Most people visiting London for the first time may associate the city with high-rise buildings or historical architecture, but London's public parks and other green areas comprise a significant proportion of the city's area. Some of the best known are its eight Royal Parks, which have featured prominently throughout the city's history.

Five of these Royal Parks can be found in Central London, with the remaining three in outer districts. The parks began as official hunting grounds for the British royal family, but are now open to the public and maintained by organisations such as the National Trust. Visitors can find half of these parks to the west of London's city centre - namely Green Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and St James' Park - with Regent's Park on the east side. To the south of the city lie Bushy Park, Greenwich Park and Richmond Park.

This latter park may be best known as Henry VIII's personal hunting ground, and a protected deer population remains to this day. A moderate trip from the city centre, visiting Richmond Park is well worth it for anyone interested in gaining an insight into what life was like in Tudor Britain and subsequent periods, with botanical gardens, lakes and historical houses adding to the experience. On clear days, you can also enjoy spectacular views all the way to St Paul's Cathedral.

For a more centrally located park, Regents Park is the most popular among tourists and city dwellers alike during all seasons - especially for seeing the colourful blooming flowers of spring and for sunbathing and other activities in the summer. London Zoo is located in the north of the park, which has been a popular family destination in the capital for almost 200 years, or you can rent a pedalo and take it out on the lake. Hyde Park is another of London's famous Royal Parks, and you'll never be short of options when looking for hotels near Hyde Park and Regents Park at any time of the year.

As well as these Royal Parks, London also contains a number of smaller green areas in the form of garden squares - though these can still be considerable in size, especially Hampstead Heath to the north of the city centre. This enduringly popular spot offers great views of Central London from Box Hill, or you may prefer the experience of getting back to nature by rambling through the wilderness.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.