The Best Outdoor Spaces in Camden Where You Can Eat Lunch

4th June 2019 | 4 min read

The-Best-Outdoor-Spaces-in-Camden-Where-You-Can-Eat-Lunch-Header-Image-The Best Outdoor Spaces in Camden Where You Can Eat Lunch

The Best Outdoor Spaces in Camden Where You Can Eat Lunch

Tired of eating lunch at your desk? Think about heading outside. Nothing compares to enjoying some food while soaking up the beautiful surroundings of nature. London may not be the first place that springs to mind for a verdant al fresco lunchtime, but Camden is one of the city’s greenest boroughs (ideal if you want to escape the daily hustle and bustle and sit down to a decent meal). Here are some of the best outdoor spaces in Camden where you can eat lunch – and they’re all just a short walk away from LABS.

Primrose Hill

Primrose Hill Rd, London NW3

Located just 10 minutes’ walk from LABS Atrium, Primrose Hill is the place to be if you want a tranquil, nature-filled lunch. There’s a history here that’s difficult not to be enthralled by, with the hill itself bearing an inscription from renowned Romantic poet William Blake: ‘I have conversed with the spiritual Sun. I saw him on Primrose Hill.’ Likewise, the surrounding neighbourhood has been home to figures such as Sylvia Plath, Friedrich Engels, and even Blake himself. Ideal for a picnic or lunchtime stroll, Primrose Hill is something of an institution in Camden, so be sure to take the time to check it out in all its glory.

Regent’s Park

Chester Rd, London NW1 4NR

One of the Royal Parks of London, Regent’s Park is a great place to sit and enjoy your lunch amid the sights and sounds of nature. Combining everything from large open spaces and tree-lined pathways to formal gardens and children’s playgrounds, it’s the perfect locale in which to take a breather during a day chock-full of busy work. Originally designed by John Nash, this Grade 1 listed park offers 395 acres for visitors to cover – including the famous Queen Mary’s Gardens, which feature over 12,000 roses! As lunch spots go, you can’t get much grander than Regent’s Park.

Talacre Gardens

13 Talacre Rd, Kentish Town, London NW5 3PH

Sandwiched (pun fully intended) between Chalk Farm and Kentish Town, these beautiful gardens are known for being fun, family-friendly, and creative (making them the perfect space in which to spend an exciting lunchtime away from the office). With a planted seating area, grassy fields, pathways, and benches, you can’t really go wrong here. Also, there are plenty of eateries nearby where you can get food before basking in the vibrant atmosphere. A destination that’s hard to beat, for sure.

Castlehaven Open Space

26 Castlehaven Rd, Camden Town, London NW1 8PU

Just a 30-second walk from the area’s famous markets and locks, Castlehaven is home to one of the largest green spaces in all of Camden. The site is superbly open and ran entirely by a team of community volunteers. Across its leafier areas, people are known to sit, relax, exercise, and walk their dogs. And, of course, eat lunch! The next time you’re taking a break, head to Castlehaven Open Space with some food and delight in the park’s luscious surroundings.

Camley Street Natural Park

12 Camley St, Kings Cross, London N1C 4PW

Camley Street Natural Park is something of a hidden gem in the Camden area. Way back in 1981, it was almost turned into a lorry park. Fortunately, this former coal drop was saved by the efforts of local campaigners. And that makes it pretty special in our book! Pay a visit on your lunch break one of these days; an amazing variety of landscapes and creatures existing across wetlands, meadows and woodland awaits. Also, you’re going to want to see the relatively new Viewpoint, a floating platform on the park’s eastern tip commissioned by the Finnish Institute in London. If you’re after a lunch break with a twist, this historic hotspot has you covered.

Belsize Wood

8 Woodland Walk, Hampstead, London NW3 2BZ

Since it first opened in the 1980s, Belsize Wood has been a must-visit destination for Camden’s lunchtime crowds. Adjacent to the modernist Isokon building, this deeply shaded local nature reserve is Grade 2 listed and houses a rich variety of plants and animals. Although the southern half of the park is only open on weekends, the northern half is more than enough to fill that nature-shaped hole in your workday (think ash and sycamore trees, not to mention lots of birds singing their hearts out!). And there’s even a railway tunnel that runs underneath, built all the way back in the 1860s. With so much on offer, Belsize Wood is exactly what you’d hope for from an outdoor lunch space.

When you’re busy at work, it’s all too tempting to just grab a sandwich and then return to your desk for a quick bite. But this isn’t good for you or your company. A busy eater will not be as productive as someone who’s taken the time to savour their food and properly recharge, which is so important for healthy energy levels.

Make the most of your lunchtime by checking out some of the best outdoor spaces in Camden where you can enjoy every mouthful!