{"id":1497,"date":"2021-03-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/london-staying-wild-in-the-city\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T15:48:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T15:48:55","slug":"london-staying-wild-in-the-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/london-staying-wild-in-the-city\/","title":{"rendered":"London: staying wild in the city"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<header id=\"block_5e9efcc16f8afdeed40acbaeef4212c5\" class=\"SingleHero skip-lazy default\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"SingleHero__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/activities\/walking\/\" class=\"category\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalking\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/activities\/places-to-go\/\" class=\"category\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPlaces to go\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/tag\/explore-london\/\" class=\"category\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOutdoor Adventures in London\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"SingleHero__title\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLondon: staying wild in the city\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"SingleHero__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPublished on \t\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2021-03-15T00:00:00+00:00\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">March 15, 2021<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dot\"><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t7 min read\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"SingleHero__thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1660\" height=\"585\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/londonwildcity_herobanner.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0.jpg\" class=\"attachment-hd size-hd wp-post-image\" alt=\"londonwildcity_herobanner.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/londonwildcity_herobanner.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0.jpg 1660w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/londonwildcity_herobanner.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-300x106.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/londonwildcity_herobanner.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-1024x361.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/londonwildcity_herobanner.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-768x271.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/londonwildcity_herobanner.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-1536x541.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/londonwildcity_herobanner.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-1376x485.jpg 1376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1660px) 100vw, 1660px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<article id=\"block_e926f690fe06fa9ff1d03f94b2e78ec9\" class=\"Universal Universal--post c-small default \" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerBlocks\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lead\"><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cities can often be unexpected treasure-troves of nature. Chris Platt explores London to discover where nature has taken up residence, and where you can reconnect with the wild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You would think that the sprawling traffic and endless concrete would turn away wildlife, but it can often be the opposite. London is no exception to the rule. Londoners may joke about the size of the rats on the tube, or the abundance of feral pigeons &#8211; seemingly the only bird species seen regularly &#8211; but the truth, if you look just under the surface, there is plenty of nature to be found in and around the capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blog-buttons\">\n    <a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.osmaps.com\/walk-london-royal-parks-and-thames-path\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get your Walk London guide from OS <i class=\"fa fa-arrow-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption\">\n        \n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/uploads\/LondonWildCity_Skyline.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\">\n        \n        <p>London skyline<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-central-st-james-park\">1. Central &#8211; St. James\u2019 Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can\u2019t get much more central than the lovely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalparks.org.uk\/parks\/st-jamess-park\/things-to-see-and-do\/wildlife\">St. James\u2019 Park<\/a>, overseen by Royal Parks. Wedged between Westminster and Buckingham Palace, this beauty plays host to some amazing wildlife. It seems prudent to point out that arguably the most famous inhabitants are a species that would be more at home on the shores of Australia or Miami Beach, Florida: Pelicans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Back in 1664, the Russian Ambassador decided that pelicans would act as the perfect gift for the UK and henceforth created a tradition that has seen over 40 great white pelicans call St. James\u2019 Park home. A fairly recent trio, Sun, Moon, and Star, have made the trip from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopraha.cz\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prague Zoo<\/a> and can be easily spotted against the leafy backdrop. Birds are certainly the order of the day at St. James\u2019 with all garden favourites making an appearance &#8211; blue tits, blackbirds, robins et al. If you\u2019re lucky, you may even spot a tawny owl or a greater spotted woodpecker, who also call St. James\u2019s home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions row\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption columns six\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/uploads\/LondonWildCity_StJamesParkPelicans.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\n<p>St James Park Pelicans<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"image-with-caption columns six\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/uploads\/LondonWildCity_StJamesPark.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\n<p>St James Park<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-north-highgate-queens-wood\">2. North &#8211; Highgate\/Queens Wood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A real hidden gem of London. Hop onto the Northern Line and jump off at Highgate (unsurprisingly). You\u2019ll be flanked on two sides by ancient woodland. To the West is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.haringey.gov.uk\/libraries-sport-and-leisure\/parks-and-open-spaces\/z-parks-and-open-spaces\/queens-wood-local-nature-reserve\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Highgate Wood and to the East Queens Wood<\/a>. Both are superb locations to see a wide variety of wildlife, but also just magical natural spaces. Despite being ancient woodland (possibly even dating back to prehistoric times), it wasn\u2019t until 1990 that Haringey listed both as Local Nature Reserves. There are some glorious examples of ancient oaks, beech, hornbeam, hawthorn and hazel. It\u2019s easy to forget that you\u2019re only minutes away from some of the most vibrant areas of the capital, with Camden and Angel being only a few stops away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For all budding entomologists out there, over one hundred species of spiders have been spotted in Queens wood and a nationally rare jewel beetle is widespread. If you are unable to spot a woodpecker in St. James\u2019 Park then head to Queens Wood, as they regularly see members of each of the three woodpecker types in their patch of the old wildwood that once covered all of England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-south-west-london-wetland-centre\">3. South West &#8211; London Wetland Centre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re not one to risk leaving the house and not seeing what you were hoping for then don\u2019t worry, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwt.org.uk\/wetland-centres\/london\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">London Wetland Centre<\/a> is for you. Presided over by the international <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwt.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wildfowl and Wetland Trust<\/a> (WWT), this site has converted four Victorian reservoirs into one of the most expansive wetlands in the country, right on the cusp of the famous River Thames too. The park offers a range of experiences, with two distinct routes to enjoy the ecosystem. One route takes you around the world, with open-range enclosures mimicking the landscape of Africa, Australia and the Far East. This is the only place in London that you\u2019ll be able to see wildfowl such as Red Breasted Geese, Bewick\u2019s Swans or Barnacle Geese all year round.<span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption\">\n        \n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/uploads\/LondonWildCity_LondonWetlandCentre.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\">\n        \n        <p>London Wetland Centre<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if wild wildlife is your bag, the second route at the centre will guide you round the enormous marshland and into a selection of bird hides. Here you can experience terns, gulls, grebes, lapwings, plovers &#8211; the lot. I am one of the lucky people to have timed things just right and seen one of the UK\u2019s most elusive and endangered species: the Bittern. What\u2019s more, the London Wetland Centre is one of the best places to catch a glimpse of the first mammal to make our list. The centre is home to two gorgeous otters. Whether you want something up close and personal or to simply while the day away in the serenity of nature, WWT\u2019s London Wetland Centre is certainly one to add to the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-east-rainham-marshes\">4. East &#8211; Rainham Marshes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a born and bred Essex boy myself, I realise it\u2019s a bit cheeky to include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rspb.org.uk\/reserves-and-events\/reserves-a-z\/rainham-marshes\/\">Rainham Marshes<\/a> in a post about London, as it technically falls in the borders of England 8th largest county. But, stay with me, because if you visit one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rspb.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RSPB\u2019s<\/a> most gorgeous nature reserves you won\u2019t be disappointed. Rainham Marshes is a haven for wildlife and you\u2019ll see and hear plenty. The concentration of wildfowl attracts large numbers of peregrine falcons to the marshes, so you may be lucky enough to see them. Blink and you\u2019ll miss them though, as they are the fastest creature on the planet, reportedly reaching speeds of 200km\/h when in freefall. <span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions row\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption columns six\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/uploads\/LondonWildCity_RainhamMarshes2.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\n<p>Rainham marshes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"image-with-caption columns six\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/uploads\/LondonWildCity_RainhamMarshes.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\n<p>Rainham marshes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>10th June in 2020, the first glow-worm sighting was announced and there certainly aren\u2019t many places in London where you can experience these fluorescent bugs. It\u2019s also a great place for cyclists for the velo-enthusiasts out there, you can add improving fitness to the benefits of Rainham Marshes alongside the benefits of wildlife and wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-south-east-the-green-chain-walk\">5. South-East &#8211; The Green Chain Walk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On the topic of fitness, if you are a keen rambler then the <a href=\"https:\/\/tfl.gov.uk\/modes\/walking\/green-chain-walk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Green Chain Walk<\/a> needs to be added to your rambling bucket list. Weaving its way between the Thames and Crystal Palace, this interconnected route of open spaces and 11 walking trails. One of the nicest sections takes you through Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Woods. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildlondon.org.uk\/nature-reserves\/sydenham-hill-wood-and-coxs-walk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">London Wildlife Trust cares for their oldest natural area<\/a>, which consists of new and ancient woodlands, as well as some remnants of Victorian gardens. It\u2019s technically a part of the Great North Wood, that once stretched from Deptford to Selhurst. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There was once a railway line that passed through the woods, but this is long gone, but its legacy lives on positively. Namely, a railway arch at Sydenham Hill Wood now acts as a natural bat roost, and this spot is a fantastic place to enjoy the winged mammals so in need of help in the UK. If you want to be a bit more hands-on, LWT holds volunteer open days from 10:30 &#8211; 3:30 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as the Second and Fourth Sundays of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions row\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption columns six\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/uploads\/LondonWildCity_SydenhamWoodsRuins.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\n<p>Sydenham Hill Woods ruins<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"image-with-caption columns six\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/uploads\/LondonWildCity_SydenhamWoods_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\n<p>Sydenham Hill Woods<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>So, as you can see, these 5 spots are a great starting point at staying wild in the city. There are heaps <a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/walks-in-london-exploring-urban-nature\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more places in and around the UK\u2019s capital<\/a>, but these are 5 really amazing gems (some hidden, some not so much). They cater for whatever levels of intrepidness you fancy and can be great spots to take the kids or the dog (always check guidance for our four-legged friends on respective websites).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are most importantly some of the best examples of how essential biodiversity is for both flora, fauna and for ourselves. The positive effects on your health and wellbeing are undeniable. Visit them, help them and reap the benefits of having such amazing places to get outside so close to London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<section id=\"block_b2a97d5149622c4cbddfb6e6c5434fcd\" class=\"Inner InnerButtons\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-center justify-content-md-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"InnerButtons__button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.osmaps.com\/walk-london-royal-parks-and-thames-path\/\" class=\"Button Button--orange \" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"Button__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\tGet your Walk London guide from OS\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"Button__arrow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<g>\n<path d=\"M5 12H19M19 12L12 5M19 12L12 19\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<\/g>\n<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"MetaShare\">\n\n\t\t\t<button id=\"likeButton\" data-nonce=\"daad460b69\" data-postid=\"1497\" class=\"Button Button--default Button--icon likeButton\"><span class=\"likeButtonText\">Like this guide<\/span><svg width=\"21\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.4947 3.09742C8.5448 1.39335 5.66108 1.04464 3.42166 2.95804C0.999337 5.02773 0.647396 8.5134 2.56291 10.9783C3.29002 11.9139 4.70917 13.3196 6.07302 14.6069C7.45283 15.9092 8.82946 17.1399 9.50834 17.7411C9.51258 17.7449 9.51691 17.7487 9.5213 17.7526C9.58512 17.8092 9.66457 17.8796 9.74074 17.937C9.83194 18.0057 9.96286 18.0909 10.1377 18.1431C10.3701 18.2124 10.62 18.2124 10.8524 18.1431C11.0272 18.0909 11.1581 18.0057 11.2493 17.937C11.3255 17.8796 11.405 17.8092 11.4688 17.7526C11.4732 17.7487 11.4775 17.7449 11.4817 17.7411C12.1606 17.1399 13.5373 15.9092 14.9171 14.6069C16.2809 13.3196 17.7001 11.9139 18.4272 10.9783C20.3353 8.52288 20.0377 5.01032 17.5597 2.95074C15.2954 1.06872 12.4424 1.3927 10.4947 3.09742Z\" fill=\"#186571\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/button>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-center MetaShareSocial\" aria-label=\"Share\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"X\" class=\"Button Button--default MetaShareSocial__button MetaShareSocial__button--x\" id=\"share-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><g transform=\"translate(-173 238)\"><path d=\"M18.9.75h3.68l-8.04,9.213L24,22.5H16.594l-5.8-7.6L4.156,22.5H.474l8.6-9.854L0,.75H7.594L12.837,7.7ZM17.61,20.291h2.039L6.486,2.843H4.3Z\" transform=\"translate(173 -237.625)\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"  class=\"Button Button--default MetaShareSocial__button MetaShareSocial__button--f\" id=\"share-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><g transform=\"translate(-89 238)\"><path d=\"M14.186,24V13.2h3.279L18,8.4H14.186V6.062c0-1.236.032-2.462,1.759-2.462h1.749V.168A19.34,19.34,0,0,0,14.671,0C11.5,0,9.508,1.989,9.508,5.64V8.4H6v4.8H9.508V24Z\" transform=\"translate(89 -238)\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"likeCount\" class=\"likeCount\">Liked by <span id=\"likeCountValue\">2<\/span> users<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cities can often be unexpected treasure-troves of nature. Chris Platt explores London to discover where nature has taken up residence, and where you can reconnect with the wild.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1496,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[395],"activities":[39,14],"locations":[21],"class_list":["post-1497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-explore-london","activities-places-to-go","activities-walking","locations-london"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>London: staying wild in the city | OS GetOutside<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cities can often be unexpected treasure-troves of nature. 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