You can’t beat the cool sunshine of spring in London. There’s something so delicious about the cool breeze (often carrying a sliver of wood smoke), clasping a hot flat white and enjoying the carpets of blossoms at your feet.
For the travel linkup this month I wanted to gather a few of my favourite spots – both the hiddens gems and well known favourites that I tend to gravitate to in spring.
Bring on the London cherry blossom hunting!
– Walk through the daffodils at St James’ Park –
I adore St James’ Park for the magnificant (and royal) architecture, the tame squirrels and all those baby ducks frolicing under trees full of blossom…
– Holland Park –
A bit of a locals secret, Holland Park seems to have little pockets of delicious areas; the woodland groves, the formally designed Japanese gardens, the rose gardens, Napoleon’s garden with modern art installations, the Dutch Garden (formerly the Portuguese Garden until they fell out of political favour) and the many lovely spaces in-between.
– Regents Park and Canal –
Ahoy me landlubbers! With one of the greenest cities in the world, when the sun peaks out from behind the rain clouds, Londonders take to the parks and gardens in their pasty thousands. I for one got sunburnt twice over Easter last year, and are fully aware of how ridiculous this is…
We often troop off to the gorgeous Regent’s Park then wander along the canal to soak in a few needed Vitamin D blast, shake off a touch of Donkey on the Edge syndrome and generally blow away the cobwebs.
– Osterley House and Gardens –
I didn’t realise that whilst wandering through Osterley House and Gardens I would discover a bluebell glade, uncover a Hollywood Batcave entrance, hitch a leg over gate stiles in front of some judgemental kids, learn some quirky London history, drink too much coffee (ok, fine, no surprises there thought), browse through fresh veggies, admire priceless paintings, go on an Easter bunny hunt and discover a luxurious summer home. (The National Trust should put that on their website.) This little piece of countryside idyll is only 32 minutes from Green Park on the Picadilly Line with an 8-minute stroll through residential streets. I timed it.
Oh, did I mention the bluebell glade that I lost a few hours in?
– Fulham Palace Gardens –
Ahhhhh, spring in London. It’s just the loveliest.
