London's top 10 peaceful places

Barge Walk, Hampton Court

Following the curve of the river from Hampton Court Bridge to Kingston is a tree-lined stroll, with clusters of swans, vine-covered walls and rowers aplenty. Halfway along, the land lifts to reveal Seething Wells, the marvellously named former water treatment works with pipes wide-mouthed over the river. Anglers here pitch their tents in a close huddle, so you might have to squeeze around the group to carry on your journey. The route does get busy, particularly near the palace, but is worth it for the pockets of peace you'll encounter further along the way.
Train to Hampton Court station. From the rail station, head across the bridge to the palace and then take the footpath eastwards along the river

Queen Charlotte's Cottage, Kew

This lovely little place is a sanctuary within a sanctuary. Queen Charlotte's Cottage is at the end of a secluded paddock in Kew Gardens. This 18th-century rustic cottage was built as a country retreat for the royal family. Open in the spring and summer months only, it seems to be one of the less popular attractions in the gardens, which makes it perfect for those seeking a bit of tranquility. The paddock originally housed exotic animals including kangaroos, but is now a fine flower garden which, in the springtime, displays more bluebells than you've ever seen in your life.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (kew.org, adults £13.90, children under 17 free). Kew Gardens tube or Kew Bridge overground station. The conservation area surrounding the cottage can also be seen along the Thames path (thames-path.org.uk)

Eel Pie Island, Twickenham

No cars! No bikes! No barking dogs! The small number of residents on this island don't seem to like visitors much either (clock the number of Keep Out signs), but don't let that stop you having a wander. Eel Pie was known for jazz studios in the 1960s and its hippies in the 1970s, but in 2012 it is quiet and smells of honeysuckle. The Twickenham riverside is packed with noisy pub-goers in the summer (and rugby days), so the island really is a haven, easily accessible by footbridge. Twice a year, Eel Pie artists open their studio doors for all to visit (eelpieislandartists.co.uk, dates tbc).
A leisurely 10-minute walk fromTwickenham station

London Wetlands Centre, Barnes

Step away from Hammersmith Bridge to a remarkably peaceful part of the city: the London Wetland Centre. From the riverside, Alder trees line a glossy green route to the main entrance. Enjoying the marshland, lakes, meadows and gardens are flocks of birds and the odd reptile or two. Frogs and dragonflies emerge in the spring, as do families of keen wildlife enthusiasts, so time your arrival carefully to avoid the crowds. On one of our visits, the main building was closed but the entrance lake housed a few ducks paddling lazily, surrounded by a vast expanse of wildflowers. It was perfectly unpeopled.
Queen Elizabeth's Walk SW13, wwt.org.uk, adults £9.95, children £5.41, families £27.91, under 4s free. Barnes station, then a 15 minute walk or 5 minutes by buses 72 or 33

Daunt Books, Marylebone

One of the loveliest bookshops in London, housed in an old Edwardian store with oak-panelled galleries and balconies and long bookshelves to browse. It invites slow saunters, casual leaning against a wall and hours spent exploring. The range is eclectic and international; you're sure to find a book you didn't know you were looking for. When last we visited, a gaggle of small children read calmly in the kid's area, a man knelt on the floor examining an Ordnance Survey map, and free cups of elderflower cordial were available. 83 Marylebone High Street W1, 020-7224 2295 , dauntbooks.co.uk. Baker Street or Regent's Park tube. Other branches around the city

Hampstead Heath Extension

An obvious choice, but well deserving of a place on this list. The Pergola and Hill Garden offer lovely views, Kenwood House is beautiful, Parliament Hill delightful and the ponds (pictured), in summer, a treat. But the real hidden gem is on the north-west side, the extension, which was originally farmland, later tacked on to the main heath. Think hedgerows and open spaces, ancient trees and ponds. It's eerily silent, too. When we were here, we heard someone say: "We could be anywhere in the world." And it's true.
Hampstead Way NW11. Golders Green tube. From the station, turn right along Finchley Road, then Rotherwick Road to the end. Take a right at Corringham Road until you reach the heath

The Saison Poetry Library, Waterloo

The top floor of the Royal Festival Hall is filled with British poetry from 1912 to the present day. From obscure, hand-printed pamphlets to full collections by the finest poets, plus most literary magazines ever published. An exhibition space contains work by artists celebrating text and ranges from sound pieces and digital verse, to animation and ceramics. The library is a real treat for lovers of the written word. It's free to join, has a few tucked away study desks, and the reference section is worth dedicating some time to explore.
Level 5, Royal Festival Hall SE1, poetrylibrary.org.uk. Waterloo tube and overground

St Giles' Cripplegate church, Barbican Centre

The Barbican is considerably underrated as a building in London – possibly because it is so difficult to find the entrance – and full of peaceful places to enjoy including the high walkways, the music library and the indoor tropical conservatory. Surviving both the great fire and the second world war, St Giles' Cripplegate is in the heart of the complex and is another calm spot in the city. The Barbican does get busy in the evenings, so try the lakeside terrace before work or even in the very early morning for some stark concrete loveliness, traffic-free and with few other people to disturb your still moment.
Barbican Centre, Silk Street EC2, barbican.org.uk. St Giles', Fore Street EC2, 020-7638 1997, stgilescripplegate.com. Barbican or Moorgate tube or Liverpool Street station

Wapping Old Stairs

If the tide is out, slip down the passageway by the Town of Ramsgate pub to the algae-covered Wapping Old Stairs. Ancient maritime inns overlook this rocky shore, which is littered with fragments of history and debris. It's the type of place you can investigate endlessly, tucking between walls, leaning into nooks and jumping from stone to stone. Marvel at the deserted riverbed, the driftwood and the old execution dock constructed for pirates and smugglers. Apart from a few pesky speedboats, it's completely silent here.
Off Wapping High Street E1. Wapping tube. Exit station and head west along the High Street until you reach the Town of Ramsgate pub, follow the alleyway alongside the pub onto the stairs

Thames Barrier

Perhaps the most peaceful – and desolate – spot in London. By the Thames Barrier, there's a visitors' centre with no visitors; it's an essential part of London's flood management with no witnesses. Forget Olympics redevelopment, the landscape here is stark and industrial. The entire area is decorated with barbed wire, handwritten signs and cranes. The river is a blank shade of taupe with slim waves of brown. It's uninviting until you reach the barrier itself, which is impressive, its huge steel gates rising nobly from the river. It's also worth a stroll for a couple of miles along the river from North Greenwich.
1 Unity Way SE18, environment-agency.gov.uk. Charlton or Woolwich Arsenal station

This feature was originally published on londonist.com, which features London reviews and tips on things to do and see. Gemma Seltzer is a writer, literary blogger and the author of Speak to Strangers (Penned in the Margins, 2011), 100 hundred-word stories about random encounters with Londoners