Wildlife of London, United Kingdom
London is one of the world's greenest capitals — nearly half its surface is vegetation — and it supports around 15,000 red foxes, thriving urban peregrines, and one of the densest populations of ring-necked parakeets outside their native range. The Thames now runs clean enough for seals, porpoises and the occasional wandering beluga.
Best timeApril – June for breeding songbirds, October – February for waterfowl on the Thames and reservoirs.
- 1London has more red fox territories per square km than any other capital in Europe.
- 2The River Thames now supports harbour seals, harbour porpoises and even seahorses.
- 3Parakeets — Rose-ringed — are a fully naturalised part of the city's soundscape.
Signature species
Curated for London, United Kingdom, each tagged with its IUCN Red List status.
- LC
Red fox
Vulpes vulpes
- LC
Harbour seal
Phoca vitulina
- LC
Peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
- NT
European hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
UK population down 50% since 2000.
- NT
Stag beetle
Lucanus cervus
IUCN codes — EX extinct · EW extinct in wild · CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened · LC least concern · DD data deficient
Dos & don'ts
Local etiquette that keeps wildlife wild.
Do
- Leave a gap under garden fences for hedgehogs.
- Report seal sightings to the ZSL Thames survey.
- Keep distance — use zoom or binoculars, never bait animals closer.
- Stay on marked trails to avoid trampling nests, burrows and plants.
Don't
- Don't drop cigarette ends — plastic filters kill urban wildlife.
- Don't feed foxes — it creates conflict with neighbours.
- Never feed wildlife — human food changes behaviour and shortens lives.
- Don't share exact locations of nests, dens or rare species online.
Spotted here lately
Live from iNaturalist — research-grade observations within 50km, last 30 days.
Loading citizen-science data…