Postman’s Park
St Martin’s Le-Grand, London EC1A
A tranquil oasis in the heart of the city, you might recognise Postman’s Park (so called because it’s where all the Post Office workers used to lunch) from the film Closer. Either way, it’s a great lunch spot surrounded by shady trees.
Clissold Park
Stoke Newington, N16 9HJ
Okay so as it’s situated right in the middle of Stoke Newington, Clissold Park itself is hardly a secret. What is nice and hidden, though, is their butterfly house; find it by the aviary and step into the tropics.
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
13 Dalston Lane, E8 3DF
You might not think there’d be a tranquil community garden opposite Dalston Junction, but there is. As well as allotments for residents to grow produce, there’s a quiet deck to sit and drink wine / eat pizza while you take in the scenery.
Millfields Park
Lea Bridge Rd, E5 0AR
Situated right by the canal near Hackney Marshes, Millfields Park is a hotspot for people who love to train outdoors, but it also has a little known wildflower meadow that beats the one in London Fields a hundred times over. Go seek it out!
St. Dunstan in the East
Dunstan’s Hill, EC3R 5DD
The church at St. Dunstan in the East was severely damaged in the London Blitz, and then again in World War II, so now it plays host to a secluded garden amongst the ruins. It might sound like something from a fairytale, but St. Dunstan in the East is real, we promise.
By JS