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.
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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.
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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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