Victoria Park

Victoria Park sprawls across East London like someone's actually thought about what a proper urban green space should be. It's not small - 213 acres of lakes, woodland, and meadow that genuinely feel removed from the city even though you're minutes from the high street in Hackney.

The lakes are the main draw. People come to watch waterfowl, walk the paths that loop around them, or just sit on a bench and switch off for an hour. There's a boating lake where you can rent a pedalo in summer, which is the sort of thing that sounds twee until you're actually doing it. The Japanese Garden is tucked away and worth finding if you're into that sort of thing - it's contemplative rather than showy.

It's genuinely excellent for families. Kids won't get bored - there are playgrounds, open grass for running about, and the waterside keeps them interested. Walkers will appreciate the proper network of paths that take you through different sections without feeling repetitive. Birdwatchers should come at dawn or dusk when things are quieter.

Free to enter, open dawn to dusk. Allow two to three hours if you're doing it properly. It sits well within a Greater London break - Lovat Parks is just 5.5 miles away if you're after a holiday base. Victoria Park works as a morning or afternoon slot around other attractions. Go on a weekday morning if you want to avoid the crowds, though even busy it's big enough to absorb people without feeling rammed.