5 must-see nature spots in and around London this July

Craving a decent dose of nature but can’t seem to find anything other than an over-crowded park you’ve already been to?

Get your exploring gear on this July because we’ve put together some fantastic recommendations for you to enjoy this summer. From fragrant lavender fields to crumbling and overgrown gothic style cemeteries; here’s our guide to some great nature spots in and around London you need to visit in July.

1. Stroll through fragrant lavender fields

Escape from the bustle of the city and enjoy the calm and fragrant purple fields of Castle Farm in Kent, the largest Lavender farm in the UK, with over 130 acres. Rich in history, the farm itself is situated in the Darent Valley and even rests on the remains of a Norman castle from the 12th century.

Book in advance to take a 45 minute stroll through the lavender fields or bring your own food and drink for a 2 hour lavender picnic on a warm July day this summer!

Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 5pm | Sundays and Bank Holidays 10am – 5pm

Pricing: Lavender field walk – £4.24 | Lavender picnic – £11.25

Address: Castle Farm, Redmans Lane, Shoreham, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 7UB

Note: If you only have time for a quick morning or afternoon stroll closer to home, make sure you visit either Kennington or Vauxhall Park to see some beautiful lavender patches.

5 must-see nature spots in and around London this July

2. Bask in spectacular sunflower fields

If you’re struggling to come up with nature filled plans towards the end of July, make sure you head out on a day trip to the sunflower festival at The Pop-up Farm in Hertfordshire, just outside London.

Here you can take a leisurely stroll along the sunflower trail, breathe in the fresh air and even meet sunflower sommeliers to help you choose which flowers to pick and how to look after them. Entry is free, but if you want to pick your own flowers to take home, you’ll need to buy a small crop farm pass in advance.

Opening hours: As the festival is seasonal, you’ll need to make sure you check their website for the most up-to-date information

Pricing: Entry is free but make sure you book ahead

Address: M1 Junction 9, St Albans, AL3 8HT

5 must-see nature spots in and around London this July

3. Wander through ancient urban woodlands

Closer to home are two magical ancient woodlands, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Wood – just a stone’s throw away from Highgate tube station. These beautiful woods date back to prehistory and once formed part of the Forest of Middlesex, an ancient woodland that historically covered much of the county – both are a real must-see and offer an idyllic retreat for nature lovers, full of undulating forest paths and a variety of trees and woodland creatures.

Opening hours: 7:30am – 9:30pm

Entry price: Free

Address: Highgate Wood, Muswell Hill Road, London, N10 3JN

Queen’s Wood, Connaught Gardens, London N10 3LB

5 must-see nature spots in and around London this July

(Source: kew.org)

4. Discover the secret world of plants

Experience Kew Gardens after hours this July at, soak up the last rays of the evening sunshine and watch the secrets of the plant world come to life. Activate your senses through beautiful sights and artistic installations, fragrant scents and classical music performances inspired by nature. If you get hungry, you have the option to dine amongst the trees.

With 4.7/5 stars, this experience is not one to miss this July – but book The Secret World of Plants now before it sells out!

Opening hours: 7pm – 10pm

Entry price: £20

Address: Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE

5 must-see nature spots in and around London this July

5. Explore eerie cemeteries

For those of you looking for a spooky outing, you’ll get what you’re looking for and more at Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington – one of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries in London. There you’ll find crumbling gravestones, woods that have long grown wild and of course, an eerie neo-gothic style abandoned chapel which was damaged by fire and closed around 50 years ago.