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Gardens London |
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From large Royal parks to smaller community parks, London is a city that has lots of open spaces, and the gardens are to be admired. Almost all public Gardens London are free, and are a popular spot in the summer. Gardens in central London • Battersea Park : Opened in 1858 by Queen Victoria, the park was seen as a way of keeping the lower classes in order by giving them plenty of space for healthy recreation. In the 200 park is the 100 ft high Peace Pagoda was built beside the Thames by Buddhist monks and nuns in 1985. • Coram's Fields : This has only seven-acres but there is an under-fives play area, an animal enclosure with goats, sheep and a pig, a paddling pool, playground equipment and café. Adults are only admitted if accompanied by a child, and no dogs are allowed. • Hyde Park : Hyde Park is a peaceful haven for the capital's office workers and tourists. It is central London's largest park. There are 350 acres of woods, grasslands, lake and gardens. It also has a horse riding track. • Holland Park : Holland Park is the most romantic of London's parks. The small, but lively, park is more wooded and intimate than the large royal parks of Kensington Gardens London and Hyde Park. There is also an adventure playground, cafe, and, during the summer, open-air theatre and opera under an elegant canopy. • Jubilee Gardens : It was laid out in 1977 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. A huge new addition to the riverfront here is the London Eye that now stands beside the gardens. • Kensington Gardens : These attractive gardens were one of the reasons that William III and Mary II bought the house when they came to the throne in 1689. Features of the gardens include a sunken gardens London, the Orangery café, the Serpentine Gallery and the Albert Memorial. • Primrose Hill : This 61 acre grassy hill has a children's playground and an outdoor gymnasium. The park has a good view of London Zoo's aviary, designed by Lord Snowden and at the top of the hill there are breath-taking views over London. • Regent's Park : It is London's most civilized park. Lively in the summer, with two boating lakes, one for children, three playgrounds, tennis courts, bandstand music, a café and an open-air theatre. Many varieties of water birds can be seen on the boating lake. • St James's Park : It is probably the most beautiful and intimate of the capital's central parks. It is a popular place to stroll, feed the ducks or watch the pelicans. Popular in the summer with sunbathing office workers, a band plays throughout the summer. There is a cafe providing refreshments and a playground at the Buckingham Palace end. • Victoria Embankment Gardens : This narrow strip of public park by the Thames was created in the late 19th century. The main historical feature of the gardens is the water gate at its north west corner, built in 1626 as the triumphal entry to the Thames for the Duke of Buckingham Gardens London. • Victoria Tower Gardens : These quiet and scenic riverside gardens are set on the south side of the Houses of Parliament. The garden boasts of a number of statues, including a suffragette and a cast of Rodin's 'Burghers of Calais'. Gardens in outer London • Alexander Park : This 200 acre public park around the Alexander Palace has sporting facilities and plenty of attractions for children. Features include a children's playground, boating lake and small animal enclosure. In the summer there are children's shows and workshops. • Crystal Palace Park : Very popular with children the park has a farmyard, boating lake, maze and play area. The model dinosaurs, which survived the fire, are now classified as listed buildings. Views from the park are spectacular and also unmissable is the vast Crystal Palace TV Transmitter, located in the park. • Dulwich Park : It was established in the reign of Queen Victoria. From the 75 wooded acres of Dulwich Park there is a great view of the mast of the Crystal Palace TV transmitter, over in Crystal Palace Park. • Greenwich Park : This beautiful 163 acre park is set on a hill between Blackheath and the River Thames. It includes a pond with wildfowl, a flower garden, and a children's playground. In the summer brass bands perform in the park and there special events such as open air theatre, puppet shows in the playground and café music. • Highgate Wood : Highgate Wood offers shady walks through 70 acres of its ancient woodland. Popular with children as the wood has nature trails, a playground, a nature hut and loads of space to run around in. • Kew Gardens : these are the most complete public gardens in the world. Covering 300 acre, the gardens are full of varieties of tree, shrub and flower. There are 38,000 different plant species at Kew, some entirely extinct in the wild. • Queen's Park : This small park offers a haven away from the hustle and bustle of the Kilburn High Road. Features include a small pitch-and-putt golf course, tennis courts, a petanque rink and a good café. There are also Sunday bandstand concerts in the summer. • Richmond Park : It is one of the last vestiges of the great oak forests that surrounded London until medieval times. A highlight of the park is the Isabella Plantation, woodland landscaped with a stream, ponds and magnificent floral displays. • West Ham Park : This 77 acre park has a botanical collection within the gardens. The park also has plenty of attractions for children, including a playground and adventure playground. • Victoria Park : This large park has lakes, fountains and tea rooms. It is very popular with children and has a One O'clock Club for under-fives and their parents, a herd of deer, goats and a program of summer activities. Related
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