Anyone who lives in London long enough feels a need for some fresh air. Yes, London has great little parks right in its center, but once you've been here long enough, you just need a bit more green. This is when you jump on a bus, bike, tube or whatever, and head to Hampstead Heath. Just 15 minutes or so from the center of London (actually only 6k from Trafalgar Square, if you can believe that), people refer to Hampstead as the Lungs of London. Covering 320 hectares (790 acres), it's like an island of beautiful countryside. There is a zoo, an athletics track, an education centre, extensive children's facilities, extensive forest area and trails, one of the highest points in the London area, three swimming ponds and a Lido.
We've been up there several times, each time discovering something new.
A few weeks ago, we decided to explore a new area of the park, Golders Hill. We took the 268 Bus to Hampstead Heath, crossed the round-about and ventured into the forest there. Our destination being the West Heath, we were delighted to find ourselves walking in what felt like a little fairy tale atmosphere when we accidentally discovered the Pergola of Hampstead Heath.
http://217.154.230.218/NR/rdonlyres/B5F7A42F-FA5A-4087-A3A4-C3FFE907EB2D/0/OS_HH_pergola.pdf
It's a lovely garden and walkway with beautiful roses, columns and paths.
We then went to Golder's Hill Park, which is just adjacent to the pergola area, where there was a butterfly garden, a nice cafe, live music playing in the bandstand, a deer enclosure, and a small but interesting zoo (outdoors). We spend a couple of hours there, kicking a soccer ball around, visiting and watching the animals, listening to music, and eating ice cream cones.
A great little Sunday afternoon adventure!
I am convinced that I have British ancestry in my blood. Why do I love all things british??? Next time we are in London, please take us to the Pergola of Hampstead Heath?
ReplyDelete