Spread across the grounds of a large Jacobean mansion hidden in the woods, Holland Park is among the most surprising and curious green spaces in London. It has one of the best playgrounds in the city, a Japanese-style Kyoto garden that’s home to enormous koi carp and peacocks that squawk around the grounds. Those without a ticket to the summer opera festival should take a bottle of wine and sit outside as the sun goes down. Those visiting in the daytime should pair with a trip to the Design Museum.

