Holland Park

Holland Park Review

Formerly the grounds of an aristocrat's house and open to the public only since 1952, Holland Park is an often-overlooked gem and possibly London's most romantic park. The nothern "Wilderness" end offers woodland walks among native and exotic trees first planted in the early 18th century. Foxes, rabbits, and hedgehogs are among the residents The central part of the park is given over to the manicured lawns—still stalked by raucuous peacocks—one would expect at a stately home, although Holland House itself, originally built by James I's chancellor and later the site of a 19th-century salon frequented by Byron, Dickens, and Disraeli, was largely destroyed by incendiary bombs in 1940. The east wing was reconstructed and has been incorporated into a youth hostel, while the remains of the front terrace provide an atmospheric backdrop for the open-air performances of the April-September Holland Park Opera Festival (0207/361-3570 box office www.operahollandpark.com). The glass-walled Garden Ballroom (every home should have one) is now the Orangery, which hosts art exhibitions and other public events, as does the Ice House, while an adjoining former granary has become the upmarket Belvedere restaurant. In spring and summer the air is fragrant with aromas from a rose garden, great banks of rhododendrons, and an azalea walk. Garden enthusiasts will also not want to miss the tranquil, traditional Kyoto Garden, a legacy of London's 1991 Japan Festival. The southern part of the park is given over to sport: cricket and football pitches, a golf practice area, and tennis courts, and a well-supervised children's Adventure Playground. And don't miss a new addition, the giant outdoor chess set.