THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN SPOTS IN LONDON
London is a great destination to visit all year round but it really comes into its own in autumn. The golden, orange and red leaves compliment the elegant Georgian brick townhouses, Victorian mansion blocks and east London factories. The air is crisp and the foggy mornings make the streets feel like straight out of a Dickens novel. The city’s many parks look just dreamy wrapped in the golden autumnal glow with piles of crunchy leaves crackling underneath your feet.
Autumn also brings with it noticeably less tourists so if you’re looking to check out some of the more popular attractions this is the perfect time to visit.
The best way to experience autumn in London is to wrap up warm and go out for a leisurely walk. In this post I share with you five of my favourite spots to enjoy autumn vibes in the city.
LITTLE VENICE
Little Venice should really be called “little Amsterdam”. Instead of romantic gondolas and Italian piazzas there are canals lined on both sides with houseboats and barges and punctured every few hundred metres by narrow bridges. It’s a little oasis just a hop skip and jump from central London and a perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital.
You can enjoy the picturesque scenery all year round but the autumn coloured trees scattered along the canal make it look even more special.
HAMPSTEAD
North London neighbourhood of Hampstead is a perfect spot to wander through and soak up the autumn atmosphere. It has a quintessential village feel with charming streets, perfectly preserved georgian houses, characterful pubs and cosy cafes.This pretty corner of the city has long been a favourite of the artistic and literary crowds (Elizabeth Taylor, Agatha Christie and Ian Fleming are just some of the famous past residents) and you can totally see why. It’s impossible not to get inspired when every corner and every building is just picture perfect.
KYOTO GARDEN
Hidden deep in the middle of Holland Park, off Kensington High Street, is a little slice of Japan in London. The traditional Japanese style Kyoto Garden, carefully landscaped to foster quiet reflection and relaxation, was opened in 1991 as a gift from the city of Kyoto to commemorate the long friendship between Japan and the UK. You can expect all the best features of Japanese green spaces such as koi carp pond, a tiered waterfall, elegant peacocks peacefully strolling around without a care in the world and lots of maple trees that turn deep scarlet red and warm sunshine yellow in autumn.
Visit on a weekday morning for the best photos. I initially went around lunchtime on a Saturday but the garden was swamped with tourists and locals making it virtually impossible to soak up the relaxing atmosphere or get any good photos. So I decided to come back one weekday morning before work instead. And I’m so glad I did as I was the only person there and had this stunning garden all to myself!
NEW RIVER PATH
New River Path is a linear park that follows the course of a 17th century aqueduct built to supply Londoners with clean drinking water (it still does that actually!). It’s a charming little hideaway, snaking through residential areas of Islington full of grand Victorian townhouses and smart Georgian terraces.
The landscape makes it easy to forget that you’re still in central London. There are plenty of ducks and the mirror reflections of the autumn coloured trees in the water look really stunning. It’s also relatively quiet, even on weekends, usually only visited by local dog walkers in the know.
REGENTS PARK
Us Londoners are really spoilt for choice when it comes to green spaces (check out my guides to South London and North London parks) but Regent’s Park is one of my autumn favourites. Think vast open green spaces, wide alleys and stunning views of the city from Primrose Hill. It’s a perfect spot to people watch, feed squirrels, pick up conkers and take in the autumn vibes in all their glory. And if you get too cold, you can always stop by The Broad Walk Cafe and treat yourself to a hot coffee and a pastry.
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