Clissold Park

Clissold Park in Stoke Newington is one of Hackney's finest green spaces and a genuinely exceptional free family destination. The park covers 54 acres and packs an impressive amount into that space: a large children's playground, two ornamental ponds, a butterfly tunnel, an aviary, deer enclosures, and a small animal area with goats and other creatures that children can observe up close. The deer enclosure is always a highlight — fallow deer graze calmly behind a fence while children press their faces against the railings in wonder.

The butterfly tunnel, while small, is magical for young children who love the idea of walking inside an enclosure with free-flying butterflies. The playground is well-equipped and popular, with separate areas that broadly suit different age groups. Clissold House, a beautiful Georgian mansion in the centre of the park, houses a café that's warm, welcoming, and family-friendly — it's the perfect spot for parents to recharge with a flat white while the kids play on the grass outside.

Hackney Council maintains the park well, and the paths are pushchair-accessible throughout. The park sits on Green Lanes, with easy bus connections and a pleasant surrounding neighbourhood full of independent cafés and shops. Stoke Newington Church Street, a short walk from the park, is one of north-east London's most rewarding streets for a post-park wander.

It's genuinely one of the best free family parks in London — the animal variety alone puts it ahead of most alternatives.