Primrose Hill

The summit of Primrose Hill sits about 210 feet above London, which doesn't sound like much until you're standing up there watching the city sprawl out beneath you. On a clear day you can pick out St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye, even the Shard catching the light. It's a proper viewpoint without needing to pay for a ticket or queue for a lift.

The walk up takes ten minutes from the gate - steep enough to feel like exercise but not punishing. The hill itself is open grassland, rolling and well-maintained, popular with dog walkers and families who want to burn some energy without leaving Zone 2. In spring the primroses that give it its name actually do appear along the edges, though honestly you'll see more of them on the north slope if you venture beyond the main path.

It works brilliantly as a half-day stop if you're basing yourself at Lovat Parks nearby. Kids manage the ascent without complaint, and the view from the top keeps them entertained for longer than you'd expect. Allow an hour to get up, enjoy the panorama, and mess about on the grass.

Go early on weekends - by mid-afternoon it gets rammed with tourists and Instagram chasers. Weekday mornings are genuinely lovely, quieter than you'd believe for somewhere this close to Central London. Free admission, no opening hours to worry about, just turn up. The café at the bottom is fine for a coffee but nothing special.