As the UK heads into a third nationwide lockdown many people will visit London's green spaces for their daily exercise.

In a statement today (Jan 5), The Royal Parks have confirmed they will remain open, but urged visitors to follow government guidelines.

There are eight Royal Parks in London, with two - Bushy and Richmond Park - located in the South West.

Under current government guidelines only locals should visit these areas to prevent unnecessary travel and overcrowding.

A spokesperson for The Royal Parks said:

“During this new lockdown, the parks will continue to remain open as they have done throughout the pandemic, and the opening and closing times remain as advertised on our website. The parks provide vital green spaces where local visitors can get some fresh air, enjoy the natural environment and do their daily exercise - just a 20 minute walk in the park can boost mental and physical wellbeing.

“The latest Government guidance makes it clear that if you leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local in the village, town, or part of the city where you live. You may leave your local area for a legally permitted reason, such as for work. It is important that people stick to the rules and only visit parks local to them, where they must continue to observe social distancing by staying 2m apart from others; can exercise once a day with their household (or support bubble) or with one other person; and must not gather in groups.

“We are currently working through the impact of the latest Government guidance on all our park operations and on those of our contractors. For the most up-to-date information on all our parks, please visit www.royalparks.org.uk/coronavirus or follow us on Twitter @theroyalparks.”