The best London parks for family photography: A local guide

London is one of the greenest capital cities in the world — nearly a third of its area is green space. For family photography, this means extraordinary variety: ancient woodland, manicured formal gardens, open meadows, and wildlife reserves, all within the M25. Here are my favourite locations and what makes each one special.

Richmond Park

For sheer drama and scale, Richmond Park is unrivalled. At nearly 2,500 acres, it's the largest of London's Royal Parks — and home to over 600 free-roaming deer. Encountering a herd of red deer during a family session creates images that are genuinely extraordinary.

The park's ancient oaks, open grassland, and distant views across London provide an incredible range of backgrounds in a single location. I particularly love Isabella Plantation in spring (April–May), when the azaleas are in bloom, and Pembroke Lodge gardens for golden-hour portraits with a sweeping Surrey Hills backdrop.

Best for: Families wanting space, wildlife encounters, and a true countryside feel within London.

Best season: Spring (bluebells, azaleas) and autumn (golden oak leaves, deer rut).

Getting there: Richmond station (15 min from Waterloo). Parking available but busy at weekends.

Hampstead Heath

Wild, varied, and utterly un-manicured — Hampstead Heath feels like genuine countryside rather than a managed park. Ancient woodland, open swimming ponds, wildflower meadows, and the famous view from Parliament Hill all combine to make this one of London's most photogenic locations.

For families who want something that feels adventurous and natural rather than formal and posed, the Heath is perfect. Children can genuinely explore — and the best family photographs often come from chasing, climbing, and discovering rather than standing still.

Best for: Adventurous families, natural/documentary-style photography.

Best season: Spring and early summer; autumn has beautiful light through the trees.

Getting there: Hampstead or Gospel Oak overground stations.

Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

The classic London park combination. Hyde Park's Long Water and the Serpentine provide beautiful water reflections, while Kensington Gardens' Italian Garden and the Round Pond are elegant and formal. The Albert Memorial and Kensington Palace provide distinctive London backdrops if you want something recognisably iconic.

Hyde Park is excellent for larger family groups — the wide open spaces accommodate extended family portraits without feeling cramped, and the formal pathways make group arrangements straightforward.

Best for: Larger groups, formal portraits, iconic London backdrops.

Best season: Spring (cherry blossom along Flower Walk) and summer.

Getting there: Multiple tube stations: Hyde Park Corner, Queensway, Lancaster Gate.

Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park offers something no other London park can match: the stunning view across the City of London and Canary Wharf from the hilltop Observatory. For families who want a distinctly London feel in their portraits — with that unmistakable skyline — Greenwich is the obvious choice.

The park itself has beautiful formal flower gardens, ancient chestnut avenues, and the National Maritime Museum grounds. The flower gardens in July are particularly spectacular. And as a UNESCO World Heritage site, every corner of Greenwich has architectural grandeur worth photographing.

Best for: London skyline backdrops, heritage character, summer flower sessions.

Best season: Summer (flower gardens); year-round for skyline shots.

Getting there: Cutty Sark DLR or Greenwich station.

Regent's Park

Queen Mary's Rose Garden is one of London's most beautiful floral backdrops — 85 beds containing over 12,000 roses, at peak bloom in June and July. For spring and summer family sessions, the colour and fragrance make it an extraordinary setting.

Outside the rose garden, Regent's Park's open meadows and tree-lined paths provide classic park photography opportunities. The boating lake and parkland deer add further variety.

Best for: Spring/summer floral backdrops, romantic and elegant family sessions.

Best season: June–July for roses; April for blossom.

Getting there: Baker Street or Regent's Park tube stations.

Practical Tips for London Park Sessions

• Arrive early — most parks get busy by 10am at weekends; golden hour sessions (1 hour before sunset) are often quieter and always better lit
• Check permits — the Royal Parks technically require a permit for professional photography; I handle this for all sessions
• Dress in layers — London weather is unpredictable; having extra layers for children prevents a damp afternoon from derailing the session
• Plan for 90 minutes — getting to a park, finding good spots, and allowing children to settle takes time; rushed sessions rarely produce the best images
• Bring snacks — the single best tool for keeping small children cooperative is a favourite snack, deployed strategically
• Trust the light — if the forecast is overcast, don't worry. Soft, even cloud cover is actually ideal for flattering portrait photography — no harsh shadows, beautiful skin tones

How to Book a London Family Session

I cover all London parks and regularly photograph in Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath, and Greenwich. Sessions are typically 90 minutes, relaxed and child-led, with a focus on genuine moments rather than rigid poses.

If you have a specific park in mind — or want advice on which location would suit your family best — just get in touch and we can plan the perfect session together.