Best Nature and Wildlife Areas in Staines-upon-Thames

"Hampstead Heath Park London is one of the most loved parks in London. There’s plenty of things to do like visiting the Parliament Hill, Golders Hill Park-with a zoo and a gorgeous butterfly house, an open-air Lido, swimming ponds, splash pools, countless sports pitches and facilities, athletics track, playgrounds, stunning listed Pergola and Hill Garden. The list of things to do at Hampstead Heath doesn’t end!"

"So everyone knows about Hampstead Heath but it’s still the place to go for a picnic. Not only is it massive, so plenty of room for everyone, but you get mega views from the top of Parliament Hill, you’ve got the ponds and a lido for when you wanna take a dip and it’s a lovely walk up to Kenwood House."

"For generations, Londoners have headed to Hampstead Heath to escape the dirt and noise of the city, and this unique 791-acre expanse…"

"This small Victorian woodland plantation was planted in the 1830s, but not opened to the public until 1953. It’s famed for its evergreen azaleas, which are best viewed in late April or early May. The garden includes the National Collection of Wilson 50 Kurume Azaleas, as well as other rare and unusual shrubs and trees."

"One of Europe’s largest inland wetland projects, this 42-hectare centre run by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust was transformed from four Victorian reservoirs in 2000 and attracts some 140 species of bird, as well as frogs, butterflies, dragonflies and lizards, plus a thriving colony of watervoles. The glass-fronted observatory affords panoramic views over the lakes, while meandering paths and boardwalks lead visitors through the watery habitats of black swans, Bewick's swans, geese, red-crested pochards, sand martins, coots, bitterns, herons and kingfishers."

"Voted in 2012 as Britain’s Favourite Natural Reserve, WWT London Wetland Centre is an oasis of natural wildlife placed right in the heart of London. Managed by Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, this idyllic wetland reserve is located in a loop of the Thames and occupies more than 100 acres of land. Home for a significant number of unique species of birds, insects, amphibians and other wildlife representatives, the Wetland Centre represents a real natural wonder."

"Just ten minutes from Hammersmith, you'll get lost in the London Wetland Centre and its lakes, ponds and gardens. Aside from the daily guided tours, you can meet the otters, feed the birds, or take part in a host of family activities such as pond dipping and nature walks."

"This farm is little further out of London, but a whole day of adventure and fun can be enjoyed here, thanks to a huge array of facilities, besides the friendly animals. There’s indoor soft play at the Bundle Barn, an alpine toboggan run, Dino Dig and Splash play area and an adventure playground. Unlike most of the other city farms in London listed, there is a small entry price for this one (£10) but this includes entry to all indoor and outdoor play areas, activities, animals, bird shows and a tractor ride to the dairy farm."

"A post shared by Georgiebd (@georgie.bd) on May 26, 2018 at 10:23am PDT. Cycle along the paths or take a stroll at Lee Valley Regional Park. Stretching 42km (26 miles) along the river Lee, past Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and up to Ware in Hertfordshire, there is plenty of opportunity to spot wildlife, relax or play."

"Situated in North London, Highgate Wood is one of the four ancient woods of the London Borough of Haringey (together with Queen’s Wood, Coldfall Wood and Bluebell Wood). Containing an impressive variety of trees and shrub species, the Highgate Wood is the home for many foxes, grey squirrels, as well as multiple species of birds, bats, butterflies and spiders. Besides the fact that it was included among the eight Green Heritage Sites in London, Highgate Wood also attracts visitors with its recreational facilities like children playgrounds, cafés, walking trails and sporting fields."

"Reopened in 2016 after a £3.3 million renovation, The MERL is now a seriously impressive and versatile museum. The focus here is in the title: rural life. There’s a great mix of detail for adults and hands-on fun for kids with exhibits taking in animals, agriculture and country life across England."

"About: The Museum of English Rural Life is home to the UK's largest national collection of objects, books and archives relating to food, farming and the countryside. With loads of hands-on exhibits, this is a great place to visit with your family. Address: Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX"

"The Hackney Museum is a local London history museum located in Hackney. Its collection of more than 8,000 different objects is dedicated to exploring the history of Hackney with a special emphasis on immigration, ranging from Anglo-Saxon settlers to early Victorian times and more recent refugees and migrants."

"In case you didn’t know, the British Library is MASSIVE – in fact, it’s the second largest library in the world. If you’re a book lover, this is the perfect place for you to take some photos. However, photos of books can be taken anywhere (i.e., in some of London’s beautiful bookshops)."

"‘Interactive oriental fusion’ is the deal at this futuristic, neon-lit restaurant, which has silenced those naysayers who claimed the “gimmicky” idea of ordering your meal through a table touchpad would soon wear thin. Instead, diners love this “great concept” with its entertaining novelty – you can even order a taxi home from your table. The food is an accessible pan-Asian mixed bag with new dishes such as scallop tartare, Malaysian beef rendang and Japanese tofu salad ‘hiyayakko’ alongside soft-shell crab maki rolls, delicate squid and spring onion dumplings, Peking duck and a “winning version” of the ubiquitous black cod."

"This Asian fusion restaurant in Covent Garden boasts a pioneering interactive ordering system projected onto the table, making it one of the coolest restaurants in London. At Inamo, you can place orders via a 3D menu, choose from a selection of virtual tablecloths, find out about the local neighbourhood and even order a taxi home, all from the comfort of your seat."

"Address: 11 - 14 Hanover Place, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9JP / 134 - 136 Wardour Street, London, W1F 8ZP / 265 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7QX. Nearest train station: Covent Garden, Tottenham Court Road, Mornington Crescent. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Z0e1rADXQ/?"

"Headed up by the legendary Padam Raj Rai, with almost two decades of experience in the Japanese culinary scene, Hot Stone Steak and Sushi Bar is a mix of trendy decor and real, full-bodied flavours. You know how we mentioned before that it’s rare to taste actually wasabi?. Well, what makes this North London sushi joint all the more special is that it is one of the only places in London that serves real wasabi root with their sushi."

"In a nutshell: Japanese ishiyaki and sushi restaurant Where is it?. 3 Windmill St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2HY Why should you care?. Exquisite sushi, top-level Kobe beef and ishiyaki cooking is here for Fitzrovia residents."

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"This stylish and modern Japanese restaurant is a great find. The sushi is technically spot-on, a mixture of classic and modern fusion options. The sashimi and noodle, rice and grilled dishes are also of high quality."

"The Guinea Grill specialises in the sort of wayward jollity that is rarely planned for but almost always welcome; the breakfasts which start with good intentions and end with Champagne, the lunch hours which grow into afternoons, the dinners that dissolve into fits of red-wine soaked laughter. Given many in the loud, lively dining room tend to walk out on the slant, perhaps it would seem needless for the food to be any good – but it is; very, very good. Their steaks are always spot on, they’ve beautiful lamb chops, and always buy in the best oysters."

"Back when it first opened (in the 1400s) the inn on this site was mainly for local farmworkers. Now you're more likely to be sitting beside a table of hedge funders or - just as likely - a foodie lured over to the posh part of town by the fact that the ebullient Oisin Rogers is in charge of things here. Meat is the order of the day either in the form of Aberdeenshire dry-aged steaks or in the multi-award-winning steak and kidney pies."

"A post shared by Koji T (@shitakkene) on Sep 8, 2017 at 11:51pm PDT. With three floors and a capacity for more than 1,000 party-goers, Heaven is a legendary London club. Look out for fun club nights such as Popcorn on Mondays and the flagship Heaven G-A-Y night on Saturdays, plus a regular lineup of live music events at this central London club near Charing Cross Station."

"This huge, enormously popular gay club attracts folks from all over the world. The main-floor dance space stretches endlessly and stays packed through the night with gyrating bodies. A level higher, go-go boys take to their pedestals, and a more relaxed mood prevails."