Vita

Hi, all. I'm still considering how I want to handle my trip in May. When I was in Rome and Florence last year, as busy as they were, I found it pretty easy to get some peace and quiet when I needed it. <BR><BR>I don't need or expect a lot of time for this, but on occasion, I'd just like to be able to go for a nice walk without all the city noise. I was wondering where people would recommend to go for this in London. This could include some charming little neighborhood or park to walk through for just 30 minutes or so. Any suggestions?

ron

Regent's Park, the Regents Canal between Little Venice and Camden Town, the Thames Path between Richmond and Kew Bridge, Richmond Park are some that work for me.

elaine

I'm going to pass along a suggestion that Londoner Ben Haines has made:<BR> "The Roof Gardens, a 1.5-acre garden atop a building just off Kensington High Street (High Street Kensington Tube). Mature trees, ponds with fish and pink flamingos, manicured lawns and overgrown paths. Amazing place. You can't tell you're in the middle of a large city. Leave the Tube and <BR>turn right on KHS. Walk a block to Derry Street and turn right. Go to No. 99, enter, and sign in with the security guard. Take the last lift on the right to the top and you're there. Amazing place."<BR>

Karen Blixen

I agree - Little Venice is marvelous, as is any of the many parks. I really enjoyed Green Park, Kensington Gardens too.<BR><BR>Karen

Lori

Hampstead Heath - you will feel like you are in the country when you are just a few miles from the center of London.<BR><BR>London has scads of parks - any or all of them are wonderful (Regent's Park is my favorite). Kew Gardens is lovely as well (altho you do get the noise of overhead jets taking off from Heathrow).<BR><BR>Walk along the Victoria Embankment for a change of pace.<BR><BR>There are so many places in London where you can go for a little quiet, everyone has their own favorites.<BR><BR>

Karen Blixen

ooh, I forgot my favorite:<BR><BR>Highgate Cemetery. Just the walk up the hill to it is very peaceful. I've had a few contemplative moments there...<BR><BR>Karen

Patrick Wallace

Apart from the major parks and all the smaller patches of green on the map, there are all sorts of oases of quiet - many of the churches in the City of London, for example, and some have their own small churchyards. Try 'Postman's Park' (between St Pauls and the Museum of London, next to what used to be the Post Office HQ and is now Nomura's): quiet and full of odd memorials to Victorian acts of bravery. <BR><BR>(and I'm so glad the roof gardens are still there - I'm old enough to remember when they were the chief selling-point of an otherwise rather stuffy department store)

AnnaC

The City of London (financial district) is very quiet at the weekend. It wouldn't have been my first thought - but others have already mentioned my first, second and third thoughts!<BR><BR>Some of the architecture is stunning - both old and new, and it's well worth a walk round. The trouble is, it can be a bit too quiet, and most of the cafes and pubs, etc, are also closed as they do all their business Monday to Friday.<BR><BR>Also, early on a sunny morning (and I mean early - certainly before 8:30 am) is a beautiful and fairly quiet time to walk along the south bank of the Thames from Tower Bridge to the London Eye (or vice versa). You'll be sharing it only with a few joggers, dog walkers, and jet-lagged Japanese tourists who've woken up too early, plus the odd photographer (like me!)

AnnaC

Whoops - meant to say the Thames walk is quiet at that time on a weekend. I haven't been on a weekday, but I've no doubt there are lots of commuters around.

dave

Certainly Regent's Park and the Victoria Embankment are nice, but for a change of pace, if you're "parked" out...try a quick walk around a 4 or 5 block area bounded by Barton, Norh, and Crowley Streets very near the Law Courts. These little streets still feel like they must have in the 19th century, and there shouldn't be all that much noise...Have Fun!!

Carrie

Elaine, The Roof Garden is a restaurant and night club now. I don't think you can just wander in and admire the garden. Hampstead Heath gets my vote.

meg

Lincoln's Inn Fields near the Law Courts is a little oasis. There's a nice cafe on the top floor of the Waterstone's bookstore on Piccadilly.<BR>Any of the smaller churches in the City.

janis

All of the suggestions above are good - just depends on where you are in a parks, church, archetecture frame of mind.<BR><BR>One not mentioned is Chelsea. Bewteen the Physic Garden (fascinating) and the Chelsea Hospital (not a hospital - a veterans' home designed by Christopher Wren) plus the quiet streets of VERY upsacle houses. Makes a nice morning or afternoon.<BR><BR>But for the absolute best - Hampstead probably wins. The Heath will blow you away. Miles of paths and trails - you would swear you were out in Shropshire - except that you get these magnificen views over all of London. I they to get up to Hampstead/Highgate at least every other trip to London. Really clears the cobwebs.

kate

What a great question.<BR><BR>One of my favourite Saturday pursuits. Start by taking tube to London Bridge, wander round Borough Market (open air food market selling the most wonderful deli food from all over - cheeses, coffee, pork pies, fish, hot venison burgers, olives, you name it, great atmosphere even if you don't buy).<BR><BR>Follow this by a walk to Blackfriars Bridge. Cross over (great views of London, esp. St Paul's), wander up the little streets through the City, which will be dead as it's the weekend, towards Smithfields Meat Market. Here, have lunch or brunch at Smiths of Smithfields on Charterhouse Street, a large lively, friendly bar/restaurant spread over 4 floors. From here you can walk on towards Holborn and Lincoln's Inn Fields, location of Sir John Soames Museum.

Patrick

In the flat we rent in London there is a huge stack of tourist information left on the desk. Among it we found a brochure which is a suggested "small gardens" walk. I wish I knew where you could get this brochure with a map and detailed itinerary. We did it on a Sunday. Mainly it was in "the City" and wrapped near St. Paul's, passed Smithfield Market, and near the Barbican. We spent the bulk of the day doing it. Some were small gardens behind small churches, some were apartment building public green spaces, some were neighborhood squares. Does anyone know who printed this and where you could get one??? Apparently it was put out by some sort of London Garden Club or Society. I think it is just the thing you're looking for.<BR>

Ann

Have a look at http://www.gardenvisit.com/to/london.htm for some ideas. It is my ambition to visit all of these places one day.

Charles

My wife and I have always enjoyed Holland Park. Not on Sunday, however.