With cool, crisp weather and leaves changing to beautiful bright colours throughout the city, autumn is a wonderful time of year to explore London. In this post, I will share the best places to see autumn leaves in London, where to enjoy crisp autumn walks and top spots to take photos of the fall foliage.
The parks and gardens across the city are a riot of colour from mid-October, and with over one-fifth of London covered in trees – which officially classifies the capital as a forest – there are plenty of places to enjoy the autumn colours in London.
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Autumn Leaves in London
Autumn is my favourite time of year to enjoy the outdoors in London, and there are many activities going on throughout the season at local parks and attractions.
For inspiration on autumn days out with kids, I’ve shared details on nearby pumpkin patches and upcoming family events on my October Half Term Activities in London, Pumpkin Picking Near London, and Halloween in London with Kids posts.
Richmond Park
Richmond Park is the largest Royal Park in London covering an area of 2,500 acres and one of the best places to see autumn leaves in London. During autumn in Richmond Park London, the ancient oak woods look haunting and mysterious on misty mornings, and tall grass takes on a golden hue in the low autumn sun.
Richmond Park is also home to around 700 deer – red deer and fallow deer – and September to November is the deer rutting season, when male deer compete for breeding rights.
The female red deer (hinds) will form groups called harems. Each harem is controlled by a single stag, which spends most of its time fighting off rivals by clashing antlers. You’ll find more information about the deer rut at Richmond Park on the Royal Parks website. It is amazing to see the deer but it is very important to always stay at least 50 metres away from the deer at all times.
Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park is also a stunning place to see autumn leaves in London. The maple and sweet gum trees turn a fiery red around the woodland gardens.
During autumn in Richmond Park, look for fungi and lichens growing on damp logs. Over 400 types of fungi have been identified in Richmond Park, including Parasol mushrooms and the nationally rare Oak Polypore.
Holland Park
Kensington’s Holland Park is wonderful to visit year round, and its Kyoto Gardens is one of the best places to see autumn leaves in London. The beautiful Kyoto Gardens opened in 1991 as a gift from the city of Kyoto to commemorate the long friendship between Japan and Great Britain.
A traditional Japanese Garden, the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park features tiered waterfalls, a tranquil pond with koi carp and beautiful Japanese maple trees that turn vibrant shades of orange and red in autumn.
Strolling around Holland Park is one of the best autumn walks in London, especially in the woodland area. Explore the gardens at Holland Park and keep an eye out for the ivy-covered arches by the Orangery that turn a vibrant range of autumn colours.
Kensington Gardens
October is a beautiful time to explore Kensington Gardens in autumn. Take in the autumn colours along the tree-lined pathways and around the Round Pond.
If you’re visiting Kensington Gardens with kids, then do make sure to stop by the fantastic Diana Memorial Playground. The Princess Diana playground features natural playground with play sculptures, tree-houses and little pathways tucked away in the greenery and clever landscaping for children to explore.
South Bank
A riverside walk along South Bank is one of the best ways to sightsee and explore London. From October, the trees along the pathway at South Bank turn golden, making it one of the best autumn walks in London.
With its lively atmosphere and riverside views, the South Bank is always a pleasure to visit. Autumn is a wonderful time to walk along the South Bank and capture London’s icons – from Big Ben to St Paul’s Cathedral – framed by the changing leaves.
St James’s Park
Combine an autumn walk in South Bank London with a visit to St James’s Park in Westminster for more leaf peeping while sightseeing. Take in stunning views at the lake, looking towards Buckingham Palace on one side and towards the London Eye and Horse Guards Parade on the other.
Covering an area of nearly 57 acres, St James’s Park is one of London’s eight Royal Parks and one of the top places to see autumn leaves in London.
Kew Gardens
With over 14,000 trees from around the world, Kew Gardens is a spectacular place to enjoy nature year-round and one of the best places in London to see the changing autumn leaves.
Highlights include this stunning American smoketree by the Temple of Bellona, views of the autumn colours from the Treetop Walkway, the pumpkin display at the Kitchen Gardens and beautiful lakeside fall foliage.
Read more details about visiting Kew Gardens in autumn – and what to look forward to this season – in my Autumn in Kew Gardens post.
Terrace at Richmond Hill
Only a five minute walk from Richmond Park (Richmond Gate), the Terrace at Richmond Hill offers a stunning panorama overlooking the River Thames, which is famously, the only view in England specifically preserved by an Act of Parliament.
This view from Richmond Hill has inspired countless artists and writers for generations since the terrace was laid out in the 18th century. Truly a beautiful spot to visit year round, it is exceptionally stunning for seeing the autumn leaves in London.
Brompton Cemetery
The enchanting Grade I listed Brompton Cemetery is one of London’s Magnificent Seven, a collection of historic cemeteries circling the city that were built in the 19th century. Opened in 1840, Brompton Cemetery is the resting place of over 200,000 people. You can learn more about some of the famous graves at Brompton Cemetery in their Top 100 points of interest guide.
With over 60 species of trees, Brompton Cemetery is a haven for wildlife and home to several species of birds, including woodpeckers and parakeets, and mammals such as foxes, bats, shrews and grey squirrels, plus over 200 species of moth and butterfly. A peaceful oasis in the city, Brompton Cemetery is a wonderful place for an autumn walk in London.
Kynance Mews
One of the most Instagrammable places in autumn in London, Kynance Mews in South Kensington is a popular spot to photograph the autumn leaves in London. Kynance Mews is known for its picturesque ivy-draped houses.
Sadly, the stunning ivy hanging on the Kynance Mews archway, shown below, has been removed in 2024 due to nearby house renovations.
Gunnersbury Park
Gunnersbury Park is a true hidden gem, located in West London, between Acton, Brentford, Chiswick and Ealing. There are over 185 acres of parkland to explore, with nature trails, a playground, Gothic follies and water features.
Gunnersbury Park is a beautiful park for autumn walks and to see the beautiful autumn colours in London. The Gunnersbury Museum also regularly runs workshops and family activities during October half term.
Autumn is a wonderful season to explore the city, with so many beautiful parks and gardens to see the vibrant autumn leaves in London.
I hope you found this post helpful for discovering the best autumn walks in London and where to see the autumn leaves to London. I will continue to add more photos of autumn colours in London this upcoming season.
Pin for Later – Best Places to See Autumn Leaves in London
This post was updated on 8 September 2024 with new photos and details on where to see autumn leaves in London.
