There are few simpler but more genuine pleasures than a walk in the park. When the lesser-spotted British sun is shining, the flowers are in bloom and a joyous sense of community fills the air, it’s hard to think of a better way to spend your day – other than a walk in the park followed by a meal at a MICHELIN Guide restaurant, perhaps. That’s why we’re bringing you a rundown of the best London parks, spread across the city, along with plenty of options for where to eat and stay nearby. Whether you’re a traveller or a local, it’s your perfect guide to a day of relaxation.
Hyde Park: The High-End Dining Hub
There’s a reason why Hyde Park is the most famous green space in London. It’s big, it’s beautiful and it’s got loads going on. The core attractions include The Serpentine, a serene lake where you can hire a boat and while away the hours under the sun’s rays, and Speaker’s Corner, a symbol of free speech and the site of many historic addresses and protests. The park is in a prime location, too, bordered to its east by Mayfair – London’s most affluent and luxurious district, filled with high-end boutiques and galleries.As Mayfair is so close, there are dozens of top-drawer restaurants around here, and they’re all at the higher end of the price scale. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly bite, you’re better off walking to Soho and choosing from our list of its best value spots. Nearer to Hyde Park, you should embrace the all-out luxury, where elegant dining rooms, top-shelf produce and immensely skilled chefs are the order of the day.
Restaurants Near Hyde Park
There are almost too many to choose from, so let's focus on the very best. Inside the Three-MICHELIN-Key opulence of the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Heston Blumenthal brings his unique creative approach to traditional British dishes at Dinner by Heston; in 45 Park Lane (Two Keys), Sushi Kanesaka (One Star) offers some of the best produce in London; and the iconic The Dorchester (Two Keys) hosts Alain Ducasse’s Three-Star French cuisine. If you’d rather head north of Hyde Park, then there are MICHELIN-Star meals waiting for you at KOL and AngloThai.
Hotels Near Hyde Park
In addition to all the spectacular hotels mentioned above, you also have The Berkeley (Two Keys) and the Three-MICHELIN-Key extravagance of the Four Seasons at Park Lane and Bvlgari Hotel London. The latter, being owned by the revered Italian fashion house, is one of the most stylish hotels in the city. If the gorgeous rooms and suites somehow don’t offer enough lavish comfort for you, then the equally impressive spa and pool are just seconds away.Find your hotel
St James’s Park & Green Park: On the Royals' Doorstep
It's probably no surprise that there's so many great restaurants near Buckingham Palace. One of London's most illustrious attractions is cradled by lush green space, with St James's Park on one side and Green Park (officially The Green Park) on the other. Like Hyde Park, Green Park has restaurant-filled Mayfair on one side and is a small yet mighty space, perfect for a short, tree-lined stroll.St James’s Park is larger and even better for Royal Family fans. Buckingham Palace is at one end – where you can catch the Changing the Guard ceremony on certain days – and leading up to it is The Mall, the road taken by the monarch during their coronation. At the other end, you’ll find Horse Guard’s Parade. In all corners, you have top-drawer restaurants nearby which, like those near Hyde Park, usually have a luxury feel.
Restaurants Near St James’s Park & Green Park
Green Park and St James’s Park are both blessed with an exceptional choice of restaurants. HIDE even has interior design inspired by Green Park’s trees; clad in different shades of wood, its split-level restaurant and basement cocktail bar together represent the branches, trunk and roots of the trees. Just down the road, there’s the unbeatable opulence of The Ritz Restaurant. Crowned with its second MICHELIN Star in 2025, it’s a gorgeous space where classical dishes like beef Wellington are delivered with just the right amount of invention.Closer to St James’s Park, Raffles London at The OWO is home to two restaurants: MICHELIN-Starred, vegetable-led cuisine from Mauro Colagreco; and Kioku by Endo, serving Japanese dishes by Endo Kazutoshi. Elsewhere, look out for the global-melting-pot style of cooking at Scully and the phenomenally popular Fallow, run by the kings of restaurant social media. For the most affordable meal, walk around 10 minutes to Bancone, which holds a Bib Gourmand for its brilliantly priced pasta.
Hotels Near St James’s Park & Green Park
Close to St James’s Park, it’s hard to look past the sheer majesty of Raffles, which has seen it awarded Three MICHELIN Keys. Beyond that, the Corinthia isn’t too shabby with its Two MICHELIN Keys, Tom Kerridge-backed restaurant and signature penthouses. If you’re looking for somewhere to base yourself between Hyde Park and Green Park, then the best option for pure quality is The Peninsula London (Three Keys), which is also home to Two-MICHELIN-Star restaurant Brooklands by Claude Bosi.Find your hotel
Victoria Park: For the East London Food Lover
As great as central London’s parks are, sometimes it’s nice to escape the bustle and explore the outer reaches of a city. As a visitor, you’ll find that a lot of London’s coolest and most distinctive areas are on its fringes, where people actually live. The same can be said of its restaurants, with East London districts such as Hackney, Hoxton and Dalston having become thriving culinary destinations in recent years.Before dining, Victoria Park is a great place for a stroll. Among its notable features is the Chinese Pagoda, which sits on an island in the West Boating Lake and is available for exclusive hire. On the other side of the park, you’ll find The Old English Garden, a horticultural highlight boasting, among other things, a fine collection of roses.
Restaurants Near Victoria Park
The wider area of East London is welcoming more and more of the city's foodies. Near Victoria Park alone, you will find produce-led tasting menus at The Water House Project, the signature Guinness bread at Cafe Cecilia and wallet-friendly Korean dishes at family-run Miga. For sheer quality, you can’t look past Da Terra in Bethnal Green, the Two-MICHELIN-Star restaurant from Rafael Cagali that effortlessly blends Brazilian, Italian and other global influences in strikingly creative dishes that are as joyous to eat as they are fabulous to look out.
Hotels Near Victoria Park
Da Terra is located within the Town Hall Hotel, an attractive conversion of an old civic building, which takes advantage of being located a little outside the centre by offering spacious rooms and suites that will make you glad you didn’t stay in Soho. That’s not to mention the indoor pool, gym and in-room spa treatments. As an alternative, the Mama Shelter group have brought their quirky and colourful style to the streets of Shoreditch.Find your hotel
Regent’s Park: For Foodies and Nature Lovers Alike
One of the best things about Regent's Park is its location on the doorstep of Marylebone – the London neighbourhood that’s incredibly elegant, yet not-quite-Mayfair levels of opulent, which for a lot of people might be a good thing. As you'd expect, this is a strong area for restaurants, which have bundles of quality but a touch more of a neighbourhood feel than those near Hyde Park.The park itself is one of the best around for flora and fauna, featuring six distinct gardens, including Queen Mary’s Gardens, famed for the roughly 12,000 roses you can see in full bloom during the first two weeks of June. The Avenue Gardens are worth a visit, too, for their interplay of flowers, statues and ornaments. Animal enthusiasts may also want to visit London Zoo, which sits within the park and is a conservation zoo home to hundreds of species.
Restaurants Near Regent’s Park
Once you’ve finished your stroll, ensure you leave Regent’s Park at its southern end, where you’ll find more restaurants. Perhaps most useful of all is is the all-day dining at Fischer’s. Modelled on the cafés of Austria, it’s perfect for viennoiserie in the morning, a cake from the konditorei in the afternoon or a schnitzel at dinner. If Japanese cuisine is more your thing, then Mayha offers an omakase experience based around luxury produce. Looking for MICHELIN Stars? Lita is a gloriously on-trend spot combining wood-fired grilling with vibrant, smack-you-in-the-face flavours. Slightly further away, but still within reach, you can find the understatedly delicious food at Portland.
Hotels Near Regent’s Park
There’s one obvious choice round here: Dorset Square Hotel. A part of the Firmdale Hotels group that operates several impeccably stylish spots around the city, it’s a boldly designed place with a good line in colourful luxury. Expect lots of bright hues and a playful touch to the décor, without getting anywhere near kitsch – the designers are far too savvy for that.Find your hotel
Hampstead Heath: Wild Walks and Pub Lunches
A bastion of the North London landscape, Hampstead Heath is one of the best parks for feeling like you’ve truly escaped the city. It’s a wild park, meaning it’s less prettily manicured than the Royal Parks, and therefore gains a more windswept sort of beauty. Stray from the path and you could easily feel like you’re rambling, rather than strolling. This feeling of calm does come with a smaller choice of restaurants, but there are still some top-drawer pubs in the area.Before you fill up on their delights, go for a bracing outdoor swim in Hampstead Heath's renowned public bathing ponds. If it's too cold for you, then adjoined to Hampstead Heath, although technically separate, is Golders Hill Park. This is well worth a visit in its own right, if only to see its spectacular Hill Garden and Pergola – a place seemingly tailor-made for a photoshoot.
Restaurants Near Hampstead Heath
The aforementioned pubs are the main culinary drawer near Hampstead Heath. The Bull & Last is a rustic, charming spot and an expert practitioner of traditional British fare, from fish and chips to a Sunday roast. As an alternative, a 20-minute walk towards the city will take you to The Parakeet – another characterful pub, where wood-fired grilling is a feature of the menu and is skilfully utilised by the chefs.There are no MICHELIN Guide hotels directly near Hampstead Heath, but it’s only a short journey back to the city centre, where you have over 100 hotels to choose from.
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Battersea Park: Easy Access to the Best of Chelsea
Situated just south of the River Thames, Battersea Park will catch the eye of some food lovers for its proximity to the finest restaurants in Chelsea, one of London's most upmarket neighbourhoods. But don't overlook the park itself, which is dotted with things to do and places to see. Take advantage of the lovely walkway and benches along the riverbank; spot the statues around the park; hire a pedalo for the Boating Lake in summer; or admire the majesty of the Japanese Peace Pagoda. There are sports facilities, too, with courts for the increasingly popular padel tennis among them.While you’re in the neighbourhood, it’s worth paying a visit to the redeveloped area around Battersea Power Station, to marvel at how an industrial landmark has been transformed into a seriously swish residential and commercial district. And if you’re staying, or live, further south, then there’s always Clapham Common and Trinity restaurant as well.
Restaurants Near Battersea Park
To reach Chelsea's top dining spots, head north out of the park and over Albert Bridge. Here you’ll immediately find No. Fifty Cheyne, a smart neighbourhood operation that’s easily spotted by its gorgeous floral exterior; venture deeper and the classically French delights of Josephine Bouchon await. If your parkland stroll is a warm-up for a special occasion, then look no further than Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, a longtime holder of Three MICHELIN Stars.At the southern end of the park, your closest restaurant is Archway, a buzzing Italian eatery unsurprisingly located under a railway arch. The menu shares many similarities with the famed River Café, wholeheartedly embracing Italian cuisine’s ingredient-led ethos in pared-back dishes like whole fish with a simple garnish.
Hotels Near Battersea Park
For a MICHELIN Guide hotel nearby, you’ll need to cross Chelsea Bridge to get north of the river. Here, you’ll find Artist Residence London and ...At Sloane. The former holds has just 10 guestrooms and is a pleasantly intimate spot compared to the capital’s usual large-scale luxury. As with the rest of the Artist Residence group, quirky touches abound in the décor, along with enough artwork to allow the hotel to live up to its name.Find your hotel
Richmond Park: For Escaping the City
One of London’s most desirable residential districts, Richmond is the kind of suburban oasis where you’d expect to find top-drawer neighbourhood restaurants and more greenery than most Londoners are used to. In that respect, it delivers in abundance. Located in the southwest of the city, well away from the crowds, Richmond is home to a small but great dining scene and, as the biggest of the Royal Parks, Richmond Park is suitably vast.A dedicated National Nature Reserve, it's the kind of place you can get lost in and feel a million miles from the city (and yet it’s handily accessed via the District Line). Its wildlife is a particular feature, with fallow and red deer populations having roamed the land since the 1600s. What’s more, there are even two 18-hole golf courses within the park, showing just how expansive it is.
Restaurants Near Richmond Park
You needn't go far for a top-quality meal. On the edge of the park you have The Dysart Petersham, a MICHELIN-Star restaurant known not just for its cuisine but also for its classical concert recitals and Bechstein grand piano. If the park hasn’t quite sated your appetite for greenery, Petersham Nurseries is a gloriously floral complex housing a garden nursery, a homeware shop and a delightful Italian restaurant where you’re surrounded by blooms. Prefer French cuisine? Loveable bistro Mignonette ticks all the boxes, holding a Bib Gourmand for the excellent value of its classic dishes like steak au poivre.As it’s slightly further outside the city, Richmond Park isn’t surrounded by MICHELIN Guide hotels, but there are plenty to choose from in the city centre. Browse the full selection here.
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Hero Image: A spectacular view from St James’s Park, one of the best London parks for food lovers to spend a weekend in the sun. © Circle Creative Studio/iStock
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