Secret Outdoors London

Urban paradises are made all the more beautiful by their incongruous surroundings. When I’m in London I can’t go more than a few days without feeling like I need a break from traffic, people, and air so dirty it makes your snot black, so I’m a big fan of allotments, parks and any place green in general. Do you have a secret rooftop haven or grassy getaway in The Big Smoke? I’d love to hear about it -let me know and I’ll feature your photos, favourites and tips on the blog!

Here’s my current favourite, the barges along the canal by Regent’s Park. A little communal country garden in central London.

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9 Comments

  1. September 6, 2012 / 12:48 pm

    A beautiful, exciting secret that has so many surprises!

  2. Lucy T
    September 6, 2012 / 1:08 pm

    The beautifully-kept Victoria Embankment gardens are lovely – when I have my lunch there on weekdays they’re usually packed in the sunshine, but walking through it in the morning they’re often quiet and smell amazing. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Victoria_Embankment_Gardens_%28Whitehall_Gardens%29_-_geograph.org.uk_-_456270.jpg

    Kensington Gardens are also lovely. I keep meaning to take a day off and go and laze in them and read a book. http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington-gardens

  3. September 6, 2012 / 1:16 pm

    Thank youuu! Brilliant, will put this up on the blog! xxxx

  4. Sam Shead
    September 6, 2012 / 1:44 pm

    Yes Sian!

    I went to Kensington Roof Gardens on Tuesday where they have REAL flamingoes.

    I used to take lunch in Soho Square or Cavendish Square when I worked on Oxford Street. The tudor shed in the middle of the former is rather quirky.

    Take the Thames Clipper to Greenwich Park and walk up to the Royal Observatory for excellent views of Canary Wharf and the City. Similarly, Primrose Hill at the north end of Regents Park has great views from the opposite side of the river.

    Richmond Park is best for getting lost in, while I quite like Southwark Park because it’s close to my house and Battersea Park because it’s next to my girlfriend’s!

  5. September 6, 2012 / 1:45 pm

    Yes Sian!

    I went to Kensington Roof Gardens on Tuesday where they have REAL flamingoes.

    I used to take lunch in Soho Square or Cavendish Square when I worked on Oxford Street. The tudor shed in the middle of the former is rather quirky.

    Take the Thames Clipper to Greenwich Park and walk up to the Royal Observatory for excellent views of Canary Wharf and the City. Similarly, Primrose Hill at the north end of Regents Park has great views from the opposite side of the river.

    Richmond Park is best for getting lost in, while I quite like Southwark Park because it’s close to my house and Battersea Park because it’s next to my girlfriend’s!

  6. September 6, 2012 / 1:46 pm

    Oooh brilliant Sam! I love Soho square too. I’ll put your stuff in a follow up post, thanks so much! xxx

  7. September 6, 2012 / 1:52 pm

    Those hammocks look so comfy!

  8. September 6, 2012 / 2:20 pm

    Hold on, these have to be secret places, right? So you can’t have Soho Square, Primrose Hill or Greenwich Park.

    Sian, as far as the canal goes, the small stretch east of Angel is v. tranquil. There’s also a bizarrely quiet bit of garden that looks over Little Venice further west from where you were.

    Opposite the west face of Senate House in Bloomsbury is a semi-private garden that’s easy to get into and really nice at night. There’s also an amazing community garden hidden in the middle of St Martin’s right in the centre of town – although I can never remember how to get there.

    There’s loads more, I’ll have to rack my brain.

  9. September 6, 2012 / 2:28 pm

    Well secret schmecret I meant more for people to suggest their favourites to I can make a mini guide. Thanks for your ones though, they sound lovely!

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