The Ten Best: Urban parks

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook


1 Richmond Park, Surrey

1 Richmond Park, Surrey

Covering 2,500 acres, Richmond Park is home to a huge array of endangered birds, beetles and plants. Since 1625, when Charles I brought his court to Richmond Palace to escape the plague in London, red and fallow deer have roamed through the woodland. It is home to the Isabella Plantation, where azaleas and rhododendrons blaze into flower during late April and May.

2 Wollaton Park, Nottingham

With deer roaming through the grounds, Wollaton Park feels a world - rather than three miles - away from the city centre. The 500 acres of land, with a huge lake, surround Wollaton Hall, designed by Robert Smythson and completed in 1588. The Elizabethan mansion has been converted into a wildlife museum, with a stuffed bear - perfect for scaring children - in the entrance hall.

3 Kelvingrove Park and Botanic Gardens, Glasgow

Glaswegians descend on the park in moments of Scottish sunshine. Designed by Sir Joseph Paxton, who also designed the Crystal Palace in London, this is a classic example of a Victorian Park, with its curves planned to follow the banks of the river Kelvin. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery, which is situated in the park, reopens next year.

4 Saltwell Park, Gateshead

Opened in 1876, and known from its early days as the People's Park, this is one of the finest examples of a Victorian park in Britain. It's home to owls, bats, woodpeckers, swans, ducks and squirrels - and a lake covering two-and-a-half acres. Within the park are 11 listed buildings and monuments, including a Gothic mansion. A massive renovation project is under way and will soon be completed.

5 Hampstead Heath, London

With a fantastic view of London from Parliament Hill, and boasting excellent kite-flying spots, the heath also has 25 ponds, three of which are for bathing. Kenwood House contains an art gallery with works by Turner and Rembrandt, among others. With wild heathland, this is not all strictly "park", but the sense of countryside helps to keep north Londoners sane.

6 Sefton Park, Liverpool

Designed in 1867 by Edouard Andre, the chief gardener for the city of Paris, the park is marked with his signature lines, circles and elipses and a large arc-shaped lake. The magnificent late-Victorian glass Palm House is full of exotic plants. The bandstand is supposed to have been an inspiration for The Beatles' album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

7 Newcastle Town Moor, Newcastle

Protected by the city's charter, this massive heathland covers 959 acres. Cattle graze on what would otherwise be prime real-estate land. It includes the more formal Leazes and Exhibition parks. The land has a history of recreational use; the Newcastle Races were held there in the 19th century, and it still accommodates travelling fairs, including the largest in Europe, the annual Hoppings.

8 Fort Royal Park, Worcester

With its hilltop views towards Worcester Cathedral and Commandery, this is the perfect park for glorious sunsets. A Civil War battle was fought here, and it is home to Fort Royal, the listed monument that gives the park its name. The fort itself is surrounded by a rose garden and extensive flowerbeds, and there's a playground on the site, so it's all pretty child-friendly.

9 Preston Park, Brighton

Brighton's Lesbian and Gay Pride parade in August wends its way to Preston Park for the festival. It's a day when a carnival atmosphere takes over the park - and most of the city. This was Brighton's first urban park - and is its largest - and it boasts an Edwardian walled garden and rose garden, plus a clock tower and rotunda. The rock garden is an especially impressive example of its kind.

10 Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh

Built on the site of the old Nor' Loch, the gardens were designed to give New Town residents an unspoilt view of the castle and the Old Town. They contain the Scott Monument, as well as more modest memorials to David Livingstone and others, and the famous floral clock. Somehow, it remains pleasant even in the summer, when it is crawling with tourists.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Patrick Cockburn: I fear this terrible massacre will be the beginning of a long civil war in Syria

Patrick Cockburn

I fear this terrible massacre will be the beginning of a long civil war in Syria
Hardeep Singh Kohli: For me, it is all about 'Gregory's Girl', a record of first love

Hardeep Singh Kohli

For me, it is all about 'Gregory's Girl', a record of first love
Christian Louboutin: 'I don't think comfort equals happiness'

Christian Louboutin interview

'I don't think comfort equals happiness'
Happy birthday, Hotel Babylon!

Happy birthday, Hotel Babylon!

Hollywood's home to the A-list celebrates 100 years of discreet luxury
Rupert Cornwell: Low-rise capital could finally reach for the sky

Rupert Cornwell: Out of America

Low-rise capital could finally reach for the sky
The secret life of the red carpet

The secret life of the red carpet

As Cannes reaches its climax with the Palme d'Or and the celebrities gather in London for the Baftas tonight, Kate Youde and Jack Dean investigate the real star of the show
It's not easy being Professor Green: The rapper, the heiress and a drama made in Chelsea...

It's not easy being Professor Green

The rapper, the heiress and a drama made in Chelsea...
Hardcore, hard-wired: How the prevalence of porn is changing our everyday lives

How porn is changing our lives

It's everywhere - from pop videos to fashion magazines to the theatrical stage.
River Phoenix: the final reel

River Phoenix: the final reel

Twenty years after the actor's death, his last film is to be released
Facebook: The shares shenanigans

Facebook: The shares shenanigans

Investors are crying foul over the huge losses they incurred when the social network site floated on the stock market last week
Up and away – how '7 Up' went global

Up and away – how '7 Up' went global

As the last episode of Britain's '56 Up' airs, the first episode of '28 Up', from the former USSR, starts. Then there's the US, Japan, Germany...
You'll soon pick this up: Tuck into Bill Granger's fresh street food

Tuck into Bill Granger's fresh street food

It provides perfect party fare for some fun in the sun...
All to play for: How is Ukraine shaping up ahead of Euro 2012?

How is Ukraine shaping up ahead of Euro 2012?

Peter Popham casts his eye over the state of the Euro 2012 co-host ahead of the tournament.
Red or not, here they come: Artists reimagine the iconic telephone booth

BT ArtBoxes: Red or not, here they come

Artists reimagine the iconic telephone booth...
The Last Word: Premier bullies devise youth system bound to end in tears

The Last Word

Premier bullies devise youth system bound to end in tears