Spring In The Parks
Believe it or not, Spring is upon us - so it's time
to come out of hibernation, dust off the tartan
picnic rug and frisbee, and head for a park near you...
London's parks come alive in the spring and summer,
and there are few better times to sample the tranquility
and natural beauty of one of the city's 'green
lungs', than April to September. To help you get the
most out of London's world class parks, we've put
together some recommendations for days out in
London's many parks and gardens:
- Boating on the Lake at Regent's
Park is a popular and enjoyable way to spend
a weekend afternoon, particularly with the abundance
of birdlife that also share the lake and surrounds.
Just as much fun is watching from a park bench as
the unco-ordinated row in ever-decreasing circles,
drop oars in the lake etc. Baker Street Tube.
- Queen Mary's Gardens within Regent's Park
are one of London's most colourful displays, and
a great spot for a picnic. Grab a bottle of vino,
a few cucumber sandwiches, your tartan picnic rug
and you're away laughing. Regent's Park Tube.
- The Open Air Theatre at Regent's Park has
a summer season of Shakespeare (from May
to Sept) which is well worth checking out. Wrap
up though, this is England after all. Baker Street
Tube.
- Regent's Canal skirts around the northern
edge of the park, and boat trips can be taken
between Little Venice and the markets at Camden
Lock (visit www.jasons.co.uk).
A canal-side walkway runs beside the canal for the
more health conscious. Camden Town or Warwick Avenue
tube.
- Greenwich
Park offers a wide range of day out options.
For those that want to mix a bit of time in the
park with some history and science, the Royal
Observatory (where Greenwich Mean Time and Longitude
are set) on the hill, the Naval Museum, and the
Ranger's House are all worth a visit. Cutty Sark
DLR or Greenwich Tube/BR.
- The Hill at Greenwich Park offers
magnificent views over London. The slopes
of the hill are a top picnic spot, and with pubs
(such as the Trafalgar Tavern) and the excellent
Greenwich Markets nearby, you can't go wrong.
Cutty Sark DLR or Greenwich Tube/BR.
- Hyde
Park always has something going on - concerts,
royal birthday salutes, gatherings, Speakers'
Corner - and with some nice clear expanses is
ideal for throwing a rugby ball around or
playing a bit of football. Just don't stand
on a squirrel. Knightsbridge, Marble Arch, or Lancaster
Gate Tubes.
- Kensington Gardens (effectively part of
Hyde Park) are a relaxing corner for a picnic, a
spot of squirrel feeding, and for watching
grown men in anoraks carry their model boats towards
Long Water. Lancaster Gate or Queensway Tubes.
- The Serpentine is an artificial lake
in the heart of Hyde Park, and is used for boating
and even a bit of swimming by the brave (and
foolhardy). Occasionally a body is fished out in
suspicious circumstances, but don't let that put
you off. Knightsbridge or Lancaster Gate Tube.
- St. James Park, a mere stones throw from
Buckingham Palace, is a park dominated by its bird-filled
lake and path-side flower beds. A great place for
a romantic stroll, picnic, or gawping at
the pelicans. In summer, free concerts (of
the brass band or classical variety) are played
from the bandstand, so pull up a deckchair, knot
a hanky on your head, and you'll blend in perfectly.
St. James Park or Piccadilly Tube.
- Slightly off the beaten track - and all the better
for it - is Holland Park. With a few woods
to frolic in, you'll also find formal gardens,
peacocks strutting around, and a handily placed
café. Well worth a visit, with good shopping
nearby if all this nature becomes too much.
Holland Park or High Street Kensington Tube.
- Hampstead Heath in north London is the
ideal place to walk off your Sunday roast,
hopefully consumed in one of the excellent historic
pubs in nearby Highgate or Hampstead (see Historic
Pubs). The Heath (at a size of 8 sq. km) has
a diversity of landscapes, including woods,
lakes, and hills. The highest point on the Heath
is Parliament Hill, where great views
of London can be enjoyed and the men in anoraks
fly their kites (when they've had enough of sailing
their model boats at Hyde Park). Evening concerts
are held in summer, just below Kenwood House (worth
a visit for its excellent art collection). Belsize
Park or Hampstead Tubes.
- Green Park - squeezed between the hustle
and bustle of The Mall and Piccadilly - is a small
haven from the central London crowds, and a
good place to unwind from an exhausting shopping
stint on Regent and Oxford Streets. Push the boat
out and hire a deck chair. Piccadilly or Green Park
Tubes.
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