London is known for many things: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye etc. But there’s another element of the British capital that might not come to mind so obviously, namely its greenness.
Indeed, London is an absolute reference when it comes to combining outstanding architecture and modernity with nature. A recent study conducted by the American NerdWallet finance company ranked it “the greenest city in Europe”.
In its study, NerdWallet focused on Europe’s 30 most populated cities and counted how many green spaces and parks each has. London came out comfortably on top, with 3,000 such green spots. Berlin comes second on the list with 2,500, followed by Vienna with a total of 2,000.
London offers something for every taste. There are large royal parks like Regents and Hyde. If you prefer natural areas with the possibility of dipping in ponds, make sure to visit Richmond and Hampstead Heath. Those who’d rather have a walk on o foggy morning might pick leafy cemeteries such as Abney Park or Highgate.
It’s worth noticing that the difference between the cities on the podium and those closing the top 10 is quite significant. For example, let’s just mention Prague, which has merely 200 green spots, or Barcelona (114) and Rome (63).
There are indeed many things to be improved in London. But the amount of parks and green areas isn’t one of them. With its 3,000 green spots, the British capital offers a large range of possibilities to immerse yourself in nature, breathe some fresh air, and have a walk with your loved ones.
Images: Caroline Byczynski
Author: Sébastien Meuwissen