Archway is bursting with green spaces - both in the town centre and neighbouring areas.

Whittington Park near Upper Holloway Station has something for everyone. At the Holloway Rd entrance is a flowering bank and the park's trademark Dick Whittington's cat, made out of plants. The park has a sporty feel with a green gym (fitness machines), sports pitches and ping pong tables. There is a large children's playground filled with exciting play equipment and sand pits. A one o'clock club for under gives with it own outside play area. Hidden in one corner is a pond to support wildlife and another corner as a tranquil shady space to relax. At the rear exit of the park there's a café run by the local community association.

Foxham Gardens (which has a small children's playground attached). The easiest way to find it is to walk down Tytherton Rpad to a lane besides number 24.

Just beyond Foxham Gardens are the Tufnell Park Playing Fields. with tennis courts, playing fields and a small playground.

Although a lot of people know Waterlow Park on Highgate Hill, fewer people know and use Dartmouth Park (on the corner of Bickerton Road and Dartmouth Park Hill), which has one of the best uninterrupted views of London. 

If you're looking for a space to have a quick relax with a book, how about one of the small gardens right at the heart of Archway Town Centre? There are gardens sheltered from the traffic on two corners of the Archway gyratory: Archway Park (at the corner of Archway Road and St John's Way) and Archway Corner at the very top of Holloway Rd, on the east side behind the bus stops. If you're looking for somewhere to take the kids for a quick break whilst you're shopping, Girdlestone Park (in Vorley Rd, opposite the bus terminal) and Archway Park both have children's play spaces.

Further along St John's Way (behind the Caxton Centre) is Hillside Park, a narrow space which winds its way uphill beneath shady trees. Where St Johns way meets Hazellville Road there are two small parks, Sunnyside Community Garden and Elthorne Park. The community garden has a very intimate feel; its enclosed rooms are planted up by local people. Elthorne Park contains a surprise: if you make your way past the Johan Cruyff football pitch you come to a walled area. It's a Japanese-style peace garden, a tranquil place with square ponds and rose beds.

See our walks (links to the right above) for ideas to explore these parks!

If, after all this, you still want to go father afield, there's easy access from Archway to Hampstead Heath and Highgate Woods (for a fast trip to Highgate Woods take the tube to Highgate). The Southern Parkland Walk (along an old railway line) to Finsbury Park starts in Holmesdale Rd near Highgate Tube. Or for something a bit further afield take a 43 or 134 bus north to Cranleigh Gardens and follow the Northern Parkland Walk to Alexandra Palace.