Holland Park

Overview

Holland Park is the largest park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in West London. It’s free to visit and comprises 54 acres full of beautiful gardens, facilities for playing sports, playgrounds, green spaces, and large areas of woodland which provide the perfect habitat for wildlife.

Couples and solo travellers will love wandering through the tranquil Kyoto Gardens – you’d honestly be forgiven for thinking you were in Japan! There’s also plenty to keep the kids occupied with an adventure playground for the more intrepid explorers plus a toddler playground for smaller children.

Is Holland Park free entry?

Yes, Holland Park is free to visit. Some of the activities and events that take place in the park may have a fee.

Who owns Holland Park?

Holland Park is owned by The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

What animals live in Holland Park?

As well as being a fun place for humans to visit, Holland Park also provides the perfect habitat for an abundance of wildlife, including birds, mammals, and insects. Keep your eyes peeled during your time in the park, and you may just spot:

Tawny owls
Coal tits
Bullfinches
Bank voles
Rabbits
Hedgehogs
Purple hairstreak butterfly
Ground beetles

Why is it called Holland Park?

Holland Park is named after Sir Henry, Earl of Holland, who lived at Holland House, a Jacobean mansion. The name refers not just to the area of parkland, but also the wider area surrounding it, which includes residential streets with lavish houses.

Some parts of Holland House still exist today and are the backdrop for the Holland Park Theatre.

Can I get something to eat at Holland Park?

Yes, there is an on-site café at Holland Park. The Holland Park Café has a large patio and terrace that’s perfect for al fresco dining as well as space to sit inside. On offer is an all-day brunch menu, plus salads, sandwiches, and small plates. There’s even a gelato hatch.

There’s also the Belvedere restaurant, which serves an Italian à la carte menu using seasonal produce.

If you’d prefer, you can bring your own picnic to enjoy at Holland Park. There are plenty of benches available, so prepare some sandwiches and snacks at the self-catering kitchen at YHA London Earl’s Court and bring them with you.

Things to do in Holland Park

Kyoto Garden

Kyoto Garden opened in 1991 and was a gift from Kyoto to celebrate the friendly relationship between Japan and the UK. It’s a small space with features that are commonly seen in Japan, such as cherry blossom trees, a tiered waterfall, stone lanterns, and a pond full of koi carp.

Kyoto Garden costs nothing at all to visit, and is a peaceful spot to spend a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of London. It’s very picturesque and makes an excellent spot for those Instagram photos.

Adventure playground

Suitable for children aged 5 to 14, the adventure playground is perfect for letting the kids run off some energy. Play equipment includes:

Zip wire
Climbing wall
Tyre swing
10-person see-saw

There is also a separate play area for younger children.

Play sports

If you fancy a game of something, then you’ll find plenty of sports facilities in Holland Park. Some of these have a small charge for hiring them. Facilities include:

Tennis courts
Football nets
Golf practice nets
Cricket practice nets
Netball court

Take a walk

Explore the park on foot for a traffic-free wander through this idyllic green space. Discover the woodlands, Lord Holland’s statue and pond, Kyoto Garden, and the Dutch Gardens. Walking all the way around the park will take between 1 and 2.5 hours, but you can spend as long as you like here exploring.

Workout

Forget expensive gym visits. If you like to get your workouts in the fresh air, then there’s a free exercise park at Holland Park. It features equipment including a cross trainer and exercise bikes. Some of the equipment is fully accessible.

How to get to Holland Park from YHA London Earl’s Court

Holland Park is just over a mile away from YHA London Earl’s Court. The easiest ways to get there are by walking, cycling, or taking the tube.

Walking: It takes around 19 minutes to walk from YHA London Earl’s Court to Holland Park.

Cycling: Cycling between YHA London Earl’s Court and Holland Park takes approximately seven minutes.

Public transport: From YHA London Earl’s Court, walk to the tube station at Earl’s Court. Take the District Line and alight at Notting Hill Gate. From here, it’s about an eight-minute walk to Holland Park. The whole journey should take around 20 minutes.

Driving: It takes about eight minutes to drive from the Youth Hostel to Holland Park. Holland Park Pay and Display Car Park is just outside the park and has accessible parking spaces.