The best outdoor activities in London right now

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With the UK government actively encouraging us to socialise outside, there’s never been a better time to take advantage of the great outdoors. And, despite the British climate, going alfresco doesn’t have to require packing your bags and heading to warmer climes. From discovering urban nature to exploring the city’s prettiest parks, we’ve tracked down the best outdoor activities in London this winter.

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    Dine outside

    Of all the activities that Londoners relish, eating is right at the top. You may have done the Borough Market mooch more times than you’ve had, well, hot dinners, but a new wave of outdoor restaurants in London has reignited our taste buds. London Bridge’s highly anticipated Vinegar Yard is home to a host of pop-ups, from Sugo, serving Italian, mostly meatball-focused street food, to Up in My Grill, which focuses on meats charred over hot flames, Argentinian-style. Not far away, Maltby Street (one of the more established offerings) is home to some of the food-truck big-hitters. Nip through the market and get a place in line at The Cheese Truck, which specialises in thick-cut, oozing toasties, served from an original Seventies ice-cream truck.

    The best outdoor restaurants in London right now

Top tip: Hit up Baba G’s Bhangra Burger at Vinegar Yard for some spicy snacks that pack a punch. We’ve worked our way through the menu to find out who rules the roost: it’s the Naga Delhi Double Burger – a trifecta of lamb patty, crispy onion bhaji and fiery chilli sauce. The ‘Naga’ in the name is a type of tongue-tingling chilli pepper; you have been warned.

Address: Vinegar Yard, 72-82 St Thomas Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 3QU; Maltby Street Market, Ropewalk, Bermondsey, London SE1 3PA


Telephone: No telephone


Website: vinegaryard.london; maltby.st


When: Mon–Fri, noon–9pm ; Sat–Sun, 11am–9pm

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    Go ice skating

    Scattered around some of London’s most iconic landmarks and romantic rooftop spaces, these fun and festive ice rinks in London are welcoming in the winter season. Layer up and try not to fall down, and don’t forget the essentials: extra socks and a pair of gloves.

    The best ice skating venues in London and the UK

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    Book into a winter terrace

    Among the many things London does exceptionally well is winter terraces – fir-tree-lined boltholes lit by sparkling lights, where the drinks are served warm and spirits are high. To help you book the best tables right now, here’s our pick of 2020’s best winter terraces in London.

    The best winter terraces in London

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    DISCOVER MORE OF LONDON ON FOOT

    One of the best ways to explore London is by walking around – especially when the sun is shining. Some of the capital’s top routes take you along picturesque canals and past the city’s most celebrated landmarks. For a peaceful South London stroll, try heading from Richmond Hill (pictured) to Ham House, or East Londoners could take the road less travelled and wander from Hackney Wick to Beckton District Park. We’ve rounded up some of the prettiest parks in London, as well as the best walks in London – pick one, or try them all.

    The best walks in London right now

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    Up your urban greenery game

    Most London flats don’t have large gardens – so bringing nature indoors, or to that just-big-enough-for-one balcony, is vital. The city’s loveliest garden centres are open for you to stock up on plants and turn your place into a jungle – and spending a sunny morning leafing through flower pots feels incredibly wholesome. Head to Clifton Nurseries, which has been in Little Venice since 1851, or hugely popular Petersham Nurseries in Richmond.

    As well as garden centres, the city is full of secret green spaces. From churches to botanical gardens, and everywhere in between, we’ve rounded up the best hidden gardens in London.

    Secret gardens in London

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    Try a new cycling route

    You can get further, faster, on two wheels than on two feet. And London has some seriously scenic bike routes to try – take a spin along the Thames, cycle between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace for brilliant views or loop around Hyde Park for an easy, traffic-free circuit.

    The 5 nicest cycling routes in London

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    Expand your indoor jungle

    At Columbia Road Flower Market, the prices are reasonable, and the tussle is part of the fun, making you feel as though you’ve well and truly earned your new potted pal. Check if the market is running currently before making the journey.

    Top tip: As regular Columbia road market-goers will tell you: arrive very early, or very late. Arriving early will inevitably mean the crowds are missed, but so too the best prices. We recommend rocking up just as the stalls are packing away (before 3pm) to clean up on the rock-bottom deals.

    Address: Columbia Road Flower Market, Columbia Road, Shoreditch, London E2 7RG


    Telephone: No telephone


    Website: columbiaroad.info


    When: Every Sunday, 8am–3pm


    Price: Free entry

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    Venture into the marshes

    One of our favourite open spaces in London, Hackney Marshes, offers a fantastic walking trail along the River Lea. Pick up the waterside path from the car park off Homerton Road, taking the canal footpath along to the Hackney Cut. The nearby Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with its wealth of coffee shops and cafés, is a great end-of-route spot to kick back and refuel before making the return trip. For those not willing to travel east-bound, Richmond Park (a national nature reserve) is a full day out, with the approximately 750 deer that roam the grounds making you feel transported, if only for an afternoon, away from the bustling city streets.

    Address: Hackney Marshes, Homerton Road, London E9 5PF


    Telephone: No telephone


    Website: hackney.gov.uk


    When: All year round


    Price: Free entry

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    Take to the water

    Kicking off in April (if the weather is fair) and running until the end of October, London’s many lakes offer a great opportunity to enjoy a little down time away from the crowds and queues that many outdoor escapades attract. The most famous of the boating lakes is, undoubtedly, the Serpentine in Hyde Park, which is also home to the UK’s first SolarShuttle (a pleasure boat powered by the sun, seating up to 42). For a more intimate experience, the row boats and pedalos seat up to six, and can be hired by the half-hour running until dusk. East Londoners can take advantage of the rowboats on Victoria Park lake, which, after a 30-year hiatus, have become available once more. Open right up until the end of October, they have a strict no-booze-on-board policy, so one for a pleasant day with children in tow as opposed to a prosecco-fuelled afternoon catching up with friends. If you’re truly keen to make the kids the stars of the show, head across to Finsbury Park, where the tariff even includes a complimentary bag of duck and swan feed. Those dressed as pirates or princesses (and we’re talking children), can enjoy 50 per cent off ticket prices, which is something we can all get on board with.

    Address: Bluebird Boats, Boat House, Hyde Park, London W2 2UH; Regal Boat Hire, Victoria Park, Bow, London E9 7DE; Finsbury Park Boats, Finsbury Park, London N4 1EE


    Telephone: +44 20 7262 1330; +44 7852 127895; +44 7905 924282


    Website: royalparks.org.uk


    When: 1 April–31 October 2019; 31 March–31 October 2019; full time 1 April–1 October 2019, mild weekends afterwards


    Prices: Adults from £10, children from £4; £10 per boat; £8 per boat

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    Feel the pride in picking your own

    Travelling to the northern-edge of London might seem a bit extreme for a punnet of berries – but fruit picking can be a relaxing, family-friendly activity. It may not be the cheapest way of procuring your produce either (fruit is offered by the kilogram, at around £5.20 for strawberries and £7.50 for blackberries), but it’s the feeling of walking among the crops on a warm summer’s afternoon, basket in hand, that makes it one of our top outdoor activities. And while consumption on site is forbidden, it’s a great way to have your kids get their fill of both fresh fruit and air.

    Top tip: Keep a track of when various fruits are are in season, as they can differ massively. Also, most importantly, be aware that larger groups will be turned away at the door – so this is not one for birthday parties or large get-togethers.

    Address: Parkside Farm, Hadley Road, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 8LA


    Telephone: +44 20 8367 2035


    Website: parksidefarmpyo.co.uk


    When: June–October (see the farm’s website for a calendar of specific crops)

  • The best outdoor activities in London right now

    Find friends of the four-legged kind

    Londoners, surprisingly, have a wealth of fantastic farms to visit – from a firm favourite located not far from London Fields to a hidden gem beside Gospel Oak Station. The former, situated in a prime location a mere-two minute walk from Columbia Road (see above), is open all year round and perennially houses the big hitters (goats, sheep, pigs) alongside other smaller furry critters such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Fresh eggs can be purchased daily from the shop, with the farm’s honey available weekly from the site’s substantial hive system. Of the lesser-known spots, Kentish Town City Farm is one of the more established and conveniently located – offering pony rides and even a kids’ club every Saturday morning, where children can be dropped off and picked up a few hours later.

    Top tip: Hackney City Farm runs a fantastic (and reasonably priced) vegetable and fruit-box scheme, available every week from the front gate; while there can be a waiting list, it’s worth signing up for a hoard of fresh produce at the start of every week.

    Address: Hackney City Farm,1a Goldsmiths Row, Hackney, London E2 8QA; Kentish Town City Farm, 1 Cressfield Close, Kentish Town, London NW5 4BN


    Telephone: +44 20 7729 638; +44 20 7916 5421


    Website: hackneycityfarm.co.uk; kcityfarm.org.uk


    When: Both open all year round: Hackney City Farm open Tue–Sun, 10am–4pm (closed Mon except bank holidays); Kentish Town City Farm open every day, 9am–5pm


    Price: Free entry

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