Forest bathing at Highgate Wood

Highgate Wood is about 70 acres of ancient woodland, a surviving piece of the old Forest of Middlesex that appears in the Domesday Book. In medieval times it was part of the Bishop of London's hunting estate. The City of London took it on in 1886, when it was still called Gravelpit Wood, on condition that it be kept for Londoners in perpetuity. Oak, hornbeam and holly make up most of it, with more than 50 other trees and shrubs that have seeded themselves, and there are plenty of old trees to sit under.

Most people arrive on foot from Highgate station, about five minutes away, and the café near the middle is the natural meeting point. Some of the main paths are tarmac and busy with buggies and dog walkers; the rougher side tracks are quieter, and they get muddy after rain. Waymarked posts and a downloadable map help you find your way. It is a gated wood with closing times that move through the year, and it can close at short notice in strong winds, so check before a late or blustery visit. Queen's Wood, wilder and less managed, is right next door.