Parking in London
It’s that time of year when we in the Northern Hemisphere consider braving the outside world again. Even if the weather isn’t quite warm enough for frolicking just yet, it is dreams of the happy summer months ahead that keep us going through the last miserable cold days. In the interest of encouraging your sunny fantasies, we’ve put together a list of delightful London parks that we know you’ll be dying to get into by April (and, lets face it, with the right preparations, you could enjoy these parks right now. After all, the Scottish say, ‘there’s not such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing’).
1) Regent’s Park
Located in central London, Regent’s Park has many reasons to recommend it: a boating lake, the elegantly sculpted Queen Mary’s Gardens, the London zoo and even an open-air theatre in the summer months. Its location, its (relatively) small size and the gorgeous flowers on view in the gardens, make Regent’s Park an ideal spot for a workday coffee or lunch break; it is your own personal idyll in the middle of the bustling city.
2) Hampstead Heath
The rolling hills, ponds and large trees that hide the surrounding houses, all combine to make Hampstead Heath feel like a tiny bit of wild English countryside growing free in the city. Dogs gambol happily across the fields, their owners fast on their heels. The wonderful view from Parliament Hill over the rest of London makes the city feel a million miles away. Hampstead Heath is the perfect place for a summer Pimm’s and cricket party.
3) Greenwich Park
Located as it is next to the Cutty Sark museum, the National Maritime Museum and the University of Greenwich, visiting Greenwich Park is like stepping back in time to grand Regency era England. Greenwich Park’s main avenue boasts an impressive view across the Thames to the financial district. The oldest of London’s parks, Greenwich is also home to the Royal Observatory and the Meridian Line. A must-see park for naval and historical enthusiasts.
4) Richmond Park
If you’re feeling cramped and all you want is space, space, space, then Richmond Park is the place to be. The largest enclosed area in London, this is a park to forget yourself in amongst the roaming deer, the ancient trees and lovely wetlands. If you’re a fan of cycling, the cycle paths will be a treat and for those of you without your own set of wheels, there are bicycles for hire at the park entrance. A park for explorers and adventurers stuck in the metropolis.
