Holland Park

Holland Park is a large, clean and absolutely beautiful park in London. We went for a walk there in the morning and it was such a peaceful and refreshing experience. You can even enjoy a great breakfast at the lovely Daisy Green café located inside the park, which makes the visit even more enjoyable. One of the highlights is the Kyoto Garden, which is truly stunning and a must-see when visiting the park. The atmosphere is calm, harmonious and full of nature. I absolutely loved this place. If you can stay at a hotel near the park, it’s really a bonus. It feels like a breath of fresh air in the city — a moment of nature and harmony that is truly priceless.

A refined and tranquil green masterpiece! Holland Park is widely considered one of London's most romantic and peaceful green spaces. Spanning 22 hectares in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, it offers a sophisticated mix of untamed woodlands and meticulously manicured formal gardens. When I visited there were a lot of squirrels not afraid to get closer. The park includes 2 amazing gardens. Kyoto Garden, a traditional Japanese garden gifted by the Chamber of Commerce of Kyoto in 1991, features a tiered waterfall, a tranquil koi pond, and roaming peacocks that add to its serene, meditative atmosphere. Dutch Garden, located near the historic Holland House, is famous for its vibrant geometric flower beds, particularly stunning during the tulip season. Beyond the flora, the park hosts the prestigious Opera Holland Park in the summer and contains the Belvedere Restaurant, set within a converted 17th-century ballroom. The northern half of the park remains more wild, providing a natural habitat for various bird species and offering shaded walking paths that feel far removed from the surrounding city. Balanced atmosphere. Definitely recommended 👌🏼.

Holland Park is genuinely beautiful and very aesthetic. It has a mix of different garden styles, including the Kyoto Garden, which was definitely the highlight — calm, peaceful, and very Japanese vibes. The water features, greenery, and overall layout make it such a relaxing place to walk around. The park also has old, ancient-looking architecture that adds so much character. Certain areas looked so nice that people were literally doing photoshoots there, which says a lot. Overall, Holland Park feels elegant, calm, and perfect if you want a quiet escape in London without it feeling boring.

On our trip to London, my mother and I (Nov 2025) only had to walk through Holland Park to get to the museum we were heading to, instead we ended up making a whole morning out of it. Back in Canada everything before we left was frozen and dead, but here there were still roses blooming and colour all around. I knew before hand that there were peacocks in the garden and we saw some in the distance, then we turn around and there was one right next to me and it didn't mind me getting slightly closure for a photo (though I still kept a respectful distance). Speaking of birds, be aware that the pigeons and squirrels here must expect feeding, because never in my life have a seen these creatures literally come up to my feet before. Anyway, it was an absolute blast and I highly recommend simply going for a walk.

​The location is incredibly convenient. For those driving, the park offers on-location parking, though it can fill up quickly. Fortunately, it is also well-served by a couple of paid garages within a 10–15 minute walk, ensuring that access is rarely a headache even on busy weekends. ​Nature and Leisure ​The horticultural displays here are stunning. The park features exquisite gardens with intricate flower arrangements that change with the seasons. Whether you are strolling through the famous Kyoto Garden or the Dutch Garden, the atmosphere is serene and picturesque—perfect for photography or a quiet afternoon walk. ​Sports and Family Fun ​For those with a boost of energy, the facilities are top-tier: ​For Kids: There is a fantastic play area that is safe, modern, and engaging for various age groups. ​For Athletes: The park boasts a great area for football, a dedicated mini basketball court, and a newly updated outdoor gym that feels fresh and well-maintained. ​Whether you want to admire the peacocks, get a workout in, or let the kids run wild, Holland Park delivers a premium experience in the heart of the city.

A walk in a natural area with squirrels is enjoyable and relaxing, with no road or vehicle noise. The incredible little Kyoto Garden should definitely be among the must-visit places.

Beautiful park at the heart of London. What I love about Holland Park is its thematic gardens, specially Kyoto Garden. I highly recommend visiting during the spring and autumn seasons. As a plus, this park is usually quieter than others in London.

One of my favorite places on Earth. Holland Park is mental health paradise! Such a beautiful and cozy park, lots of nature and great for a calming walk.

Gayle and I took a long walk from our Hilton Paddington Hotel to Holland Park, specifically to see and enjoy their Japanese (Kyoto) Garden. We were not disappointed. It's a sizable park and feels more like being in a jungle vs. the more manicured London green spaces like Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park. So after our visit to the Japanese Garden, we enjoyed just wandering around and kind of getting lost. We also appreciated the peace and quiet that comes with the relative lack of crowds.

I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said. This picturesque park made my family from the US feel like we lived in London. There is so much to do, plenty of walking trails and gardens, and somehow it's not a tourist trap in any way. We stumbled upon this park, but in hindsight it should've been a prime destination. It didn't hurt that the weather was absolutely perfect. Oh yeah, and there are sizable playgrounds for kids, some for toddlers and smaller kiddos, and an adventure park for older kids. This park has been one of the highlights of our visit to the UK.

This was one of my favorite parks to come to. It was so peaceful and beautiful surround by all the greens. I love how accessible it was to get there and just walk around to see all the beauty. Highly recommend this place when in the area

Holland Park near Kensington Palace is a park in this posh area of the city that has a large sport field and on the day I visited teams were practicing, and players were carrying heavy equipment around. Some runners around the park, plenty of people just strolling around. At one of the entrances a Design Museum is on a modern style building. The park has an array of wild life, one very popular is a peacock. I only saw one, there may be more. At the jewel of the park is the Tokyo Garden that will be reviewed separately

Holland Park is a gem in the Kensington area of Central London. We stayed very close to Holland Park, so it was only fitting that we visit one day with a packed picnic lunch. We arrived at the park, which looks smaller than it actually is. Later finding out that it is about 54 acres of land of manicured gardens, woodland, playgrounds, the Design Museum, a youth hostel and the Kyoto Garden. Walking under the canopy of overhead trees, the park is a very serene place to enjoy a bit of nature in a big metropolitan city. My favorite places within Holland Park were Kyoto Gardens where we enjoyed our lunch and the Formal Gardens, where we could wander and see all the native flowers. Holland Park is a great place for a picnic, stroll in the park, meditate, take photos or just relax on a bench or lay on the grass. The park and all of its attractions are free to visit, including the Design Museum.

This is a very nice park. Nice reprieve from the hustle and bustle of London. Of course as usual people ruin everything. On this day, there were several wedding photo shoots going on. This is understood because there are many picturesque places. But get your shot(s) and get the hell out of the way.

One of London's best parks! It was very clean and there was a lot to see. There's a Dutch flower garden and a Japanese style garden. There were a lot of people around, as there always are in London on a sunny day. They have a cafe and a restaurant. There are fields and a tennis court, but also lots of shaded woodsy areas.

Lovely park, full of greenery. Great place to walk the dogs. Some hidden gems inside, includes the beautiful serene Kyoto Gardens and the Dutch Gardens, both worth a visit. Lovely park for some peace and quiet, from the city.

Well the name is a bit of a misnomer. Nothing to do with the Netherlands. Here I was expecting tulips, wind mills and clogs surrounding me. No it's just an English city style park. The usual, greenery, forestry, bushes, trees, walking paths, cycling lanes, some wildlife roaming, teanquil water areas. There is the Kyoto garden which has peacocks. There's some sports facilities also.

Neat park in Kensington. One of many, but I really liked this one because it wasn't just a big green space, but instead had areas marked off for joggers and cyclists and lots of benches for sitting. I managed to find a quiet spot off to the side and actually had a half hour nap, undisturbed by kids or geese or, well, anything. A sign out front calls attention to "The Trafalgar Way" which was the route used by Lieutenant John Richards Lapenotiere to carry news of the victory at Trafalgar.

I'll admit it. I was here because I heard this was the place to go to hunt for pokemon. I only had a couple days in London so I made a pit stop in hopes of catching something rare. I headed to the the japanese garden area of the park to discover there are peacocks just chilling in this park. It's amazing. But I admit it's also a weird juxtaposition to see the peacocks as Pokemon Go players walk by staring at their phones. It shook me out of my technology haze for a bit and put down my phone to enjoy nature.

Holland Park is something of a hidden treasure as, apart from the short frontage on Kensington High Street, it is entirely surrounded by housing. Although there are some formal gardens, and a small but delightful Japanese garden, much of it is given over to woodland, with rustic picket fences lining the walkways. The gardens are lovely in summer, but better still is the Opera held outdoors here every year: see website for details (makes a change from outdoor Shakespeare!). The website also lists lots of family-friendly sporting activites, including the wonderfully-entitled 'Baby Boot Camp'. The mind boggles!

Holland Park playground is way too busy and does not feel Covid friendly. People sitting next to each other not wearing masks. I'm referring to the adults. There should be somebody there to monitor how many people are let in and let out. Was not a pleasant experience.

I've lived in the area for about 8 months now, but I've only just decided to visit Holland Park this past weekend. It's just a stone's throw from Kensington, Notting Hill, and Shepherds Bush... but once you step inside, you certainly don't feel like you're in central London. The park itself is much smaller than Hyde Park or Regents Park, but is still sizable (meaning you won't hear any cars driving by from the inside of the park, hooray!). It's extremely well manicured, so you can expect no grass overgrown and no hedge untrimmed. There's a lovely Japanese garden in the center, with a picturesque waterfall and coy pond. There are tons of benches all over the park, and more importantly, tons of green space. I decided to walk through Holland Park on a Saturday afternoon and it was filled with couples and families enjoying picnics throughout the park. As summer approaches, I imagine Holland Park will be hosting a slew of first, second, and third dates. It just sets the perfect scene for a lovely date, and it seems that all the benches perfectly fit two! (I don't think that's coincidence). With more peacocks than pigeons, you can rest assured that you'll have a lovely time at Holland Park. I can't wait to come back here with my +1 for a romantic afternoon in the sun!

This place is supposed to be haunted. In my most recent visit I saw a piece of topiary that appeared to be trying to give me a piece of its mind--I was first drawn to it because it was covered in beautiful orange sweet-potato vine flowers, but then I became intrigued by its assertive stance. I had just fallen in love with an off-leash red setter-spaniel mix (or something; it was like a miniature setter with short legs) but by then he was too far away for me to photograph for my dog-walker friend in Chicago who is always railing against our draconian leash laws. So I thought "let's take a pic of another dog; that nice shaggy thing over there looks right . . . wait a minute." It had a companion squawking in a nearby tree. It was a peacock.

Lots of cool little sections. Some of which are more off the main trail so you can feel a little more in the wilderness. A cafe in case your posh wittle feetsies get tired walking around the smallest park I've been to in London so far. Wimps! Japanese garden with roaring waterfall and huge koi fish. They have peacocks! Go find the statue of Mr. Holland and tip your hat to him. I like this place.

Holland Park *might* just be one of my top three parks in London. Make sure you come here in the spring/early summer to check out the amazing flowers in Kyoto Gardens, which if you haven't been, is a must-see for any Londoner. They've got peacocks, koi fish, and squirrels! Nature is alive and well in London afterall! You can go to the south-side of the park and relax and have a picnic next to the football fields or take a stroll around the orangery and read a book under some flowering vines. It's really one of the more tranquil parks I've been through and I can't wait to go back to see some of the fall colors. If you're a nature-photographer, bring your camera for some postcard-perfect shots.

None can t argue about the English attention to gardens. It is situated in a rich part of the city it is one of the most beautiful in London. In particular the Kyoto Garden reminds me a japanese scenario seen in some movies. Even if it is small one, it s a quiet and therefore you can organise a picnic or you can lay on the grass basking in the sun as I have done today. It s small pocket in the city mess

I absolutely love this park, especially the Kyoto Garden! Much calmer than other places in London, it's a true oasis and beautiful throughout the seasons.

Had the greatest time in Holland Park yesterday...there are baby Peacocks in Kyoto Garden! I.KNOW. Babies! One of them ate straight out of my hand, it may have been the most adorable thing I've seen in weeks. It did get a little scary when one of the bigger male peacocks started following us after we fed them..I was trying to figure out how to explain this to my landlord if they followed me home. My friend and I went there, attempting to find colours of fall (i.e., red and orange leaves) and sadly, found very few. However, the wildlife totally made up for it. A squirrel touched my pant leg while begging for food, and the Raven gave me the side-eye. Wait a couple weeks for more colours in the trees, but TOTALLY hit this park up for the wildlife, the koi pond and the gardens.

TAME SQUIRRELS THAT JUMP ON YOUR LEG! I've somehow not ever wandered through Holland Park until recently. What a loss for me! It's just beautiful and the peacocks, koi fish, and squirrels are delightful. In all the London parks, even when there are adventurous squirrels that will eat out of hand, I've never had one jump on me before. I didn't have food. I wasn't feeding them. I was just slowly walking past some that were cute and one jumped right on the leg of my jeans. Slightly terrifying, but also quite funny. It's now definitely on my list of parks to visit more often.

My nicknames include "Peacock Head", "Birdy Girl", and "Cutie McHoots". 'So what?' You ask? This park has fucking peacocks wandering around free to preen, ruffle their feathers and generally make this park more badass than it already is. At least to a bird nerd like me. On top of that, it's fabulously cared for-I mean, there are specific dog toilet areas. Huh? A public bathroom for doggies in a park? You know you're not in the East end anymore folks. Seriously though, it's a great park to take a stroll in. There are numerous paths, either in the open air near Kensington's shops to take a quick brisk walk through in linear fashion, or deeper in the park where the walkways are more rustic and confusing to navigate, trees shading you from the sunlight and a Japanese garden to stumble upon as you wander along. This is a small park compared to Hyde or Regent's, but it's charming in its own right. I frequently took a walk through it on the way to the shops or just to lay in a bench and watch the peacocks fan their feathers in opulent glory. It's definitely not your average grassy park, it feels very much a fancy, private land, where nannies push the trendiest of baby-filled prams, where elderly couples wander their days away hand in hand oblivious to all but themselves and the nature that surrounds, and where little doggies are indulged more than some humans elsewhere in the city. Stratification indeed, but one I could not help but languish in happily. Eep.

This is probably my favorite London park. Not so famous and tucked away but so pleasant and always full of birds and cheeky squirrels. Plus it has a japanese "Kyoto garden". When you're here, do not miss "Holland Park Mews" which is the most picturesque street in London/in the world (!) I've ever seen :)

I'm keeping up with the trend here and giving Holland Park a well deserved 5 stars. Similar to another Yelper's comment below, I too find the parks to be one of my favorite features of London- my favorite city. I was first initiated with Regent's Park- then Hyde, and most recently Holland Park. A friend of mine was living in the Notting Hill area and highly recommended Holland Park, and we grabbed a bottle of wine and some food and headed over. It was such a nice atmosphere! Smaller than Hyde, and more secluded from the hustle and bustle of the city, Holland Park offers a relaxing atmosphere where you can walk in the nature trails, or sunbathe, or play a game of football, all while being surrounded by well to do people who don't bother you or charge you money for sitting in chairs (ahem- HYDE PARK!) I love Holland Park and can't wait to return to London this year so I can go back!

Holland Park has a peaceful atmosphere quite unlike any other park I know in London, and it's a great place to wander around if you're nearby and want to clear your head. In particular, the Kyoto Gardens are well worth a visit: a beautifully landscaped Zen garden complete with gently sloping hills, waterfalls and very friendly Koi Karp, it really is a delight for the senses. If you like a bit of wildlife, there's plenty of it here. Aside from the fish, there are the famous peacocks that strut around the paths, lots of squirrels and a wild population of black rabbits.

One of the most picturesque parks in London. I used to work at the Belvedere restaurant and it was simply a pleasure coming to work every day. It's a beautiful place to spend a warm summer afternoon. Some areas are rustic and overgrown, others are fantastically landscaped. If you have kids, they'll love the huge, lovingly maintained playground and the free roaming peacocks. A lot of celebrities live near the park, so don't be surprised if you see a famous face or two!

Holland Park is fantastic and is easily accessible from central London and is about 20mins away on the bus from Marble Arch. Is is even quicker if you take the tube! It is a small park in comparison to some of the others but it has a wonderful Japanese garden which is very peaceful and tranquil. It features a traditional Japanese water feature at its centre with giant carp fish. Another great feature of this park is the wild peacocks that roam around. They really are magnificent creatures and when they put their feathers on show it is a real sight! It is especially fun to watch the males trying to impress the females! :-)

Holland Park is an absolute gem in London that often gets overlooked in favour of it's bigger neighbor Hyde Park. Holland Park has a stunning open-air opera theatre in the centre that has nightly performances throughout the summer. The park is also home to a number of leafy nature walks, a traditional Japanese garden, numerous playgrounds and pitches and a youth hostel. It's not uncommon to see some of the resident peacocks walking around the park as well. For a smaller park, it can feel quite spacious and is a joy to explore.

I was recently stuck on High Street Kensington with some time to kill. It was a sunny day and I didn't fancy locking myself back in my flat with the Xbox. "A park would be nice," I thought to myself. "But Kensington Gardens seems a bit open, flat and ... Frankly boring and accessible." Then a thought crossed my mind and my eyes lit up. Holland Park! Why had I not thought of it earlier? That's a good question. Indeed while Hyde Park and it's western annex Kensington Gardens are the well-known celebrities of the Kensington park circuit, Holland Park is always the understated secret, the struggling underground actor suffering for his art. For no real reason, as it offers in many ways a more varied, contained and unspoilt experience than its more celebrated rivals. Holland Park's lack of profile is surprising considering it is a big park, sporting football playing fields like its bigger rival, as well as extras like a top-notch open air opera house, a kids' adventure playground, tropical birds including peacocks -- a big hit with the kids -- and a very nice refreshment and cafe area. It even has a little Japanese garden for those that like their manicured landscapes, bonzai and goldfish. It is also just so much more peaceful than its larger neighbors. And if one goes into the unkempt paths behind the opera house, you cab get lost in the brackishness an forget you are in London. So if you are at a loss on what to do next in Kensington, Notting Hill or Shepherds Bush, and bored with the usual, head a little ways west to Holland park. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

High St Kensington entrance to Holland Park is a good way to view to view the park. Its is enormous with landscaped gardens at the back and in warm a good opportunity to view Open air concerts and operas.

Lovely park!!! Smaller than Hyde, but much better in my opinion. Quiet and peaceful with plenty of green space....but peacocks!! And a Japanese garden! Bam!!! Shit just got real.

Wow! I have been a Londoner since birth and never knew this park existed! It is beautiful and such a lovely walk thru. There is a kids sandy play, a perfect little Park cafe and even has clean toilets! Would definitely go again.

An underrated park in my opinion! Perhaps I just love it so much because I've been coming here ever since I was a child, but it's really got everything - beautiful plants, peacocks, a Japanese garden, adventure playground, tennis courts, cafe, sports field, sculptures and lots of space to sit and have a picnic or take the dog for a stroll. Best time to visit is in Spring, when all the blossom comes out and squirrels are rife, and before the crowds begin to invade (that said, it never really gets overcrowded).

Whenever someone asks me what my favorite thing about visiting England was, I'd have to say it was the parks. And Holland Park was definitely my favorite of the ones we were able to see. As a previous poster mentioned, peacocks strolled around for your viewing pleasure. It had a really nice secluded feel and the Japanese Garden was a pleasant surprise. If I lived in London I would spend all my time hanging out at the parks.

If you want to escape the hustle bustle and frenzy of packed London streets this is the place to be Whether you want a walk in traditional English greenery or to visit a tranquil Japanese garden it's freely available here. The Japanese garden is a particular favourite for its soothing serenity, with a pretty stream, archetypal planting and rocks - it's hard to believe you're mere yards from Kensington High Street and Notting Hill Gate. The frisky bunnies and elegant, shrilly-shrieking peacocks only add to the appeal. When you're feeling flush the Belvedere restaurant is a real treat.

There are several reasons to love Holland Park. In particular, the Kyoto Garden with its craggy waterfall flowing into its lovely koi pond comes to mind (why can't I be there right now?). Other salubrious reasons include all those mega-cute bunnies, the peacocks, and the wooden trails. It's a wonderful bit of London, especially on a sunny day.

Holland park is my favourite park in London. It is beautiful in all seasons and has something for everyone. From opera to the best children's playground or just wild scenery to have a ramble through. It is perfect for picnics in the summer, and you can enjoy in a good game of football or cricket on the lawn if you can be bothered!

Holland Park is great alternative to Hyde or Regents because although it holds a degree of fame, most people will still head elsewhere when the sun is out. What this means is you can usually find a great spot to have a picnic or a drink, or just mess about. For the more sporty amongst us, there are two sets of tennis courts, a massive sportsfield (including a football pitch and a cricket crease) and nets to practice in. There is also a beautiful Japanese garden which could be the most attractive in the whole of the South-East and numerous walking routes, which makes it popular for dog-walkers and joggers. To eat, you can either go upmarket, at the exclusive Belvedere Restaurant or just have a snack at the cafe. Also, for the musical amongst us, Holland Park includes a full-size open-air opera, which opens throughout the year.

Holland park is a lovely space. My children & I love going to see the wildlife there like the magnificent peacocks strolling around & the abundance of squirrels so tame they will feed out of your hand. There is also a huge fantastic playground for the kids that they never want to leave. The Japanese garden is a must see with it's beautiful tranquil pond full of giant carp fish surrounded by gorgeous plants & flowers. There are nice eating places where you can sit & enjoy the scenery & a tennis court if you fancy a game. A wonderful day out for all the family & somewhere you will visit again & again as we have.

Beautiful old park!!!

Beautiful place, especially Kyoto garden, amazing! good place to relax and enjoy sun!

Great park for running (or walking); comical squirrels that have taken to aggressive beging! Mom and pop cafe in the middle of the park.

Holland Park is one of the most, if not THE most beautiful park in London, even though it's one of the smallest. I actually think that its small size adds a lot to its charm. I used to go there for lunch break when I was working on Kensington High Street. It's a great place for children since there is a nice adventure playground in the park. Lovers will enjoy the wooden walks and the amazing Japanese garden.

Holland Park is defenetly one of my favourite parks aswell. There are many things to explore and to do. You can go for a walk, do some sports, have a picknick with your kids. It is like a litte oasis.

Holland park was one of my best place in london,It was in central london,but with so many trees and flowers,you feel like you are far from the noisy city center.It had many small gardens,ponds,also had tennis court.Especially on sunny days,walk in the park was really enjoyable and made you feel very relax

I love it here. Best way to spend an afternooon

A lovely place for an afternoon walk. Since I live nearby I'm visiting it at least once a week with my son and we always have a great time. What I like the most about this place is the wide variation of wildlife, my son loves to play with the squirrels. Totally recommend it to everyone.

Holland Park Il parco più naturale ed inquietante di Londra, al centro di uno dei quartieri più incantevoli e signorili, fu un giardino privato fino agli anni Cinquanta. Il nome viene da Lord Holland, che comprò la Holland House quando ancora si chiamava Henry Fox.

A great park, to either just walk through or spend the day in, with so many little nooks and crannies to explore. We park Notting Hill side and walk through to shop in Kensington High Street - Wholesale Food place is just great.