No trip to London is complete without a stroll through the city’s manicured green spaces. Start in St James’s Park, home to four pelicans, which are fed beside Duck Island each afternoon. The tradition of pelicans in this park dates back to 1664, when the incumbent Russian ambassador presented them to London as a gift. Aim westwards to take in the spectacle of Buckingham Palace—the changing of the guards still takes place here, with much pomp and circumstance. Carry on through to Hyde Park, where you can rent paddleboats to tool around Serpentine Lake, before ending in Kensington Gardens, where Royals William and Kate reside in Kensington Palace. Photo by David Davies//Flickr.
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Take in the Royal Parks
No trip to London is complete without a stroll through the city’s manicured green spaces. Start in St James’s Park, home to four pelicans, which are fed beside Duck Island each afternoon. The tradition of pelicans in this park dates back to 1664, when the incumbent Russian ambassador presented them to London as a gift. Aim westwards to take in the spectacle of Buckingham Palace—the changing of the guards still takes place here, with much pomp and circumstance. Carry on through to Hyde Park, where you can rent paddleboats to tool around Serpentine Lake, before ending in Kensington Gardens, where Royals William and Kate reside in Kensington Palace. Photo by David Davies//Flickr.
View of Buckingham Palace from Saint James Park
London’s Royal Parks are beautiful in every season but particularly during the spring when the bright colors of naturalized bulbs contrast with varied hues of green. There is an amazing synergy between the architecture and the open spaces - London is a capital city with an agrarian soul.
