London hotels reservations – Famous parks, glorious gardens

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All these in the centre of Town!

London is blessed with some wonders of nature right in its very heart in the form of its magnificent parks and gardens, which offer peaceful enjoyment, recreation and tranquillity.
Here’s a few of them to tempt you to take a stroll or more.

Alexandra Palace and Park
Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London N22
Tel: 020 8365 2121
U Wood Green, T Alexander Palace then bus
Open: Alexandra Park open daily. Palm Court open daily 1000-1800

This majestic building, built in 1873, is one of London’s famous landmarks and is known as the birthplace of television. 200 acres of beautiful parkland, with panoramic views over London. It includes leisure facilities of ice rink, boating lake, pitch and putt golf and a garden centre.
Free admission

Battersea Park
Battersea Park Road, London SW11
Tel: 020 7924 7505
U Sloane Square, T Battersea Park
Open: dawn to dusk

A central London park with extensive sporting and recreational facilities with attractions which include the children’s zoo and the Pump House Gallery.
Free admission, except the zoo.

Chelsea Physic Garden
66 Royal Hospital, London SW3 4HS
Tel: 020 7352 5646
U Sloane Square
Open: Apr-Oct, Wed 1200-1700, Sun 1400-1800

The second oldest botanic garden in England it has a history of having grown herbs and plants for medicinal purposes since the 1600’s serving royalty and supplying leading physicians with resources for their treatments. It is famous throughout Europe for its rare and unusual plants.
Admission: adult £4.00 child £2.00

Green Park
Off Piccadilly, London SW1
Tel: 020 7620 0374
U Green Park
Open: daily

Lying to the east of Buckingham Palace its origins are as a royal hunting ground and it was acquired by Henry VIII in the early 16th century. It provides the backdrop for British ceremonial life with The Mall, the processional route between the Palace and Horse Guards Parade, the venue for major ceremonial occasions. An ideal place to hire a deck chair and relax from the hectic Capital.
Free admission

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Greenwich Park
Charlton Way, Greenwich, London SE10 8QY
Tel: 020 8293 0703/020 7935 5894
U Blackheath/Geenwich/Maze Hill, T Island Gardens
Open: daily 0500-dusk

Created in 1433 this 185-acre Park situated on a hilltop overlooking London has a fine views towards the National Maritime Museum and across the Thames to Docklands and the City of London. The Park contains the Royal Observatory, which is in the centre, formal gardens, many historic avenues of trees, a popular boating lake and a children’s playground.
Free admission

Hyde Park
London W2
Tel: 020 7606 3030
U Hyde Park Corner/Marble Arch
Open: daily 0700-dusk

One of London’s finest landscapes with 340 acres; it has existed since 1536 when the land was acquired for hunting. Sit and relax in one of the lakeside restaurants overlooking the famous Serpentine lake (where you can hire a boat) and enjoy the view. Even with its heavy use and City location it manages to convey a haven of rural tranquillity.
Free admission

Kensington Gardens
Kensington, London W8
Tel: 020 8643 1236
U Queensway/Lancaster Gate
Open: daily 0700-dusk

Formed from land taken from adjoining Hyde Park in 1689. Added to since including in Victorian times with most notably the Italian Gardens (recently refurbished) and the Albert Memorial adding to the reputation of the Gardens as a tranquil and formal environment.
Free admission

Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens)
Kew, Richmond, Surrey
Tel: 020 8940 1171
U/T Kew Gardens T Kew Bridge
Open: daily from 0930. Closing between 1600-1930 according to time of year. Closed 25 Dec, 1 Jan

Once belonging to the Royal Family with 300 acres of beautiful specimen gardens, parkland, lake, water gardens and hot-houses it contains living collections of over 40,000 plant species and varieties. Also six glasshouses, two art galleries, visitors’ centre, Evolution House, restored Japanese Gateway and landscape.
Admission: adult £5.00 child £2.50

Regent’s Park
London NW1
Tel: 020 7839 1377
U Baker Street
Open daily

Referred to as the ‘jewel in the crown’ it evolved in 1811 and owes its commanding presence to the vision of Prince Regent, later to become George IV. The area open to the public exceeds 400 acres and is predominately open parkland but supporting a wide range of facilities and amenities including London Zoo, (see Kids Fun London), an Open Air Theatre, fine gardens, a lake with islands, and children’s playgrounds.
Free admission

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Richmond Park
Richmond
Surrey
U/T Richmond
Open: Mar-Sept daily 0700-30mins before dusk

Extending over 2,360 acres it was enclosed as a hunting park by Charles I in 1637 and still retains many features of a medieval park with herds of fallow and red deer that still roam the park.
Free admission

Roof Gardens
99 Kensington High Street, London W8 5ED
Tel: 020 7937 7994/020 7938 2772
U High Street Kensington
Open: daily on non-function days

Built in 1938 it was the largest of its kind in Europe being 100 feet above Kensington High Street on top of one of London’s finest department stores. Constructed around three themes: the Spanish Garden with fountains and formal design; the Tudor Garden in old red brick and the English garden complete with streams, ducks and flamingos.
Free admission

St James’s Park
Horse Guards Parade, London SW1
Tel: 020 7930 1793
U St James’s Park/Piccadilly Circus
Open: daily dawn-midnight

The oldest Royal Park in London with excellent views of Buckingham Palace to the west and Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament to the east. It reflects the English picturesque style of landscaping which was prominent in the 19th century. As well as its views it is famous for its flower displays and its waterfowl, where you can feed the ducks.
Free admission

Syon Park and House
Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex
Tel: 020 8560 0881
U Gunnersbury then bus 237, 267, T Kew Bridge then bus 237, 267
Open: House: 17 Mar-31 Oct, Wed-Sun and Bank holidays 1100-1700. Gardens: daily 1000-1730/dusk. Closed 25 and 26 Dec

There are 30 acres of gardens, which contain the spectacular Great Conservatory, over 200 species of rare trees, a miniature steam railway, a Garden Centre and the London Butterfly House. It also includes Syon House, which is The Duke of Northumberland’s London home with 200 acres of landscaped parkland featuring some of Robert Adam’s finest interiors
Admission: House & Garden adult £4.75 child £3.50

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