The uninitiated may have the general idea of big cities in the UK as crowded, noisy, clogged with traffic, dirty, and polluted with fumes — in short, anything but a nature lover’s ideal destination. What they don’t take into account is the fact that unexpected beauty waits just steps away to enchant visitors with the discovery of nature parks, stargazing spots, areas of outstanding natural beauty, National Trust sites, encounters with rare animals, and endless possibilities for hiking or biking where you breathe nothing but fresh air.
My quest with this list is to point out which are the top UK cities for nature lovers, where they are, and what wonders just wait to be discovered with the added bonus that you can easily combine a city break with a foray into stunning nature. When following my suggestions, you can easily be forgiven for thinking you are miles away from a big city, whereas in reality, it takes only minutes to delve into a very different world. This proximity is surprising and often unknown and needs to be pointed out to anyone visiting the UK and looking for beauty and adventure inside and outside one of the country’s best-known cities which are to be found all over the country.
Here are my favorites:
1. Plymouth
Plymouth is a lively port city on the south coast of England, in Devon precisely, just a 3-hour train ride from London. The city is probably most famous as the departure port of the Mayflower in 1620. Like just about any port town in the world, Plymouth has her fair share of noise, traffic, shipbuilding, and not so pretty areas, but nature is not to be defeated as the city features 28 parks. Then, there is the Plymouth Hoe, a vast, green area with lush lawns and stunning views over the sea that invites picnics and sunbathing in the summer and strolls in fresh sea air the rest of the year. The centerpiece is Smeaton’s Tower, a 72-foot-high lighthouse, the lantern room of which offers great views over the city.
Plymouth’s beauty of nature extends beyond the city limits to Plymbridge Woods. This is a wooded valley in Devon run by the National Trust that opens up to the moors of Dartmoor, crisscrossed by hiking and cycling paths through ancient woodland along the River Plym. Plymbridge Woods is located just 6 miles northeast of Plymouth. For wildlife lovers, there is the Peregrine Project, mostly run by volunteers to preserve peregrine falcons and other rare birds.
About 6 miles in the opposite direction lies the romantic little village of Noss Mayo on the Yealm River estuary. Ferries cross from one bank to the other, you can enjoy a day on the water and never think that you are just miles away from a major port town.
2. Bristol
Located on the River Avon, Bristol is the most populated city in the southwest of England. The city has some other monikers too, for instance, it has been called the “happiest city in the UK” and was awarded the title European Green Capital in 2015. Full of art (including street art) great architecture, cafes, shops, and restaurants, Bristol is a mere 1.5 hours by train from London but also close to the ocean and the beautiful countryside of Gloucestershire and Somerset, with a long maritime history and tradition.
What we are talking about here however is a favorite pastime of nature lovers: stargazing. A study has shown that Bristol is one of the best cities in the UK to watch the constellations because of its clear night skies. So popular is stargazing in Bristol that there is even a Bristol Astronomical Society. Meetings and talks at the society are open to everyone interested in astronomy. There are several locations in Bristol that are especially popular and appropriate for stargazing, like the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Observatory and the Cabot Tower in Brandon Hill (which is currently closed, however). Watch the website to see when it reopens.
3. Birmingham
Birmingham is a major city and metropolis in the West Midlands. It was an important center of the UK industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries. Despite being a big city with all that entails, Birmingham is a favorite with nature lovers because the city features no less than 44 green and recreation areas. Foremost, there is the Botanical Garden, which features four stunning glasshouses from tropical rainforest to desert, with a huge lawn in front and even a bandstand.
Right in the center of the city sits the amazing Cannon Hill Park, with a plethora of indoor and outdoor fun for the whole family, including art, entertainment, rides, and games. A very different nature experience is visiting the beautiful Martineau Gardens, just 2 miles from the city center. Run as a charity, this is a 2.5-acre community garden with plants, landscaping, and wildlife designed to provide a haven of tranquility, relaxation, and health for the common good. Finally, for wildlife lovers, there is the Birmingham Conservation Park, located on the edge of Cannon Hill Park which was formerly a small zoo. The big city of Birmingham certainly has a lot to offer for nature lovers.
4. Southampton
Southampton is a major port town in the south of England, some 70 miles southwest of London. The city is probably best known as the departure port of the ill-fated Titanic on her maiden voyage on April 10, 1912. Only a few miles away lies one of the UK’s most beautiful and interesting nature parks, the New Forest. The number one beauty spot in the New Forest is called Telegraph Hill. It’s a vast expanse of heathland — just imagine the color when the sun sets over it, wild roaming animals and winding paths as far as you can see and want to walk. Completing this loop trail takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Then, there is the Beaulieu River where you have the chance to see protected reed beds. Want to see rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and rare trees in full bloom? Then visit the Exbury Gardens in the spring. The flowers and plants represent over 100 years of loving collection by the Rothschild family. Fall is equally colorful and at any time you can travel around this sea of color and scent in a little steam railway.
Lepe Beach, much admired by Queen Victoria, is one of the few beaches in the south of England with wild natural landscapes behind it. A special attraction of the New Forest, although it can only be seen for a few weeks in April and May, is a thick carpet of bluebells.
In addition, there are ancient woodlands to explore; in fact, they are some of the oldest in all of Europe, and the romantic little village of Ashurst is often dubbed the gateway to the New Forest. Close to the Beaulieu River, wetlands meet woodlands, especially alder and birch, including the respective wildlife.
Don’t forget to pay a visit to the city of Southampton herself and see the longest surviving stretch of a medieval wall in the UK, the SeaCity museum featuring an interactive model of the Titanic, or if you are a fan of airplanes, the museum dedicated to aviation.
Southampton has entered the bid to become the European Capital of Culture 2025.
5. Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton, located in the so-called Black Country in Staffordshire in Middle England, once was an industrial town known for coal pits and metal works. These times are over and have made way for mansions turned into museums, art galleries, and parks. A prime example is the half-timbered Wightwick Manor, a National Trust building that represents the late 19th-century arts and crafts movement. No less impressive are the formal gardens of Bantock House Museum and Garden, a manor that sits on 50 acres of grounds. A private collection of artworks can be admired inside and they even let you sit on the furniture. But, back to nature! There is David Austin Roses, a combined plant center and rose garden created by David Austin in 1950. Over 700 varieties of roses grow there, arranged in informal gardens named Patio Garden, Renaissance Garden, Long Garden, and Victorian Garden among others. All are in full bloom in the summer. Just imagine the scent of such a huge amount of flowers.
Another delight for nature lovers is the typical Victorian West Park. The park features a lake one can row around on, a glass conservatory by the lake, a bandstand, and a tea room.
Love birds? Then visit the Wild Zoological Park for encounters with wild animals and, above all, shows of wild birds. The park was created out of a desire to educate the public about wildlife and to eliminate misconceptions. Last but not least, there is the imposing Himley Hall, just south of Wolverhampton, a Palladian mansion of the 18th century that sits among 180 acres of parkland and was designed by Capability Brown, a leading landscape architect of the period.
All these beauty spots for nature lovers are open to the public, but most of them request an entrance fee. As far as opening times are concerned, consult the respective websites.
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