Kensington Gardens

The Serpentine cuts through this sprawling expanse of landscaped parkland like a ribbon, and honestly, it's the sort of place where you can lose an afternoon without really trying. Kensington Gardens is part of London's green lung, though it feels altogether more manicured than its wilder cousin Hyde Park - there's something quite deliberate about the way the paths are laid out, the way the trees frame the views.

You'll spot families everywhere on decent weather days. Kids gravble around the playgrounds, couples sit by the water's edge, and solo walkers (myself included on a grey Tuesday) do the slow loop that takes you past the Italian Garden and round towards the Palace itself. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain is the obvious focal point, though it draws crowds that can feel a bit relentless, especially midweek.

The real draw is the walk itself - there's a proper sense of moving through different rooms of the city. From the eastern edge near Hyde Park Corner, you drift westward and things get quieter. The palace glimpses are lovely without being overpowering. Allow two hours minimum if you're actually strolling; forty minutes if you're just cutting through.

Free to enter, obviously. Worth knowing: the playgrounds do charge these days, but the walking and people-watching cost nothing. It's decent as a quick escape if you're staying at Lovat Parks nearby - close enough for an evening wander without needing transport.