Greenwich Park is the oldest Royal Park, covering 74 hectares (183 acres) and is home to a small herd of Fallow and Red deer. Situated on top of a hill, visitors enjoy sweeping views across the River Thames to St Paul's Cathedral and beyond.

There has been a settlement on this site since Roman times, but Greenwich will always be strongly associated with royalty. Since the land was inherited in 1427 by the Duke of Gloucester, brother of Henry V, generations of monarchs have taken the park to their hearts. Greenwich was the birthplace of Henry VIII who introduced deer to the park. His two daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I were also born here and his son Edward VI died in Greenwich before reaching his sixteenth birthday. In the early 1600's, Greenwich Park was planted with many trees in the French style, some of which remain today. James I gave the palace and the park to his wife Queen Anne, who commissioned Inigo Jones to design her a special home which became known as the Queen's House.

Kensington Gardens covers 111 hectares (275 acres) and is planted with formal avenues of magnificent trees and ornamental flower beds. It is a perfect setting for Kensington Palace, extensive Italian Gardens, the Albert Memorial, the Peter Pan statue and the Serpentine Gallery.

William III bought what was originally part of Hyde Park in 1689. An asthma sufferer, the king found the location quiet and the atmosphere refreshing, so he commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to design Kensington Palace. Queen Anne enlarged the Palace Gardens by 'transferring' 30 acres from Hyde Park and was responsible for the creation of the Orangery in 1704. Queen Victoria was born in Kensington Palace and lived there until she became queen in 1837.