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London’s 8 royal parks
- 1. London’s 8 Royal Parks © Stuart Mitchell
- 2. Bushy Park Location: Borough of Richmond, South West London Adjacent to the former royal residence of Hampton Court in a bend of the River Thames, Bordered to the north by Teddington Allotments and playgrounds Character: Size - 1,100 acres, 2nd largest Royal Park Mix of formal landscaping, woodland, grassland, streams and ponds Water Gardens and grand Chestnut Avenue form significant features Dotted with sports pitches - 4 local cricket clubs, a hockey club and a rugby club Allotments and playgrounds
- 3. Bushy Park Attractions: Diana Fountain, an imposing golden statue representing Arethusa, a Greek nymph. Found at the southern end of… Chestnut Avenue – a grand avenue leading to Hampton Court Plenty of wildlife including herds of red and fallow deer History: Originally created as a deer park by Henry VIII when he took control of Hampton Court as his royal residence Subsequently evolved under successive monarchs, e.g., Charles I added the Longford River Canal Chestnut Avenue and the Diana Fountain were added later, from designs by Sir Christopher Wren, to form the entrance to Hampton Court Hosted the pre-World War II folk tradition of Chestnut Sunday which was resurrected in 1993 Military uses include a World War I Canadian hospital and Eisenhower’s camp from which he planned D-Day
- 4. Richmond Park Location: Borough of Richmond, South West London An expanse of land just south of the River Thames Between the town of Richmond itself, neighbouring Kingston Upon Thames to the South and Wimbledon and Wimbledon Common to the West. Character: Size - 2,500 acres, the largest Royal Park, the largest park in London, the second largest walled park in the UK Over twice the size of Bushy A designated National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest Informal landscape of grassland and woodland covering gentle hills and surrounding ponds at its centre. The sense of a country park but within the boundaries of London. More formal woodland can be found in the Isabella Plantation
- 5. Richmond Park Attractions: Noted for its wildlife including the famous Fallow and Red deer and even the more recent colonising Parakeets. Criss-crossed with bridleways and cycle paths Childhood home of Bertrand Russell, Pembroke Lodge, now a restaurant complete with its own public gardens. Opens spaces and views of central London King Henry’s Mound within the gardens of Pembroke Lodge History: Park enclosed by Charles I as a refuge from the threat of the plague allowing locals rights of way ensured public access down the centuries Pembroke Lodge dates from the 1750s home of the once Prime Minister Lord Russell and his grandson Bertrand a military HQ during World War II
- 6. Kensington Gardens Location: Straddling the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster, Borders Hyde Park to the east Surrounded to the west and south by Kensington Paddington and Notting Hill sit to the north. Character: Size - 270 acres More formal layout than neighbouring Hyde Park due to their purpose as the gardens for Kensington Palace Large Round Pond at the centre Separated from Hyde Park by the Long Water (Serpentine) & West Carriage Drive Ornamental Italianate Gardens sit at the head of the Long Water
- 7. Kensington Gardens Attractions: Princess Diana Memorial Playground with its Peter Pan inspired Pirate Ship Ornate gothic Albert Memorial Quirky Elfin Oak Carved stone and water features of the elegant Italianate Gardens Peter Pan sculpture & Henry Moore’s The Arch sculpture Serpentine Gallery History: Established by reclaiming a portion of Hyde Park as formal gardens for the palace at Kensington in the 18th century. River Westbourne was damned to form the Long Water/Serpentine. Strong association with JM Barrie and Peter Pan Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens was set in the location.
- 8. Hyde Park Location: Eastern half the aforementioned green space in West London with Kensington Gardens Enclosed by some of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in the UK Knightsbridge to the south Mayfair to the east Marylebone and Paddington to the north Character: Size - 350 acres Almost split in two by the Serpentine sweeps down from the Long Water in Kensington Gardens Separated from neighbour by West Carriage Drive Expanses of lawn, punctuated by mature trees Formal rose gardens and wilder meadows
- 9. Hyde Park Attractions: Speakers Corner, where all-comers can voice their opinions Open air concerts; notably the Rolling Stones in 1969 and Blur during the closing of the 2012 Olympics. Diana, Princess of Wales, Fountain just beside the Serpentine Memorial to the victims of the 7/7 bombings History: Originally the possession of Westminster Abbey Then owned by Henry VIII as a deer park James I allowed the public in Mid 18th century, it was landscaped as part of the changes that spawned Kensington Gardens Serpentine was formed at this time by damning the River Westbourne Site of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and Crystal Palace
- 10. Regent’s Park Location: City of Westminster and the borough of Camden To the south and west it neighbours the exclusive residences of Marylebone To the north and west the equally exclusive St John’s Wood It is surrounded by the Primrose Hill and Regents Parks areas to the north and east Camden and Somers Town beyond. Character: Size - 410 acres of landscaped parkland Stretches up the slope of Primrose Hill on its northern edge Diverse mixture of grassland, tree-lined avenues and formal gardens Enclosed by an Outer Circle ring road Planted gardens to the south of the park contained by small Inner Circle road Numerous impressive buildings/grounds including Georgian villas Separated from the grassy slopes of Primrose hill by the Regent’s Canal To the south a boating lake and formal gardens split by The Broadwalk avenue
- 11. Regent’s Park Attractions: London Zoo sits entirely within the park Open Air Theatre stages productions throughout the summer Tennis centre, a sports centre at The Hub, a boating lake and playgrounds Primrose Hill offers panoramic views of central London Planted formal gardens such as Queen Mary’s Rose Garden in the Inner Circle Organic Wildlife Garden just outside The park’s buildings include the US Ambassador’s Residence and Regent’s College History: Henry VIII dissolved the abbey at Barking Previously Tyburn Manor, named after the eponymous river As Marylebone Park, it was first a deer park and then leased farmland Prince Regent (later George IV) commissioned John Nash to re-designed the park and the surrounding area to form a neighbourhood of palaces and grand Georgian terraces In 1811 the park was landscaped with the Regent’s Canal, the lake, avenues and villas The Georgian building boom spawned Marylebone, Mayfair and St James’s
- 12. Green Park Location: Situated on the western edges of central London Between Hyde Park and St James’s Park Separated from St James’s Park to the east by The Mall Hyde Park to the north west by the junction of Hyde Park Corner To the south Buckingham Palace across Constitution Hill To the north the exclusive residences of Mayfair and Piccadilly Character: Size - 47 acres, the smallest of the Royal Parks Almost conjoins with St James’s Park Including Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, they form a green belt from Notting Hill to Charing Cross Mostly trees and grassland - the only park not to have any buildings or water features
- 13. Green Park Attractions: Impressive Spring daffodil display Refuge from the hubbub of the surrounding city Canada Memorial (to Canadian soldiers of the world wars) History: Burial ground for the patients of St James’s leper hospital Charles II enclosed the park as Upper St James’s Park in the late 17th century John Nash remodelled the park in 1820 alongside neighbouring St James’s park for George IV Over the centuries it became popular as an outdoor entertainment space The park had been home to a number of buildings including two temples both destroyed by firework displays
- 14. St James’s Park Location: Sits in front of Buckingham Palace Green Park to the north west Horseguards Parade to the east Birdcage Walk to the south. Eastern edge of a green swathe across central London, flowing into Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens to the west Character: Size - 57 acres, marginally larger than Green Park Semi classic formal parkland criss-crossed with paths Dominated by a lake which splits the park in two The Mall runs through its northern edge and serves as its boundary with Green Park
- 15. St James’s Park Attractions: Surrounded by attractions such as Buckingham Palace, The Mall (the ceremonial route to the palace) and Horseguards Parade The flower beds of the Memorial Gardens just outside Buckingham Palace Stunning views of the palace from numerous vantage points St James’s Park lake with its wildfowl including pelicans History: Established by Henry VIII on the marshy banks of the old River Tyburn to the west of what was referred to as York Place (now Whitehall) with the intention of creating gardens for a new royal palace there Drained and landscaped under the reign of James I who kept exotic animals on them Landscaped and formalised further by Charles II, taking influences from French Royal Gardens In 19th century, the Prince Regent commissioned John Nash to once again re- landscape the park introducing more organic, romantic and winding features, turning the canal into a lake Created The Mall as a stately approach to Buckingham Palace
- 16. Greenwich Park Location: Located in Greenwich, South East London Surrounded on its southern edges by the open grassland space of Blackheath To the north is the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Naval College housing the University of Greenwich, and the River Thames beyond The park is famously situated on the Prime Meridian at 0 degrees longitude Character: Size - 180 acres Major constituent of the Maritime Greenwich world heritage site. On split levels on a hill side which slopes down to the Thames providing views down onto central and eastern London. Within the park can be found formal herb and rose gardens, orchards, a deer park and lakes.
- 17. Greenwich Park Attractions: Royal Observatory - historical and scientific hub at the heart of the park the origin of the Prime Meridian (which runs through the park) a branch of the Maritime Museum Glimpses of deer Famous sundial and view Roman ruins Tennis courts and boating lake History: Dating from 1433 Greenwich is the oldest of the Royal Parks as well as being the first to be enclosed Acquired by Henry VI in the 15th century Charles II created the Royal Observatory (with the help of Sir Christopher Wren) On the site of the derelict Greenwich Castle (originally built by Duke of Gloucester). The buildings known as the Royal Naval college today originated as Greenwich hospital and On the site of the Tudor Palace of Placentia (birthplace and home to Tudor monarchs) in the late 17th century. The area was turned into a deer park by Henry VIII, who was born in the adjoining palace Enclosed by James I when they were formally landscaped in the 17th century
- 18. Useful Links Further Information The Royal Parks The Royal Parks on Wikipedia Visit London Moving to the areas: Estate Agents Knightsbridge Estate Agents Marylebone Estate Agents Mayfair Estate Agents Regent’s Park Wimbledon Flats