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Parks and Gardens in London
Even though when you think of London you rather think of an urban jungle, the city has a large number of parks and gardens, some of which are really vast and quite wild. Probably the most frequently visited one, Hyde Park, with its famous speaking corner draws large numbers of tourists but most importantly people who want to voice their views, so don't miss it. Many of London's parks used to be royal hunting grounds and even today if you venture in more secluded parts of Hampton Court Palace Gardens for example, you can actually spot a deer. The oldest royal park in London is St James' Park with Houses of Parliament, St James' Palace and Buckingham surrounding its premises, making it a very attractive place for a stroll.
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Battersea Park
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Phone: +44 20 8871 7530
e-mail: mike@batterseapark.org
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Website: http://www.batterseapark.org/
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Spreading along the River Thames bank, Battersea Park is situated just opposite Chelsea. Originally a marshland which attracted the desperate who searched remote place for duelling, it was re-converted into a public park and opened in the mid-19th Century. With abundance of attractions it offers, the park is an ideal place to spend a refreshing afternoon. Moreover, there are a number of places for children, such as small zoo, a miniature railway and a deer park. A beautiful flower garden and lake with ducks, herons and cormorants are other highlights drawing visitors to Battersea Park. You may want to see also the Peace Pagoda and the winter garden, which is presently under construction. A plenty of eateries and cafés in and around the gardens add to the friendly atmosphere of this place.
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Bushy Park
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Phone: +44 20 8979 1586
e-mail: bushy@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk
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Website: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/bushy_park/
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Located in Richmond, on the southern bank of the Thames and south-west of the city centre, Bushy Park is one of the largest Royal Parks in London. It adjoins famous Hampton Court Park with its splendid palace from the north. The landscape of the Bushy Park is extremely rural and a deer farm as well as an abundance of other animals, such as sandpipers, woodpeckers, herons, tits and warblers will make you feel you are in countryside while in Bushy Park. The central point is the Arethusa Fountain (also referred to as Diana Fountain), a masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren. A charming Chestnut Alley runs nearby. At the area of the park there are also boating and fishing ponds, and horse riding grounds. Sports clubs offer opportunity to play cricket, rugby or hockey. In the past the area was hunting grounds of King Henry VIII.
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Chelsea Physic Garden
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Phone: +44 20 7352 5646
e-mail: enquiries@chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
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Website: http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/
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Dating back to the 17th Century, Chelsea Physic Garden is one of the oldest botanical garden in London and in all Britain, as well. It was opened to the public as recently as in the 1980s, earlier being held by the Society of Apothecaries. Located in Chelsea, it adjoins Swan Walk, Royal Hospital Road and Chelsea Embankment, running along the Thames. Thanks to the proximity of the river and the fact, that the park is enveloped by the city, it has a particular, mild climate. The garden boasts an amazing number of species, including rare, exotic and endangered ones. It has a section of alpine plants, the herbarium, the largest olive tree in Britain and the northernmost grapefruit tree which grows outdoors. There are also numerous kinds of birds, insects and even small mammals, such as squirrels or bats. As a centre of recreation and education, Chelsea Physic Garden attracts visitors with its rich flora, romantic ambiance and convenient location in the very centre of London.
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Epping Forest
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Phone: +44 20 8508 0028
e-mail: epping.forest@corpoflondon.gov.uk
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Situated on the north-east edge of the Greater London, Epping Forests borders with Essex. Being the largest open space in the Greater London, Epping Forest fully deserves its name – it is not a formal garden with alleys and flower beds, but a wild extensive forest with everything you should expect in such a place: deer, rabbits, squirrels, muntjac, and vipers. The area is covered by woodland, grassland, heath and bogs, and dotted with several ponds. Apart from being a habitat for many species of animals, Epping Forest is also a popular recreational area, where cycling and rambling are available. It can be a nice destination for a one-day picnic, too. There are also art exhibitions, theatre performances and festivals organised in this area, with the most favourite Forest Festival held in September. Epping Forest comprises also several interesting sights that add to its attractiveness. First of all, it is Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge which offers fascinating display from Tudor times and a nice pub where you can refresh.
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Green Park
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Phone: +44 20 7930 1793
e-mail: stjames@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk
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Website: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/green_park/
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Lying between Hyde Park and St James's Park, south of the famous Piccadilly Street, the Green Park is a nice area of green land, dotted with trees and shrubs. However there is no lake or garden architecture in this area, it belongs to the favourite places of relax for Londoners and tourists visiting the city, due to both its nice atmosphere and excellent location in the city centre. The only statue to be seen in the park is the Canada Memorial, erected in 1994. In the Middle Ages the land served as a burial site for patients of the nearby lepers hospital, and later the area was a property of the Crown. In the 18th Century the park was established there, soon becoming a popular place of fireworks shows, balloon flight attempts, and also duelling. Now Green Park is one of the Royal Parks of London, forming a green belt stretching from Westminster and James’s Park to Kensington Gardens.
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Greenwich Park
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Phone: +44 20 8858 2608
e-mail: greenwich@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk
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Website: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/greenwich_park/
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Greenwich Park is situated in the south-eastern part of London, spreading on the hill overlooking the River Thames. Known particularly for the Prime Meridian and Royal Observatory, the park is worth a visit also due to the picturesque panoramas from the hilltop and many attractions it offers. At the territory of less than 1 square kilometre there are vast lawns, nice alleys lined with old trees and a few small lakes. Visitors of the park can also go to the Deer Park, enjoy roses in the Rose Garden or play tennis and cricket in the park. There is also the Pavilion Tea House and several smaller eateries. While in the park, you should undoubtedly visit the Royal Observatory with the impressive collection of ancient clocks and astronomical instruments. The building is located atop of the hill, thus there are beautiful vistas of the Thames with Isle of Dogs, the Docklands and the City of London. Other splendid buildings border the park from the riverside – the Queen’s House, with really interesting architecture designed by Inigo Johns and the Royal Naval Hospital, a masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren, now the National Maritime Museum. The park is included into the Greenwich World Heritage Site and belongs to the Royal Parks of London.
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Hampstead Heath
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Phone: +44 20 8348 9908
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Often referred to simply as „the Heath”, Hampstead Heath park is situated north of the city centre. An extensive area of natural countryside with a rich flora and fauna will make you forget you are in the heart of bustling British capital. Woodpeckers, bats, and kingfishers are not an uncommon residents of the park. Apart from its impressive landscape comprising meadows, woodland and several lakes, Hamstead Heath offers a range of recreational options, including angling, cricket, tennis, running, swimming and a few children’s playgrounds. There are also several unusual examples of historic heritage, such as the long Pergola, Kenwood House or the ancient tumulus of Queen Boudicca. The park’s curiosity is ‘The Writer’, a huge sculpture in form of a table and a chair where you can imagine how the Lilliputians felt when they meet Gulliver. Including one of London’s highest points, the Heath is a great place to enjoy an impressive panorama of city skyline.
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Hampton Court Palace Gardens
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Phone: +44 20 3166 6311
e-mail: hamptoncourt@hrp.org.uk
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Website: http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/
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Surrounding one of the most impressive royal residences in Britain, Hampton Court Palace, the palace gardens are a “must-see” destination when visiting London. Located in the south-western part of London, it requires longer time and taking a train to get there, but it is really worth it. The residence was presented to King Henry VIII by Archbishop of York. The park is unbelievably diverse and picturesque, with some formal parts, including William III’s Privy Gardens and Knot Garden. Geometrical patchwork of flower beds, fountain and artificial lake, known as the Long Water, makes a really beautiful view. You should also stroll along the imposing Pergola, enjoying the large vineyard planted in 1768. The northern part of the gardens is more informal, with abundance of naturally shaped trees, shrubs and accurate lawns. Another attraction of the park is the Maze, made of manicured hedges and winding paths. Every year the Hampton Court Flower Show is organised in the park. The palace gardens are enclosed with other park – Hampton Court Park, also referred to as Home Park. This large area of meadows with only few trees is inhabited by deer, and people are rarely seen there. Hampton Court Palace Gardens neighbours also with Bushy Park to the north.
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