London’s wildlife is a reminder that even in one of the world’s most densely populated cities, nature has a way of carving out its own space. From the mischievous foxes that saunter through suburban gardens to the parakeets that screech across parks like they’ve missed the last Tube, London is a city where urban life coexists with the wild in a charming, often unpredictable way.
Here’s a guide to some of the most interesting wildlife you can spot in London’s parks, waterways, and yes, even its streets.
1. Foxes: The City’s Night Stalkers
Perhaps the most iconic of London’s wild inhabitants, the red fox is both loved and loathed by the city’s residents. While other cities sleep, London’s foxes are on the prowl—darting between gardens, raiding bins, and occasionally wandering down quiet, moonlit streets like they own the place. With their striking auburn coats and bushy tails, they’ve adapted brilliantly to urban life. In fact, London is said to have one of the highest densities of urban foxes in the world.
Where to spot them: Keep an eye out in residential neighborhoods, especially around dawn and dusk when foxes are most active. Hampstead, Highgate, and Richmond are particularly fox-friendly areas.
2. Parakeets: The Unexpected Residents
If you’ve ever wandered through a London park and heard the unmistakable squawk of a bright green bird, you’ve likely encountered one of the city’s thousands of wild parakeets. These exotic birds, thought to have originated from escaped pets, have taken to London’s climate with surprising enthusiasm. The most common variety, the ring-necked parakeet, is now a regular feature in parks like Kew Gardens and Kensington Gardens, adding a dash of tropical color to the city’s wildlife.
Where to spot them: You’ll find parakeets in most of London’s major parks, especially Richmond Park, Hyde Park, and the gardens of South West London.
3. Stags and Deer: The Royal Herds
London is one of the few capital cities in the world where you can find herds of deer roaming freely within the city limits. Richmond Park and Bushy Park, both royal parks, are home to magnificent herds of red deer and fallow deer, which have been there for centuries. Watching a stag silhouette itself against the misty landscape at dawn is one of those rare moments when London feels almost otherworldly.
Where to spot them: Richmond Park and Bushy Park are famous for their resident deer. Visit early in the morning for a more tranquil experience.
4. Hedgehogs: London’s Prickly Friends
Though their numbers have sadly declined in recent years, hedgehogs are still found in the wilder corners of London’s gardens and parks. These nocturnal creatures, with their endearing snuffles and prickly spines, are surprisingly elusive, but if you’re lucky enough, you might spot one rustling through undergrowth in search of food.
Where to spot them: Regent’s Park and Holland Park are known for their hedgehog populations, though you might also find them in quieter residential gardens.
5. Bats: London’s Night Fliers
As dusk falls, the skies over London’s parks fill with the silent, darting shapes of bats. Far from being the stuff of horror movies, these fascinating creatures play a vital role in keeping the city’s insect population in check. The most common species in London include the pipistrelle, noctule, and Daubenton’s bat. Head to a park by the water and you’ll likely see them swooping low over ponds and rivers, hunting for insects.
Where to spot them: Battersea Park, Hampstead Heath, and along the Regent’s Canal are excellent places for bat-watching at twilight.
6. Water Birds: From Swans to Cormorants
The waterways of London are teeming with birdlife. Alongside the iconic mute swans, you’ll find a host of other water birds, from the gregarious Canada geese to the shy, diving cormorants that fish the Thames. Herons stalk the edges of lakes and ponds with prehistoric elegance, while moorhens and coots paddle about with their characteristic bobbing gait.
Where to spot them: The Serpentine in Hyde Park, Regent’s Park’s boating lake, and the Thames Path are great places for birdwatching.
7. Peregrine Falcons: London’s Apex Predators
Believe it or not, the fastest animal in the world calls London home. Peregrine falcons, which can reach speeds of over 200 mph when diving for prey, have adapted to urban life, nesting on tall buildings like the Tate Modern and Battersea Power Station. These fierce birds of prey have been making a comeback in cities around the UK, and London offers them plenty of pigeons to hunt.
Where to spot them: The Tate Modern, Battersea Power Station, and sometimes even on St. Paul’s Cathedral. Look up—you might just catch a glimpse of one soaring above.
8. Grey Squirrels: London’s Busy Gardeners
Grey squirrels are as common in London as red buses and black cabs, and just as likely to chase you down for a snack. Introduced from North America in the 19th century, they’ve largely replaced the native red squirrel (which you’ll have to go to Scotland to see). Love them or hate them, their acrobatics and relentless foraging have made them a quintessential part of London’s park life.
Where to spot them: Virtually any park in London, but especially in Green Park, St. James’s Park, and Hyde Park.
9. Hedgehoppers: Butterflies of the City
London is also home to a surprisingly varied butterfly population. From the striking red admiral to the delicate comma butterfly, these creatures brighten the city’s gardens and parks in the warmer months. Their presence is a testament to the green spaces that make London more than just a concrete jungle.
Where to spot them: Kew Gardens and Hampstead Heath are prime spots for butterfly sightings in the summer.
10. Grass Snakes: London’s Elusive Reptiles
It might surprise you, but London is home to grass snakes—non-venomous reptiles that are most often found around bodies of water. They’re shy creatures, more likely to slip away than be seen, but if you’re particularly eagle-eyed, you might spot one basking in the sun near a pond or riverbank.
Where to spot them: Wimbledon Common and the wetlands around the Lee Valley.