The tiny park is only 3500 square metres (Picture: Colin Wing via London Gardens Trust)
The words ‘nature’ and ‘London’ rarely seem to go together, but the city’s smallest nature reserve will make you feel like you’re in a tiny, natural oasis, even if only for a couple of hours.
Barnsbury Wood, in Islington, is a little-known conservation site brimming with nature — and the perfect place to go for a winter walk.
It’s only 0.35 hectares, about 3500 square metres (for reference, Hyde Park is 142 hectares), but it’s still home to various species of wildlife, according to the council, like the long-tailed tit, lesser stag beetle, common toad and the sixteen-spot ladybird.
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The nature reserve, which was built in the 1840s by George Thornhill, who owned the land, was left to rewild when it was eventually abandoned.
The council bought the land, then overgrown with shrubs and trees, in 1974 to build on it, but decided it should be conserved as a Local Nature Reserve in the 1990s.
The hidden park is often used by Islington’s environmental education staff to run activities for school children.
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There’s only one catch: at this time of year, it’s only open for two hours a week, between 2pm and 4pm on a Tuesday.
Still, this little slice of the countryside is well worth a visit.
Three longer winter walks around London
Fancy a longer walk? A recent survey by Cotswold Outdoor found that 47% of people say that going on long walks improves their mental health.
These longer walks just outside of the capital might be what you’re after.
Marlpit Hill is teeming with nature (Picture: Getty Images)
Marlpit Hill, Kent
This walk starts and ends at the family-friendly Swan Pub in Edenbridge, takes around two hours to complete, and while moderate, includes several stiles.
How to get there: You can take the train from London Bridge to Marlpit. It takes one hour.
Goring Gap and the Thames Path, Oxfordshire
Allow around 2.5 hours for this scenic walk beginning in Oxfordshire, which follows the Thames Valley and takes you past Hartslock Nature Reserve.
How to get there: You can take the train from London Paddington to Goring & Streatley station in about 50 minutes.
Box Hill, Surrey
This circular walk, known as Happy Valley, is perfect for getting your endorphins going. Make sure to take a moment at the Salomons Memorial Viewpoint and soak in the views. This walk does have some steep steps.
How to get there: Take the train from London Victoria to Box Hill and Westhumble station in under an hour.
How to get to Barnsbury Wood
The nature reserve is located on Crescent Street, off Huntington Road in Islington.
The nearest tube station is Caledonian Road while the closest train station is Caledonian Road & Barnsbury.
If you want to get the bus, you can get on the 17, 91, 153, 259 or 274.
Barnsbury Wood opening hours
Unfortunately, London’s smallest nature reserve has a very small window for visitors, too, with just one opening day a week for the majority of the year. In summer, the park opens for an extra two hours on Saturdays.
Between October and June, Barnsbury Wood Tuesdays from 2pm to 4pm.
From July to the end of September, it is open on Saturdays from 2pm to 4pm.
Are dogs allowed?
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed at Barnsbury Wood, so be aware of this if you’re planning to visit.
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