Major London Parks?

[PeteC]

Richards comment on another thread mentioned the Speakers Corner in Hyde Park. Is Hyde Park the one right next to the palace and across the street from where the Hilton is? I forget that street name.

I've got great memories of Regent's Park, as spent many a day in there on weekends. A beautiful place to lose the stress of the work week. A huge park also as I recall.

Are the above two the major parks in London, or are there more? Pete

[PeteB]

You are spot on about the location of Hyde Park, Pete. Speakers corner is near Marble Arch (North from the Hilton along Park Lane). At Hyde Park you are also only a short distance from Green Park Off Piccadilly), St James Park (other side of The Mall from Green Park) and Kensington Gardens - which is actually the Western side of Hyde Park.

Regents Park is also great but a bit further out from the centre (due North of Marble Arch).

There are other various parks and gardens, too numerous to name here.

Try http://www.touruk.co.uk/london_parks_ga ... _parks.htm

These open spaces can make London a good place to be!

[Norseman]

These open spaces can make London a good place to be!

Not only the open spaces, but the whole city is nice!!!
London is my favourite city.
A really spectacular place with friendly people in great numbers.
Say what you want, but it's the greatest city on this earth.

[DawnHRD]

It just shows how the world turns when an American & a Norwegian talk about London in a way, that I, a native Englishwoman, wouldn't be able to do in a million years. I lived in UK for 24 years & wouldn't know London (geographically) any better than any other city in the world. Really sad, huh?

[STEVE G]

Dawn wrote;
I lived in UK for 24 years & wouldn't know London (geographically) any better than any other city in the world.

Hi Dawn, you are not the only one; London is one of the few major European cities that I have never spent much time in, I used to be able to manage Heathrow to St. Pancras and that’s about it, I haven’t even done that for about five years.

[caller]

I live to the SW of London and near the greatest of all its parks - Richmond park - the last remaining area of what was Henry V111's hunting grounds. Approx 9 square miles, several hundred head of Roe and Fallow Deer, ancient woods, lots of water.

American troops were based there during WW2.

Londeners are very blase about London and the odd time I go into town, usually work related, reminds me how stunning it can be - lots is very bland.

My favourite area is now the "South Bank" from Westminster to Tower Bridges. Great to stroll along, great river views, lots to do, London eye, Tate Modern, the Globe theatre (based on Shakespears original) etc. Great pubs and some really nice restauarants. Well worth a trek if anyone is heading here and hasn't done that before.

[Guess]

Interesting topic. I used to visit both Hyde park and Regents Park regurarly when I was rowing.

The three that surround Buckingham Palace are Green Park, Saint James's Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens (back garden of Buck House really).

Then across Hyde Park Corner you reach Hyde Park which as you travel west becomes Kensington Gardens. If you walk this route from one end to the other you can travel about 4.5 KM without going on any road.

Regents park is fairly boring unless you are into rowing or you wish to visit London Zoo.

The one I would always reccomend is Richmond. It is the biggest of the London Parks and contains the greatest varierty of wild life including parrotts which are rarely seen in the wild anywhere in the UK.

[lomuamart]

The garden at my house backs onto one of the parks - Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park. It's not exactly in the same league as Hyde, Regents etc etc and effectively is just the grounds for The Imperial War Museum.
I agree that a stroll along The south Bank will good when we're back in a couple of weeks. Walking will very much be on the agenda, I think, bearing in mind the tube prices I've heard recently.
Each time I go back, this'll be the fifth occasion in 8 years, people tell me how much of a difference I'll see. I've never really noticed that much, to be honest - except prices. Then again, in the past, a lot of time has been spent in the local boozers catching up with old friends. This time it'll be different with the missus - I think.

[chelsea]

lomuamart, I can see no reason for any change of habit.
You have infact got a ready made excuse of having to introduce your wife to all of your friends who have never met her before.
What better place to be able to do it and be amongst people that she has never met.

[lomuamart]

I agree, Chelsea, but it would be a shame if she didn't see much of London "cause I was down the battle cruiser" most of the time and we'll probably only be there for a few days - can't stay at my place, because I rent it out.
I'm sure we can find a suitable compromise - ie walk 1km and then pop in somewhere for a "half". Should make for an interesting pub crawl. I did it years ago with an old friend and his Thai wife, on her visit. Strolled along the South Bank, at least from London to Waterloo bridge. Entered quite a few "Dikensian" hostelries - she loved it and it was a bitterly cold winter evening.

[Norseman]

Hi lomu.
Remember this:

Any time you're Lambeth way,
Any evening, any day,
You'll find us all
Doin' the Lambeth Walk.

Every little Lambeth gal,
With her little Lambeth pal,
You'll find 'em all
Doin' the Lambeth Walk.

Everything free and easy,
Do as you darn well pleasy,
Why don't you make your way there
Go there, stay there.

Once you get down Lambeth way
Ev'ry ev'ning, ev'ry day,
You'll find yourself
Doin' the Lambeth Walk.

Guess this is what you're doing every day now?

[chelsea]

Well, at least the weather is good over ther at the moment, so should be a nice walk along the Thames.

As I lived North of London, we used to go out past Hemel Hempstead and go to the pubs that were along the Grand Union Canal.
There are a lot of great ones around the Tring Area and further up towards Bletchley.
There was one up there in particular called the Three Locks in a town called Stoke Hammond.
It was very relaxing to sit there and watch everyone come along, tie up there barges, have lunch and then move on. What a great way to spend a holiday.

Anyway, hope you both have a great trip and that you both enjoy the UK.

[lomuamart]

I do indeed remember the song, Norseman.
Lambeth Walk is only a 5 min walk from my house and the pub by the same name still remains on the corner of it and Lambeth Road. I'll be popping in there to see if I can track a few old friends down - any day will do as they're not exactly known for their industriouness, other than trying to make a living out of playing pool.
Enough of reminiscences. Just hope the place is as friendly to me as it always was, as this time the missus is with me. I'm sure it will be.

[PeteC]

These open spaces can make London a good place to be!

Not only the open spaces, but the whole city is nice!!!
London is my favourite city.
A really spectacular place with friendly people in great numbers.
Say what you want, but it's the greatest city on this earth.

Having thought about this, I have to agree with you Noresman. I've been to a lot of places but can't think of one that was better. San Francisco comes close but I lived there. You need a car to get around the area. In London you really don't. London also reminds me of Philadelphia and other old east coast cities where I was raised, the old world charm I guess. Pete