Parks&Gardens in London

Most of the parks were once royal hunting grounds teeming with wildlife; later the Monarchs opened up this land to the citiziens of London, a legacy wich today includes: St James’s Park, Green park, Hyde Park and kensington Garden, Regent’s Park and Primorose Hill, Greenwich Park and Richmond Park. In the ninetennth century, several municipal parks were created, following a Parlamentary Report of 1833 wich reached the conclusion that occasional relaxation was “as neccessary to the poor as to rich“ It reccomended the laying out of the parks in the rapidly expanding and overcrowded suburbs, in the hope that the “lower orders’ would not only benefit from healthy exercise and contact with nature, but would also be distracted from their usual recreations such as “drinking houses, dog fights and boxing matches”. During the eightennth century, the earlier fashion for formal gardens was replaced by a preference for more natural landscaping. Curved paths and lakes, sweeping lawns and groups of trees were introduced at Kenwood House, Syon Park and other grand houses by landscape architects. The style became the hallmark of English parks and garden. Below some of the London Parks:
Hyde Parks (Hyde Park corner, Knightsbridge, Lancaster, Marble Arch or Queensway tube - open 5am-midnight daily)
Hyde Park is the largest and wonderful place to relax; it was the first park of the central royal parks to be opened to the public in 1637. In 1851 it was the site of the Great Exhibition and, a hundred years later, the Rolling Stones gig (1969). Now every Sunday, at Speakers’Corner, near Marble Arch, soapbox orators revive the flagging british tradition of free speech.
Kensington Gardens: W8, Bayswater, high Street, Kensington, Lancaster Gate or Queensway tube – open dawn-dusk daily
The royal gardens merge into Hyde Park, but have a distinct, more formal character; they are still the hunt of English nannies pushing prams. Kensington is on the west side. In the grounds you can wander through the sunken garden and the Orangery. Near the Long Water, the Stature of Peter Pan is modelled on a girl not a boy. Also for children, look out for Elfin Oak, puppet shows in the summer and two play-grounds.
Regent’s Park: NW1, Baker street, Camden town, Great Portland Street or Regent’s park tube . Open 5am-30mins before dusk daily.
Regent’s Park was laid out in 1817-28 by John Nash, as part of his master plan for the Prince Regent. A former Hunting ground of Henry VIII, it’s lively in summer, with a boating lake, 3 playgrounds, bandstand music, tennis court, and an Open Air Theatre from May to September.
St James’s Park: he Mall, SW1, St. James’s Park tube – open dawn to dusk daily.
Compact, beautilful and close to the West End, this Royal park is the ideal place to take a rest from shopping/sightseeing. Landscaped by John Nash in the early nineteenth century, there is a wonderful view of Buckingham Palace from the Bridge over the lake. The lake has become a sanctuary for wildfowl and there are 3 pelicans living on the island in the lake.

Green Park: entrances from Piccadilly andContitution Hill – open dawn to dusk daily
Green park was once part of the meadowland surrounding St James’s Palace. It’s now a large, quite shady expanse o grass and trees, wich links St. James’s Park with Hyde Park. Queen’s walk is a delightful walk from Green Park tube to Buckingham Palace, in the mall, with the original gas lamps still in place.