Kensington Gardens.

Although the place is really cool, 2 weeks ago we went there again for some well deserved fun in…read morethe sun. Unfortunately, my kid and his friends found a dead bird in the middle of the playground. He was very intrigued and he even picked it up and was swinging the stinky thing around to show me. I know....don't ask... Obviously, I was mortified!! I told the staff about what happened and they weren't very surprised but they said they'll clean it up. Last week we went again and guess what, the bird was still there!! Totally unacceptable! The staff totally ignored that bird, the smell (ugh) or the fact that kids are playing next to a health hazard.

This is the best place to bring your kids on their school holidays! The playground is a charity…read morewhich provides loads of activites in areas such as arts and crafts and cooking. I think this is better for younger kids in your family - the lovely staff here will make them feel so welcome! The outside is very bright and colourful - there are sandpits and lots of play equipment. I think that it's restricted to children who live in the borough, as you have to register to use the park, but if there's room they welcome others! My friend's children love this place and I always enjoy bringing them here!

I walked through this park on my first day in London. I was very intrigued with the different flora…read moreand fauna in the area. Pelicans, fowls, colorful birds are native to the park. It is such a serene walk, as there are no cars coming in and out of the area. There are bicyclists in the area but they don't do much to deter walkers. This park is right across from the popular Buckingham palace and offers a great view of the guards.

We walked thru St.James Park on our way to Buckingham Palace. This is the oldest Royal Park in…read moreLondon. Over 57 acres with a small lake,it borders Buckingham Palace and the Clarence House. Many benches through the park as well as a nice kids play area. We loved watching all the various ducks and other waterfowl in the lake.

Let's be honest, looking after children is exhausting…read more Delightful but exhausting. King's Road Playground is the perfect place to let children run riot. Situated next to Alfresco and the West Pier on the seafront, it's a large playground that has climbing frames for different age groups from toddlers to 7 year olds, a sandpit and giant paddling pool. There's toilets and changing rooms, deckchairs for parents (at the cost of £2 if there's a deckchair attendant) and a wooden fence around the playground - reducing the chance of kids wandering off. The real life saver for parents however, is the fact there's three different cafes situated around the playground - so you can grab a much needed coffee, power-bar or frozen yoghurt at the same time.

A fantastic place for small children to run riot on the seafront. Plenty of sand and climbing…read moreframes not to mention the gigantic paddling pool! Mums and dads can hire deck chairs and sit by the pool or grab some great coffee or snacks from the several cafes lining the playground. Gets very busy in the summer but this seems to increase our kids enjoyment of the place! Aimed at toddlers and children up to, I'd say, 6 or 7.

Considering how long I've lived in the area and how often I've walked or cycled past, it is a…read moremiracle that I waited until today to have a swim in Serpentine Lido - on the hottest day of the year!! We arrived before noon and didn't have to queue - different story when I left around 2.30pm ... Compared to other lidos, this one's not spectacular, but I just love the fact that you have the opportunity to dip into the lake in the middle of Hyde Park. And I've never swum with geese and swans before. The water was a good temperature and still relatively clean (it can get covered in algae) - but nowhere near clear, but it's probably a good thing that you can't see the ground. I was glad my friend is a regular and expertly walked up the stairs past the changing rooms - best come with your swimsuit under your clothes, they are a bit yuckie and overcrowded (single cabins only, no communal nudity - we are in the Royal Borough after all). You end up on a terrace with a small kiosk and then have the choice to turn right into a lovely area with paddling pool which is inhabited mainly by families with young children. Or turn left and cross a bridge to the main water. The area closer to the lake is a bit meh and we were already too late to find a flat bit, let alone a sun lounger (mind you, I didn't hear any German accents, so all fair play). My first experience of sunbathing on a steep slope, even later arrivals had to make do with the tarmaced "beach". The (cold!) showers spray a gentle trickle of water, but I love the fact that everything here is just a little bit rubbish and hope it will never change. Perfect for a couple of hours, then make room for the next person.

I was planning on spending a day here since July but then the Olympics started and my kid got the…read morechickenpox blah blah blah so basically, yesterday was the first , danger free and sunny day we could all spend outside. Yay! So! not surprisingly, the place was packed! There was a long queue for the tickets but they moved quite fast (no more than 10-15 minutes). The prices are reasonable: £4 per adult, £1 for kids between 3-5 and free for kids under 3. You have a (fairly safe) fenced children's playground area + a paddle pool for the kids with water up to their knees (obviously, if we are talking about a 5year old). There's a long stretch of grass/field kinda thing that makes it easy for the parents to keep an eye on their kids and relax at the same time (is that actually possible??!) There's an ice cream/drinks/ sammiches shop (£1.50 bottle of water) but you can bring your own stuff and have a picnic. If you cross the bridge, you'll find yourself in the "adult" swimming area. The water is incredibly cold, fuzzy...duck infested and perfect for beginners or experienced swimmers. `HAhahaha. Or just for those who want to cool down and relax in the water - like myself. Equipped with 2 great pools, lots of grass, lifeguards, showers, lockers and plenty of room to sunbath, no wonder the Serpentine Lido is one of the longest running lidos in London.

This place is amazing. Truly amazing…read more While visiting South Kensington for a family vacation, our football-obsessed son was craving a spot to stretch his legs and kick a soccer ball around. It's surprisingly difficult to find a place to do that. There's plenty of neighborhood green areas in Kensington but those don't allow ball play. There's also large lawn areas but those don't have goals. After a ton of random searching, I came across this spot and thought I'd chance it. This place checks all the boxes. Astro turf. Free Not crowded Food/coffee nearby (via the local church) 100% win

Tucked away just off the King's Road next to the church where Charles Dickens said his "I do"s, is…read moreSt. Luke's Gardens. Popular with locals at lunchtime, yoga practitioners throughout the day, mums & nannies taking little ones for walks, and plenty of friendly pigeons, it's a lovely little spot. I've wandered here a few times over the past few years, but recently found solace under a tree on a dry bench as a flash rain shower soaked everything and everyone around me. I got about 3 drops on me - which was pretty cool. It's nice to know there's a little haven amongst the local hustle and bustle to escape to. I'm a big fan of church yards in general and while I do find it weird that the old gravestones have mostly been removed and lined up around the fence wall by the church, it's still a beautiful & relaxing spot to enjoy.

Formerly The Spring Gardens but recently renovated and renamed in honour of the famous 18th Century…read morepleasure gardens painted by Canaletto and visited by the likes of Casanova which once dominated this area, this is a lovely green space in an otherwise slightly grimy corner of South London. From the huge new illuminated entrance gate by the RVT to the improved landscaping and horse-riding area this park has been massively improved by an excellent scheme brought about with local residents working in cooperation with the council. Add to it the all-weather sports pitch and nearby city farm and this is great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the Vauxhall Cross Gyratory. Plus the infamous grassy knoll, behind the RVT, is a great place for a drink on a warm evening.

Hyde Park is a lush park that we strolled through on our way to Buckingham palace. My American…read morecousin and I remarked how green the trees and grass were. Such a culture shock to us since we are from Phoenix, Arizona (the desert). I'd definitely return and hope for better weather next time, though the trees did shield some rain.

On our last full day in London, we spent the day at Hyde Park, one of London's most famous public…read moreparks. We purchased sandwiches at Harrods Food Hall, and ate our lunch in the park (we also purchased some beer and wine at a cafe in the park). It was a beautiful spring day, not too hot, not too cold -- just perfect. While we didn't see the entire park (at 350 acres, that would be impossible), we had a great day -- Hyde Park was one of the highlights of my time in London. We spent the majority of our time in Hyde Park watching the birds at the waterfront. I'm not a bird expert, but I saw at least nine different kinds of birds: swans, geese, Canadian Geese, ducks, seagulls, herons, pigeons, starlings, and crows. And further in the park, we saw parakeets. The diversity was amazing! If you're in London, Hyde Park is a MUST MUST MUST SEE! It also makes for an inexpensive day. Other things to note: you must pay to use the toilet, but it's only 20p. However, you can't pay by cash, only by credit card (which was fine by me, as I hate cash), and unlike Amsterdam, which charged €1, the washroom was CLEAN (there was an attendant). While I'm not a fan of paying to use the washroom, at least it was cheap (unlike Amsterdam), clean (unlike in my city or Amsterdam), and hassle free (unlike Amsterdam). [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; London, England; Parks and Gardens]