While in London, most people enjoy taking in all of this historic city’s sights and sounds, including the local culture and cuisine as well as the museums, shopping, and royal sites. But if you love the outdoors and the natural environment, you can find ways of fulfilling your need for fresh air and outdoor fun while you are enjoying everything else that London has to offer. Take a look at some of the more popular natural spaces throughout London, listed below, and make sure to squeeze in some time during your stay in this magnificent city so that you can reconnect with nature and wildlife while having fun with your entire family.
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park
This 4-acre wetland, marsh, and meadow also features lovely lakes and streams that are perfect for calming your frazzled mind and reconnecting with the natural habitat that is host to a variety of plant and animal species. This is a bird watcher’s paradise, as there are so many different bird species that call the meadows and marshlands home, but you can also look for smaller animals along the trails, including frogs, toads, dragonflies, and newts, to name just a few.
London Wetland Centre
This 105-acre wildlife preserve, which is a nice escape from the nearby bustling, crowded city streets, was created in the year 2000 by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Here, you can enjoy beautiful and tranquil lagoons, pastures, and islets, as well as view a variety of birds or just sit and relax on one of the many benches. Visit the centre to find out how you can participate in one or more of their special activities, including guided walks, educational tours, bat watching walks, pond-dipping sessions, and even wildlife photography classes. Or, if you prefer to go it alone, you and your family can walk the trails and enjoy the serenity, as well as the abundant animal and plant life that surround you. A café with an outdoor terrace is perfect for getting a refreshment at any time, but you are also allowed to bring your own foods to enjoy a peaceful picnic on the grounds of the London Wetland Centre.
Boat Tours
See London from a whole new perspective by purchasing tickets for one of its many boat tours. Whether you are looking for a high speed ride to get your adrenaline pumping or a more relaxed cruise that will take you along the city’s main rivers and canals, there are many boating companies that each offers their own specialised, guided tours on the waters that surround the city. Enjoy moving along the River Thames or simply take the opportunity to see London’s major sights from the water for a whole new view.
Ice Skating
If you are visiting London in the winter, take advantage of some outdoor ice skating fun. You can choose from a variety of outdoor ice skating rinks that allow you to enjoy the physical activity while breathing the fresh, cold air and taking in the sights around you.
Jeffery Durrans
Les Abattoirs de Cureghem à Anderlecht[/caption]
Drop by Drop - "Save water" par Zita Nakić-Vojnović[/caption]
