Forest bathing at Ruislip Woods

Ruislip Woods covers about 305 hectares in the north-west corner of London, the largest single area of woodland in the capital. In 1997 it became the first National Nature Reserve in an urban area in England. It is made up of several ancient semi-natural woods, including Park Wood, Copse Wood, Mad Bess Wood and Bayhurst Wood, along with Poor's Field and the land around Ruislip Lido. Most of it is hornbeam coppice with pedunculate and sessile oak, and wild service trees grow throughout. Bayhurst Wood has an unusual mix of hornbeam and beech.

The hornbeam was coppiced for more than five centuries until the 1950s, and active management started again in 1982, so you will see both old overgrown stools and newly cut areas. There are car parks at Reservoir Road by the lido, at Mad Bess Wood and at Bayhurst Wood, and four self-guided walks that start and finish at bus stops. The woods are hilly, and the unsealed paths get slippery and muddy in wet weather. For level going, the asphalt path around the lido is the alternative. Picking fungi is not allowed.