Parks and open spaces in London

Green space in central London consists of five of the capital's eight Royal Parks, supplemented by a number of small garden squares scattered throughout the city centre.

Many of the smaller green spaces in central London are garden squares, which were built for the private use of the residents of the fashionable districts, but in some cases are now open to the public.

The upkeep of many of these spaces (also named for example Crescents, Gardens, Place) is paid for through a levy on top of residents' council tax.

Situated on the North Downs of Surrey, the locality is ideal for lavender cultivation, owing to the chalky free-draining nature of the soil.

It was known as the "Lavender Capital of the World" from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, with global production of the plant centred here and blue fields dotting the area.

The lake in Beddington Park in the London Borough of Sutton in southwest London
St James's Park Lake in Westminster , looking east from the Blue Bridge towards the London Eye .
View of the centre of Gordon Square.
The bathing pond at Victoria Park. Unused for bathing since the 1930s.
Highgate model boating pond near Parliament Hill
Lavender field in the London Borough of Sutton
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