Staying in London Hotels; a Garden Lovers Dream

http://www.roomguide.co.uk/city/london and Gardens:

London is a weird and wonderful place and so much of what it has on offer is not well known and is easily missed by the newcomer. Because it is such an ancient city, there are a multitude of well-kept secret green spaces which are not featured in most guide books. To get to know a city like London requires literally years of wandering its streets and even then it is an impossible task as the face of London is constantly changing, developing and morphing as old buildings are replaced with new; but the many interesting locations which remain well protected are nurtured by the city and its people. Take some time out of your break in London to discover some of the most wonderful places the city has to offer. You don’t even need to stay in an out of the way hotel to enjoy many of these attractions as a number of them are within the bounds of the city centre or at least very close. London hotels have the advantage of being within a stone’s throw of some of the best parks and gardens in Europe but not all of them are famous...some are very well kept secrets.

One of the most fascinating places for lovers of gardens and history is the little known Garden Museum which is situated on Lambeth Road adjacent to Lambeth Palace. The museum is a quirky homage to all things horticultural; housed in a church in whose graveyard lies the body of Captain Bligh of the Bounty. The museum offers a multitude of historical plants to see and has a small but beautiful replica of a 17^th century Knot Garden. The garden is a welcome respite from the hubbub of city life and offers a sanctuary to those in need of some natural beauty. If you are staying in one of the central London hotels near to Westminster then you won’t be far from The Garden Museum and could in fact walk there along the Thames from Waterloo which is an excellent chance to see the river at close quarters.

                            

Another little known pleasure for lovers of the great outdoors is the Roof Gardens; a beautiful rooftop garden set 100 feet above ground level on Kensington High Street which is in an area well known to be home to some of the best London hotels. Once a famous department store known as Derry and Tom’s, the building on which the gardens are situated, is now owned and managed by Virgin who have re-vamped the three full sized gardens which boast a running stream, ducks, fish and flamingos! Seventy fully grown trees only add to the wonder of this unusual experience. The Rooftop Gardens are open to the public on special dates and are well worth a visit. Staying in London hotels gives the visitor an opportunity to see many unusual and unique attractions

London Hotels and Parks:

London was built upon parkland and some of the parks which are so popular today were once the playgrounds of Kings and Queens. Kensington Gardens is one such place and if you are lucky enough to stay in the vicinity you will be amazed by the plethora of fabulous London hotels with views of the beautiful green landscape. With stunning banks of flowers during summer and many mature trees, the gardens also boast sunken gardens and are famous for their connection with Peter Pan who’s statue is situated in the park as a memorial to the much loved author J M Barrie and as a tribute to the character himself. Other famous parks in London are not to be missed and Hyde Park is a must-see attraction; lying adjacent to Kensington Gardens and separated by the Serpentine River, Hyde Park is the larger of the two and is famous for Speakers Corner and also for is stunning rose garden. These parks are enormous and by dedicating a day or two to seeing the highlights any visitor will be certain to fall in love with the calm and beauty of them, an antidote to the rush and excitement of city living they remain an oasis of calm within a busy world city.