The quality of user experiences in three selected parks in London and Beijing: a Comparative Study

Extensive global urbanisation and population growth has led to urban green spaces (UGS), such as parks, playing an increasingly vital role in driving economic development and enhancing public well-being, ecological sustainability, social interaction and social cohesion. Many cities, particularly those in high-density areas, face significant challenges in park provision and management and in providing high-quality user experiences. Issues of urban parks in Chinese cities is particularly prominent in East Asian countries. Given that urban parks originated in Britain-and considering that UK parks generally offer a more comfortable user experience than parks in China - this study conducts a cross-case comparative analysis of urban park user experiences between London and Beijing. A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative (i.e. semi-structured interviews, participant observation, image analyses, archival research and site inventories) and quantitative methods (i.e. questionnaire surveys) is used to evaluate the differences in user experience between the two sets of parks and to determine how improving sociocultural contexts, policies and park design strategies and concepts can collectively heighten user experiences. London's parks, which are characterised by open-access policies, decentralised governance and adaptive management strategies, are found to provide more flexible, inclusive, and diverse recreational opportunities. In contrast, Beijing's parks, which are guided by a heritage-centric management approach, emphasise structured layouts and cultural preservation, often limiting spontaneous park use and personal engagement. Open-access policies governing London's parks encourage higher levels of user interaction, whereas Beijing parks' more rigid policies create formalised, sightseeingoriented experiences. While Beijing's parks' structural aesthetics support historical conservation, they reduce park adaptability and make user engagement more passive and structured. Flexible governance and interactive park design improve visitor satisfaction and ecological resilience. A hybrid approach that balances cultural heritage conservation with adaptable, user-centred landscapes is recommended for enhancing urban park engagement in both cities. The findings contribute to ongoing discourses on optimising park design and governance to meet both historical and contemporary recreational needs, thereby providing actionable insights for urban planners and policymakers creating sustainable and inclusive urban green spaces.