Added: 04/25/2007 |
London's Parks Royal TreatmentLondon is more of a small country than a city, which can make it quite intimidating for the traveler. London seems so big and powerful, but does have a softer side in its eight parks, royal green oases in London's concrete desert. And you don't have to be 'Ye Olde Royale' to enjoy the sights and sounds of a 'royale parke';.
Why are they called The Royal Parks? Read the article and you get to know why.
London is cut up into boroughs that are treated as mini-cities in their own right. If you ask a native where a park is in London, he’ll need to know which borough you are referring to. All of the parks together come to over 5,000 acres, so don’t try to do them all in a day. Buses are regular, and taxis are best found in front of train or tube stations. Give yourself plenty of time.
In the parks, royal sights are to be had. There are often lovely fountains, historical architecture, events and concerts held beside the deep blue omnipresent Thames. They are perfect places for people watching. You can get a much better understanding of the English character when they are picnicking, walking their dogs or eating fudge royale. Park details are as follows:
Bushy Park: In the south-west London borough of Richmond-Upon-Thames (seriously!), this nearly 2,000 acre park is the birthplace of field hockey. It also has free roaming deer, a pond just for model boats and the gorgeous ‘Diana’ fountain (actually named Arethusa Fountain, but renamed by the locals) made by Sir Christopher Wren. It is usually crowded, but not cramped.
Green Park: A small (53 acre), tree-lined flower-studded field connecting to St. James Park and opposite Buckingham Palace, it is a welcome respite from the tourist-clogged central London spots.
Greenwich Park: (pronounced ‘GREN itch’) The future sight of the 2012 Summer Olympics equestrian events, this is the oldest London park. Royal Observatory’s home is here. Statues, trees, flowers gardens and museums also populate lovely grounds. This park is one of the major attractions of London, and usually busy.
Hyde Park: This central London park has nothing to do with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, incidentally. The natives get really annoyed if you ask. This is the most famous of the royal parks, most notably for Speaker’s Corner and for hosting free concerts. It’s very much like New York’s Central Park, but with a lot more accents are in the air and no soft pretzels. It has impressive monuments, archways and access to the tube, with five stations touching it. This has often been featured in literature, films, and even one of the Beatles’ album covers, so if looks familiar, it is.
Kensington Gardens: Sometimes confused with its neighbor, Hyde Park. It’s an open-air museum of gardens and graceful architecture on the grounds of Kensington Palace. The famous Albert Memorial and local favorites Peter Pan statue and the Princess Diana Memorial Playground reside there with an abundance of birds.
The Regent’s Park: Located in the northern borough of Camden, this round four hundred acre garden also has world-famous sights. It boasts the Triton fountain, sports parks and over 30,000 roses.
Richmond Park: 2500 acres of magical charm, you can easily see why celebrities such as Mick Jagger buy homes in the gorgeous borough of Richmond. Highlights include Isabella Plantation, over a thousand species of beetles, more than 650 free roaming deer, and the Royal Ballet School.
St. James’s Park: Also in the very heart of central (tourist) London, this is within walking distance of Green Park, Hyde Pak and Kensington Gardens. It has its own lake with two little islands and plenty of birds, including pelicans. It also contains The Mall, which is where ceremonies and parades are held. The Horse Guards live there, so watch where you step. This parks royal reputation is as a meeting place for illicit love affairs.
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