Greenwich Park
One of the Royal Parks of London, and the first to be enclosed (in 1433), Greenwich Park is a former deer-park in Greenwich and one of the largest single green spaces in south east London. It covers 183 acres. The National Maritime Museum and Queen's House lie just to the north, and the Royal Greenwich Observatory lies right in the heart of the park. On the western edge of the park is the Ranger's House, looking out on to the adjacent heath of Blackheath.
The park stretches along a hillside - The lower level (closest to the Museum, Queen's House and, beyond them, the River Thames) lies to the north; after a stiff walk uphill, there is a flat expanse that is, essentially, an enclosed extension of the plateau of Blackheath.
The Observatory is on the top of the hill, from which there are majestic views across the former Greenwich Hospital (later the Royal Naval College) and the river towards the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, the City of London to the northwest and the Millennium Dome to the north. There are also spectacular views from neighbouring hills within the park: On the lower level of the park there is a popular children's playground and an adjacent boating lake. On the upper level, there is a vast flower garden complete with large duck pond, a rose garden, a cricket pitch, tennis courts, a bandstand, Roman remains, an ancient oak tree (the 'Queens Oak', associated with Queen Elizabeth I) and an enclosure ('The Wilderness') housing some wild deer. Nestling just behind the Observatory is a 'secret garden', a peaceful secluded space good for picnics and also sometimes used by theatre groups.
Cycle routes criss-cross the park (as do runners, roller-bladers, dog-walkers, etc), but other road traffic (cars and motor-cycles only) can only use the park road linking Blackheath and Greenwich at peak periods on weekdays.
Hyde Park is a Royal Park and covers 350 acres. It is divided in two by the Serpentine Lake and the park is contiguous with Kensington Gardens, which is widely assumed to be part of Hyde Park, but is technically separate. The park offers a wide range of leisure facilities including swimming, horseriding, tennis, boating, bowling, cycling, skateboarding and is used extensively for informal games of football, touch rugby, cricket, softball, rounders and frisbee.
The park has become a traditional location for mass demonstrations. The Chartists, the Suffragettes and the Stop The War Coalition have all held protests in the park.
Sites of interest in the park include Speakers' Corner (located in the north-east corner near Marble Arch) and Rotten Row which is the northern boundary of the site of the Crystal Palace. To the south-east is Hyde Park Corner. South of the Serpentine Lake is the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial, an oval stone ring fountain opened on July 6, 2004.
Henry VIII acquired Hyde Park from the monks of Westminster Abbey as a ground for hunting deer.
It was Charles I who changed the access to the park completely. He had the Ring created and in 1637 opened the park to the general public.
In 1665, the year of the Great Plague, many citizens of London fled the City to camp on Hyde Park, in the hope of escaping the disease.
Queen Caroline, wife of George II, had extensive renovations carried out and in the 1730s had The Serpentine, a lake of some 11.34 hectares, created.
In 1866 Edmund Beales' Reform League marched on Hyde Park where scuffles broke out between the League and the police. Eventually the Prime Minister allowed the meetings to continue unchallenged and since 1872, people have been allowed to speak at Speaker's Corner on any subject they want to.
The Lido was set up in 1930 and in warm weather is used for sunbathing and swimming.
Opening hours: The park is open from 5am until midnight all year round.
Getting there: Tube: Lancaster Gate & Marble Arch - Central Line Hyde Park Corner & Knightsbridge - Piccadilly line
St. James's Park is the oldest Royal Park and dates from 1536.
Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace, and the Palace of Westminster - now the Houses of Parliament, all surround it. It is 58 acres in size. It is bounded by The Mall to the north, Horse Guards to the east, and Birdcage Walk to the south. The park has a small lake, St James's Park Lake, with two islands, Duck Island (named for the lake's collection of waterfowl) and West Island.
A bridge across the lake affords views of Buckingham Palace framed by trees and fountains from one direction and of Horseguards and its skyline from another.
In 1536 the royal court was based at the Palace of Westminster and Henry VIII, desiring more hunting grounds, bought the nearby marshy land and had it turned into a deer chase. He also aquired land in St James's and built a lodge that later became St. James's Palace.
In the time of Elizabeth the First, all kinds of fetes were held in the park. King James the First kept crocodiles, camels and an elephant in the grounds and averies of exotic birds.
Charles the Second had the park redesigned in a much more formal style and trees were planted which lined a new straight canal which was 2,560ft long. The new park was opened to the public by Charles, who was a frequent visitor.
The King regularly entertained here, courted Nell Gwyn and strolled among his subjects.
Guided walks are offered free at certain times of year ( Places are limited so booking is essential. Contact the St James's Park office on 020 7930 1793 (Mon-Fri 8am-4pm).
The closest tube stations are St. James's Park, and Westminster.
Green Park covers about 53 acres was originally a swampy burial ground for lepers from the nearby hospital at Saint James's. It was first enclosed in the 16th century by Henry VIII. In 1668 Charles II made it a Royal Park, laying out the park's main walks. In the 18th century it was a favourite site for duals.
In contrast with its neighbours, Green Park has no lakes nor any statues or fountains (except for Canada Memorial by Pierre Granche), but consists entirely of wooded meadows.
The Royal Park is bounded on the south by Constitution Hill, on the east by the pedestrian Queen's Walk, and on the north by Piccadilly. It meets St. James's Park at Queen's Gardens with the Victoria Memorial at it's centre, opposite the entrance to Buckingham Palace. To the south is the ceremonial avenue of The Mall, and the buildings of St James's Palace and Clarence House overlook the park to the east.
Tube: Green Park (station is located on Piccadilly near the north end of Queen's Walk).
Kensington Gardens covers 260 acres and was originally part of Hyde Park. The Gardens make a magnificent setting for Kensington Palace.
One of the most famous highlights in the Gardens is the bronze statue of Peter Pan. This charming piece features Peter Pan standing on a pedestal covered with climbing squirrels, rabbits and mice.
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground was opened in 2000. The Elfin Oak is a gnarled, partially hollow stump, which is carved with the figures of fairies, elves and various small animals.
William III and Mary II chose to live here at Kensington Palace.
Queen Victoria was born in the Palace and lived there until she became Queen in 1837.
Queen Caroline, wife of George II, who in 1728 was responsible for creating the gardens in there present form by creating the Serpentine and the Long Water.
Queen Victoria later commissioned the Italian Gardens and the Albert Memorial.
The statue of Queen Victoria outside Kensington Palace was sculpted by her daughter, Princess Louise.
