diamond geezer

 Tuesday, May 03, 2022

The World Cup of Royal Parks

London has eight Royal Parks, so let's stage a knockout competition to see which is the best.


n.b. Due to a lack of interactive voting technology I'll be knocking out the parks myself rather than taking collective input, but that's fine because I intend to reach the correct final conclusion anyway.

St James's Park v Green Park



We start with a fairly straightforward battle. Both are central London classics, nudging up against Buckingham Palace and brimming with tourists. But whereas St James's Park has several points of interest, and better-performing squirrels, its neighbour is quite frankly a bit dull. Green Park is well named, being almost entirely green grass and (at this time of year) green trees. It has no lakes, just a small fountain, and no buildings, just a couple of war memorials. More to the point it has no flowers other than springtime narcissi, and you've just missed those, plus avenues of plane and lime trees for shady promenading. Sure it's pleasant to sit in, but there's little you can point at and go wow. St James's Park by contrast has that lovely central lake (landscaped by John Nash), a cute little cottage with a vegetable garden, more than one place to buy drinks, two islands, a bridge with fine views of the palace and a war memorial of its own. It also contains the Stevenson screen that measures central London's official weather, a choice of woody or grassy flanks and best of all it has pelicans, for heaven's sake. An absolute walkover for the saint.

Bushy Park v Richmond Park



These by contrast are sprawling deer parks in the outer boroughs, huge rambling spaces with acres for everyone. Richmond Park is the larger, by some distance, indeed probably the largest undeveloped wilderness in the capital. Not only is it great for walking, there always being another corner to explore, but it's quite the place for cyclists too. It boasts a scenic river and a central wetland, a proper hill overlooking Petersham with a protected view from the summit, ten listed buildings and innumerable woods. It also has the Isabella Plantation, a pristine horticultural enclave that bursts into photogenic gorgeousness at this time every year. It's plainly the winner here, or so I assumed before I reminded myself of Bushy Park by taking a long walk there yesterday. It has that classical fountain surrounded by a giant pool where lengthy chestnut avenues meet, it has plantations, ponds and an ornamental river, and it has a fenced-off Water Gardens by the Admiralty Cascade. It has deer you can get right up close to, if you can find them, which admittedly Richmond has too but here they're easier to find. It also has a properly dazzling display of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias in the Waterhouse Woodland Gardens with pinks and golds and oranges to excess, or at least it does at present, perhaps I visited in precisely the right week. My walk still didn't quite convince me Bushy should win this bout, Richmond still takes the crown, but it's closer than I thought.

Semi-Final 1: St James's Park v Richmond Park

No contest, either in scale or in interest, it's got to be Richmond.

Hyde Park v Kensington Gardens



Most Londoners probably think of this rectangular slice of central London as all being Hyde Park, which indeed it used to be until 1728 when Queen Caroline divided it in two. She nabbed the western half as gardens for her palace, hence that became Kensington Gardens, plus it's also entirely her fault that the Serpentine was created. These days the dividing line is West Carriage Drive, the road that wends down the middle, with the Serpentine duly shared but most of it on the Hyde Park side. The knockout battle therefore comes down to which half has the better stuff. Hyde Park has Speaker's Corner, the rose garden, boat hire, the lido where brave souls go swimming, the slippery Diana Memorial Fountain, Winter Wonderland's seasonal pitch, the site of the Great Exhibition, a police station and a backhistory of hundreds of outdoor concerts. Kensington Gardens obviously has Kensington Palace but also the Albert Memorial, both halves of the Serpentine Gallery, the Round Pond, most of the statues (including Peter Pan), the Flower Walk, the Italian Gardens and the adventure playground. That's quite well matched although arguably KG has more to offer whereas HP is more about open space. One thing that swings it for me is that Kensington Gardens closes at dusk whereas Hyde Park has after dark access, plus the historical truth that it was all once Hyde Park and Hyde Park is how it's best known, so Hyde Park it is.

Greenwich Park v Regent's Park



The last two Royal Parks don't form a natural pair, indeed they're seven miles apart. Greenwich Park is arguably the oldest of the Royal Parks, having been enclosed in the 15th century, and was the site of Henry VIII's palace of Placentia. It can also boast the National Maritime Museum, the Queen's House and Greenwich Observatory. The fact a meridian passing through the park defines global time is a huge boost, reputationwise, and the view from the top of the hill across the Thames towards Docklands is pretty spectacular. Let's also not forget the Rose Garden, the ornamental enclave and the Wilderness where the deer live (although they're not there at present, they've been moved to Richmond Park, which probably says a lot in terms of ranking). Meanwhile Regent's Park is a late Georgian phenomenon, the landscaped plaything of the Prince Regent, and a more extensive matter. Not only does it have a canal, a boating lake, a Broad Walk and an Outer Circle, it also boasts probably the best rose garden in London. Its buildings are arguably better than Greenwich's, including a university, an open air theatre and an ambassador's hideaway, plus the slamdunk attraction that is London Zoo. Throw in the fact that Primrose Hill is now included as a bolt-on, and that has to mean victory for Regent's Park.

Semi-Final 2: Hyde Park v Regent's Park

This is possibly the toughest contest yet. Both parks are similar in size (Regent's is slightly bigger) and contain a mix of recreational space, elaborate landscaping and somewhere to hire a boat. Both are known worldwide and provide a welcome oasis in the heart of the capital. In the end it comes down to whether you prefer open and simple (Hyde Park) or busy and feature-packed (Regent's Park). Of the two I think I prefer walking freely across Hyde Park to manoeuvring around Regent's Park... but ultimately it doesn't matter, because whichever park I pick it's getting trounced in the final.

Final: Richmond Park v Hyde Park

Three and a half square miles of wilderness in all its natural variation easily beats a nice park just off Oxford Street. When a Londoner is tired of Richmond Park they are tired of life.



Winner: Richmond Park


<< click for Newer posts

click for Older Posts >>


click to return to the main page


...or read more in my monthly archives
Jan24  Feb24  Mar24
Jan23  Feb23  Mar23  Apr23  May23  Jun23  Jul23  Aug23  Sep23  Oct23  Nov23  Dec23
Jan22  Feb22  Mar22  Apr22  May22  Jun22  Jul22  Aug22  Sep22  Oct22  Nov22  Dec22
Jan21  Feb21  Mar21  Apr21  May21  Jun21  Jul21  Aug21  Sep21  Oct21  Nov21  Dec21
Jan20  Feb20  Mar20  Apr20  May20  Jun20  Jul20  Aug20  Sep20  Oct20  Nov20  Dec20
Jan19  Feb19  Mar19  Apr19  May19  Jun19  Jul19  Aug19  Sep19  Oct19  Nov19  Dec19
Jan18  Feb18  Mar18  Apr18  May18  Jun18  Jul18  Aug18  Sep18  Oct18  Nov18  Dec18
Jan17  Feb17  Mar17  Apr17  May17  Jun17  Jul17  Aug17  Sep17  Oct17  Nov17  Dec17
Jan16  Feb16  Mar16  Apr16  May16  Jun16  Jul16  Aug16  Sep16  Oct16  Nov16  Dec16
Jan15  Feb15  Mar15  Apr15  May15  Jun15  Jul15  Aug15  Sep15  Oct15  Nov15  Dec15
Jan14  Feb14  Mar14  Apr14  May14  Jun14  Jul14  Aug14  Sep14  Oct14  Nov14  Dec14
Jan13  Feb13  Mar13  Apr13  May13  Jun13  Jul13  Aug13  Sep13  Oct13  Nov13  Dec13
Jan12  Feb12  Mar12  Apr12  May12  Jun12  Jul12  Aug12  Sep12  Oct12  Nov12  Dec12
Jan11  Feb11  Mar11  Apr11  May11  Jun11  Jul11  Aug11  Sep11  Oct11  Nov11  Dec11
Jan10  Feb10  Mar10  Apr10  May10  Jun10  Jul10  Aug10  Sep10  Oct10  Nov10  Dec10 
Jan09  Feb09  Mar09  Apr09  May09  Jun09  Jul09  Aug09  Sep09  Oct09  Nov09  Dec09
Jan08  Feb08  Mar08  Apr08  May08  Jun08  Jul08  Aug08  Sep08  Oct08  Nov08  Dec08
Jan07  Feb07  Mar07  Apr07  May07  Jun07  Jul07  Aug07  Sep07  Oct07  Nov07  Dec07
Jan06  Feb06  Mar06  Apr06  May06  Jun06  Jul06  Aug06  Sep06  Oct06  Nov06  Dec06
Jan05  Feb05  Mar05  Apr05  May05  Jun05  Jul05  Aug05  Sep05  Oct05  Nov05  Dec05
Jan04  Feb04  Mar04  Apr04  May04  Jun04  Jul04  Aug04  Sep04  Oct04  Nov04  Dec04
Jan03  Feb03  Mar03  Apr03  May03  Jun03  Jul03  Aug03  Sep03  Oct03  Nov03  Dec03
 Jan02  Feb02  Mar02  Apr02  May02  Jun02  Jul02 Aug02  Sep02  Oct02  Nov02  Dec02 

jack of diamonds
Life viewed from London E3

» email me
» follow me on twitter
» follow the blog on Twitter
» follow the blog on RSS

» my flickr photostream

twenty blogs
our bow
arseblog
ian visits
londonist
broken tv
blue witch
on london
the great wen
edith's streets
spitalfields life
linkmachinego
round the island
wanstead meteo
christopher fowler
the greenwich wire
bus and train user
ruth's coastal walk
round the rails we go
london reconnections
from the murky depths

quick reference features
Things to do in Outer London
Things to do outside London
Inner London toilet map
20 years of blog series
The DG Tour of Britain
London's most...

read the archive
Mar24  Feb24  Jan24
Dec23  Nov23  Oct23  Sep23
Aug23  Jul23  Jun23  May23
Apr23  Mar23  Feb23  Jan23
Dec22  Nov22  Oct22  Sep22
Aug22  Jul22  Jun22  May22
Apr22  Mar22  Feb22  Jan22
Dec21  Nov21  Oct21  Sep21
Aug21  Jul21  Jun21  May21
Apr21  Mar21  Feb21  Jan21
Dec20  Nov20  Oct20  Sep20
Aug20  Jul20  Jun20  May20
Apr20  Mar20  Feb20  Jan20
Dec19  Nov19  Oct19  Sep19
Aug19  Jul19  Jun19  May19
Apr19  Mar19  Feb19  Jan19
Dec18  Nov18  Oct18  Sep18
Aug18  Jul18  Jun18  May18
Apr18  Mar18  Feb18  Jan18
Dec17  Nov17  Oct17  Sep17
Aug17  Jul17  Jun17  May17
Apr17  Mar17  Feb17  Jan17
Dec16  Nov16  Oct16  Sep16
Aug16  Jul16  Jun16  May16
Apr16  Mar16  Feb16  Jan16
Dec15  Nov15  Oct15  Sep15
Aug15  Jul15  Jun15  May15
Apr15  Mar15  Feb15  Jan15
Dec14  Nov14  Oct14  Sep14
Aug14  Jul14  Jun14  May14
Apr14  Mar14  Feb14  Jan14
Dec13  Nov13  Oct13  Sep13
Aug13  Jul13  Jun13  May13
Apr13  Mar13  Feb13  Jan13
Dec12  Nov12  Oct12  Sep12
Aug12  Jul12  Jun12  May12
Apr12  Mar12  Feb12  Jan12
Dec11  Nov11  Oct11  Sep11
Aug11  Jul11  Jun11  May11
Apr11  Mar11  Feb11  Jan11
Dec10  Nov10  Oct10  Sep10
Aug10  Jul10  Jun10  May10
Apr10  Mar10  Feb10  Jan10
Dec09  Nov09  Oct09  Sep09
Aug09  Jul09  Jun09  May09
Apr09  Mar09  Feb09  Jan09
Dec08  Nov08  Oct08  Sep08
Aug08  Jul08  Jun08  May08
Apr08  Mar08  Feb08  Jan08
Dec07  Nov07  Oct07  Sep07
Aug07  Jul07  Jun07  May07
Apr07  Mar07  Feb07  Jan07
Dec06  Nov06  Oct06  Sep06
Aug06  Jul06  Jun06  May06
Apr06  Mar06  Feb06  Jan06
Dec05  Nov05  Oct05  Sep05
Aug05  Jul05  Jun05  May05
Apr05  Mar05  Feb05  Jan05
Dec04  Nov04  Oct04  Sep04
Aug04  Jul04  Jun04  May04
Apr04  Mar04  Feb04  Jan04
Dec03  Nov03  Oct03  Sep03
Aug03  Jul03  Jun03  May03
Apr03  Mar03  Feb03  Jan03
Dec02  Nov02  Oct02  Sep02
back to main page

the diamond geezer index
2023 2022
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

my special London features
a-z of london museums
E3 - local history month
greenwich meridian (N)
greenwich meridian (S)
the real eastenders
london's lost rivers
olympic park 2007
great british roads
oranges & lemons
random boroughs
bow road station
high street 2012
river westbourne
trafalgar square
capital numbers
east london line
lea valley walk
olympics 2005
regent's canal
square routes
silver jubilee
unlost rivers
cube routes
Herbert Dip
metro-land
capital ring
river fleet
piccadilly
bakerloo

ten of my favourite posts
the seven ages of blog
my new Z470xi mobile
five equations of blog
the dome of doom
chemical attraction
quality & risk
london 2102
single life
boredom
april fool

ten sets of lovely photos
my "most interesting" photos
london 2012 olympic zone
harris and the hebrides
betjeman's metro-land
marking the meridian
tracing the river fleet
london's lost rivers
inside the gherkin
seven sisters
iceland

just surfed in?
here's where to find...
diamond geezers
flash mob #1  #2  #3  #4
ben schott's miscellany
london underground
watch with mother
cigarette warnings
digital time delay
wheelie suitcases
war of the worlds
transit of venus
top of the pops
old buckenham
ladybird books
acorn antiques
digital watches
outer hebrides
olympics 2012
school dinners
pet shop boys
west wycombe
bletchley park
george orwell
big breakfast
clapton pond
san francisco
thunderbirds
routemaster
children's tv
east enders
trunk roads
amsterdam
little britain
credit cards
jury service
big brother
jubilee line
number 1s
titan arum
typewriters
doctor who
coronation
comments
blue peter
matchgirls
hurricanes
buzzwords
brookside
monopoly
peter pan
starbucks
feng shui
leap year
manbags
bbc three
vision on
piccadilly
meridian
concorde
wembley
islington
ID cards
bedtime
freeview
beckton
blogads
eclipses
letraset
arsenal
sitcoms
gherkin
calories
everest
muffins
sudoku
camilla
london
ceefax
robbie
becks
dome
BBC2
paris
lotto
118
itv