Outdoors · London · United Kingdom
5 best outdoor things to do in London
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Natural History Museum, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 13–18 hours across 5 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 13–18 hours
- Areas
- South Kensington, Hyde Park and Greenwich
Outdoors in London
Museum · South Kensington
1.Natural History Museum
Use the Exhibition Road entrance and visit the Dinosaurs gallery first, as its queue grows through the morning.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Nature
Park · Hyde Park
2.Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Enter at Marble Arch and walk west along the Serpentine to Kensington Palace — about an hour at a gentle pace with stops.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Nature
Historic site · Greenwich
3.Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park
Arrive by river boat from Westminster or London Eye pier for a scenic approach, and return on the DLR.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
Garden · Kew
4.Kew Gardens
Reach Kew Gardens station on the District line or the Overground, or take a seasonal river boat from Westminster for the slow route.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
Park · Hampstead
5.Hampstead Heath and Kenwood
Combine a heath walk with lunch in Hampstead village on the Northern line, or arrive by Overground at Hampstead Heath station.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| South Kensington | Natural History Museum | 2–3 hours |
| Hyde Park | Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens | 2–3 hours |
| Greenwich | Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park | Half a day |
| Kew | Kew Gardens | Half a day to a full day |
| Hampstead | Hampstead Heath and Kenwood | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 3 free, 2 mid-priced. Book ahead for Natural History Museum. The longest visit is Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Natural History Museum: Free entry, but booking a timed slot online is advised during school holidays.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (South Kensington): Natural History Museum, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Hyde Park): Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Greenwich): Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Kew): Kew Gardens, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Hampstead): Hampstead Heath and Kenwood, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- August: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds. School holidays keep the big sights crowded, though many Londoners are away and offices are quieter.
- June: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season begins, with daylight until after 9pm and pub gardens and outdoor theatre in full swing.
- July: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds. The warmest month; heatwaves can push past 30°C and the deep Tube lines get very hot.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- South Kensington — Museum quarter, white stucco terraces and Hyde Park on the doorstep
- Greenwich — Maritime history, a hilltop royal park and river boats
More of London
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in London?
Natural History Museum. Alfred Waterhouse's terracotta building, decorated with carved animals and plants, holds some 80 million specimens.
+Which of these are free in London?
Natural History Museum, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and Hampstead Heath and Kenwood.