Royal Parks Playgrounds and Nature Trails for London Families

This guide is for international residents of London, with or without children, who want to make good use of the city’s biggest green spaces. You will find out which family activities are free, where to spot wildlife, and the gate times and closures worth knowing before you set off for Hyde Park, The Regent’s Park and the other Royal Parks.

• Free family learning: Discovery Days and family walks
• Nature Roadshows, Nature Days and storytelling
• Hyde Park with children
• The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill
• Playgrounds and the other Royal Parks
• FAQ

Free family learning: Discovery Days and family walks

If you are new to London, the Royal Parks Learning team is a good place to start. Its family learning programme changes through the year. Some activities run all year round, others only in certain seasons or school holidays, and all of them focus on the wildlife and habitats of the parks.

Discovery Days are the easiest to fit into a week off school. They run during school holidays and half terms, they are drop-in and free, and they take place at the education centres in Hyde Park and Greenwich Park. Expect hands-on activities themed around the parks’ nature and heritage, designed for the whole family. If you are still getting used to the English school calendar, it helps to know that half term is a short break in the middle of each term. That is when these days tend to come round.

Family walks take more planning. They are aimed at children aged 5 and over, though younger and older siblings are welcome, and there are plenty of stops to rest or play games. A responsible adult must stay with the children for the whole tour. The walks keep to paths where possible but may go onto the grass, so dress for that. They are free thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and places are given out by ballot, which opens at least two weeks before each walk. Keep an eye on the page so you do not miss the ballot.

Nature Roadshows, Nature Days and storytelling

Nature Roadshows run regularly through the summer, with crafts, games, activities and storytelling built around the animals that live in the parks. They suit younger children who learn best by doing.

Nature Days are bigger events held now and then throughout the year. They mix adult and family activities, so they work well if you are coming without children or with teenagers who have outgrown crafts. There is often a chance to do some planting and join a short guided walk. Both Nature Roadshows and Nature Days are supported by the Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Storytelling is a big part of the programme. The family learning page introduces three storytellers. Olivia tells myths, legends and historical tales for all ages. George is a composer who tells musical tales and has worked with schools across London. Vanessa often uses props and music. For children still building their English, a story told with music and props is an easy way in.

For everything else, the Royal Parks What’s On calendar lists events across all eight parks. After an event, the team asks families to fill in a short feedback form, linked from the family learning page.

Hyde Park with children

Hyde Park pedestrian gates are open from 5am to midnight, and food and drink are available in the park. It is a big park, so pick one area per visit rather than trying to see it all.

The Serpentine lake is the obvious first stop. Walk the lakeside paths, stop at a waterfront café, and ask the children to find the heron that the park says can often be seen under the bridge. They can also watch the swimmers at the Lido, home to the oldest swimming club in Britain. For a quieter walk, head for the winding paths and meadows in the north of the park, or the rose garden near Rotten Row, a historic route that once ran from Kensington Palace to Whitehall.

For adults and older children, Speaker’s Corner is worth a stop. Karl Marx and George Orwell are among those who have spoken there, and the idea of a public space for free speech has been copied around the world. The sports pitches stand where the Crystal Palace housed the Great Exhibition of 1851, which drew over 6 million visitors. Today you can book football, tennis or padel there, and the park is advertising autumn tennis and padel coaching at The Courts.

The park also hosts major ticketed events, from summer concerts to Winter Wonderland at Christmas. There is a self-guided autumn walk with a map on the park’s page if you would rather explore at your own pace.

The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill

The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill page lists pedestrian gates as 5am to 7pm and vehicle gates as 7am to midnight. Primrose Hill closes from 10pm to 6am during British Summer Time. This year, weekend closures from 10pm to 6am apply on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Friday 3 April to Sunday 8 November. From 30 October to 9 November 2026, Primrose Hill will be closed and locked every night from 10pm until 6am. Fireworks and paper lanterns are not allowed in any Royal Park, and Primrose Hill is not an approved site for fireworks displays, gatherings or events. That matters around Bonfire Night, when you may see invitations to gather on the hill.

For nature-minded children, this park is a good choice. Over 120 species of bird are seen here each year, and it is home to London’s only breeding population of hedgehogs. With 5,000 varieties of tree, wild meadows and historic grasslands, a simple spotting list of birds, trees and flowers can keep a family busy for hours.

Adults will enjoy Queen Mary’s Gardens, where 8,000 roses bloom in summer, and Avenue Gardens, with floral displays around historic fountains. The Queen Elizabeth II Garden, made from a disused plant nursery, is a quieter corner. The Hub is London’s largest outdoor sports area, with pitches to hire for football, rugby, cricket and lacrosse. You can also hire a boat on the lake or book tennis and padel at The Courts. Finish with the climb up Primrose Hill for the view over the city, keeping the evening closures above in mind.

Playgrounds and the other Royal Parks

The official pages used for this guide do not list individual playgrounds, their age limits or their opening hours. Before you go, check each park’s own page on the Royal Parks website for current playground details.

Further out, the Royal Parks works with two learning partners. The Field Studies Council runs educational activities in Bushy Park, The Regent’s Park and Greenwich Park, and The Holly Lodge Centre runs family events in Richmond Park. Prices, dates and booking rules for both are on their own websites. Greenwich Park also hosts Discovery Days at its education centre during school holidays, which is handy for families living in south-east London.

FAQ

Are Royal Parks family activities free?

Discovery Days are free and drop-in, and family walks are free, with places allocated by ballot. Nature Roadshows and Nature Days are supported by the Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, but the family learning page does not give prices for them, so check the What’s On calendar for details of each event.

What age are the family walks for?

They are aimed at children aged 5 and over, though younger and older siblings are welcome. A responsible adult must stay with the children for the whole walk, and the ballot for places opens at least two weeks before each date.

What time do Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park open?

Hyde Park pedestrian gates are open from 5am to midnight. The Regent’s Park page lists pedestrian gates as 5am to 7pm and vehicle gates as 7am to midnight, and Primrose Hill closes overnight on certain dates, including every night from 10pm to 6am between 30 October and 9 November 2026. Check the park pages before a late visit.

Can we let off fireworks or paper lanterns in the parks?

No. Fireworks and paper lanterns are not allowed in any of the Royal Parks, including Primrose Hill, which is not an approved site for fireworks displays, gatherings or events.

Official sources: royalparks.org.uk · royalparks.org.uk · royalparks.org.uk

Last checked: 21 October 2026 against the pages linked above. Prices, opening hours and programmes change; the venue’s own site always has the current details.