London’s best outdoor adventures: a 3-day itinerary

Explore unique landscapes, iconic architecture, and a vast collection of living plants at London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kew Gardens grows more flower species across its 121 hectares than any other garden in the world. It’s the world’s leading botanic garden, where rare and ancient varieties of plants make up the diverse and dynamic landscape.Explore ten different climatic zones in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, discover over 30,000 different species of plants from tropical rainforests and temperate climates, and get up high and walk amongst the forest canopy.You can also experience a multi-sensory exhibit at a unique installation, The Hive. This 17-metre tall, open-air structure is designed to encapsulate the story of the honeybee and the importance of pollination through sound and touch.

This pleasant meander along Regent’s Canal is a great way to see this picturesque part of London.‘Jason’ is an authentic century-old canal boat, originally used to transport cargo until – in the mid-20th Century – Regent’s Canal began its metamorphosis into a popular tourist destination lined with cute waterside cafés and colorful narrowboat homes.Newly kitted out with a diesel engine, in 1951 Jason took his maiden voyage as a passenger vessel – the first pleasure boat here to do this – and has been ferrying happy tourists from Little Venice to Camden (and back) ever since.Starting from Little Venice, you’ll chug across beautiful Browning’s Pool, named after the poet Robert Browning who lived on nearby Warwick Crescent in the 1870s. See if you can spot any swans or geese nesting among the weeping willows on the island as you exit the lagoon and pass along leafy, tree-lined Maida Avenue with its grand regency townhouses.Constructed over 200 years ago, and nearly 250 meters in length, the Maida Hill Tunnel is a marvel of Georgian engineering. As you pass through the tunnel and emerge blinking back into the daylight, the unexpected sound of roaring lions and shrieking gibbons heralds your approach to London Zoo. Take in views of Lord Snowdon’s Aviary and look out for the white stucco-clad Georgian mansions designed and built around Regent’s Park by John Nash.You’ll disembark at Camden Lock, from where it’s a short stroll to the famous Camden Market. Here, in the colorful maze of shops and stalls you’ll discover a vast array of street food options from around the world, plus clothes, vinyl records, fashion accessories and all manner of other assorted knick-knacks for sale.

This London bike tour lets you enjoy the city in a unique and fun way. Experience a guided tour of London attractions with an expert guide who’ll stop at intervals to speak about the history of your surroundings and give you time to admire London’s landmarksYou can enjoy either a Classic Gold Tour, which takes you past the iconic London landmarks, from Southbank to the London Eye and Big Ben, up to Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.Or, the Love London Tour which takes you through London’s bustling West End and the cultural heart of the city, from Covent Garden to Chinatown and Carnaby Street.Both routes are designed to keep you away from the traffic and give you access to areas you wouldn’t normally see by car. Helmets and safety equipment are included.

You’ll hear fun facts and learn about the history of the British royal family on this epic tour of Westminster.Your tour begins with a visit to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard. This display of ceremonial pageantry sees the Queen’s familiar red-jacketed guards in tall bearskin hats march down The Mall to take up position at the Palace. You’ll want to have your camera at the ready for this one.Your guide will regale you with entertaining tales and facts about the area, its characters, and the British monarchy as you continue your walk through the streets of Westminster, passing landmarks including Admiralty Arch and the London Eye.You’ll visit Trafalgar Square, where the statue atop Nelson’s Column stands proudly gazing down Whitehall, guarded by four huge bronze lions. This huge plaza is also home to two of London’s most celebrated galleries: the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery, where Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and many other world-famous works can be seen.The tour visits St James’s Palace and the Palace of Westminster – better known as the iconic Houses of Parliament – where you’ll get a chance to hear the chimes of Big Ben up close. Your three-hour adventure concludes here on Parliament Square, which is also home to magnificent medieval Westminster Abbey and several grand statues of world leaders including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela.

Take on the challenge and scale the world-famous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and enjoy breathtaking views of the capital. Starting at Basecamp you’ll get clipped in and head up 100 steps to the exposed rooftop walkway. Once you’ve got over the dizzying height you can make your way out onto the viewing deck. Snap some pictures of the panoramic views of the city before venturing across the stadium roof and bravely stepping out on the glass apex 46.8-meters above the pitch. Finally, you’ll get the chance to get up-close to Tottenham Hotspur’s emblem itself, the Golden Cockerel, and get the ultimate bird’s eye view!

Set in leafy Regent’s Park amid heritage-listed buildings and beautiful gardens, London Zoo is an oasis in the heart of the capital with over 10,000 amazing animals to discover.The Zoo’s biggest experience, Land of the Lions, gives visitors the chance to get closer than ever before to the mighty Asiatic lions – of which only 400 remain in the wild. Visitors can explore walkways covering the 2,500 square meter Indian-themed exhibit.Come face-to-face with one of nature’s most awesome predators in Tiger Territory, learn about the natural behaviors of Sumatran tigers and discover the conservation issues these creatures face in the wild.Go on a journey high into the treetops to meet a variety of amazing species at Rainforest Life (London’s only living rainforest). Then meet the creatures who only come out in the dark in the amazing nocturnal experience, Night Life.Visitors will love heading down to the beach to watch our colony of Humboldt penguins dive, swim, frolic and feed in England’s largest penguin pool, complete with large underwater viewing windows. And step Into Africa to observe the elegance and grace of the giraffes before moving on to the magnificent residents of Gorilla Kingdom.