Despite its reputation for noise and pollution, London is more verdant than any other world city of its size. Green spaces cover almost 40 per cent of Greater London, providing a profusion of places where you can walk, play, relax, exercise and commune with nature. The capital’s green bounty ranges from magnificent royal parks and garden cemeteries, full of intrigue and history, to majestic ancient forests and barely tamed heathland; from elegant squares and formal country parks to enchanting ‘secret’ gardens.
The 20 walks in this book take in prominent destinations, such as Hyde and Regent’s Park, but also many smaller and less familiar (but no less beautiful) parks and gardens, such as the New River Path and Ravenscourt Park, most of which cost nothing to explore. When you need a rest there’s usually somewhere to sit down, thanks to Londoners’ long tradition of donating benches in memory of departed loved ones.
With the exception of the royal parks – which owe their existence to the British monarchy’s (and particularly Henry VIII’s) passion for chasing deer – the majority of London’s public parks were founded by the Victorians, from the 1840s onwards, as part of a range of measures to improve the living conditions of the working classes. London’s living network of green lungs and waterways is still vital to the health and wellbeing of its inhabitants today. It also provides food and refuge for the city’s flora and fauna, which – despite living alongside almost 9 million people – is extraordinary in its abundance, variety and scope.
Most walks are between two and five miles in length, with the average around 3½ miles. However, it’s best to allow a half day for the shorter walks and as much as a full day for the longer walks – particularly if you plan to partake of the many excellent pubs, restaurants and cafés along the routes (for your author, a good lunch is a prerequisite of a good walk) – not to mention the many diversions along the way, such as museums, galleries and churches. Our aim was to take the ‘scenic route’, visiting as many interesting landmarks as possible, rather than simply getting from A to B.
Writing London’s Green Walks has been a fascinating, edifying and enjoyable journey of discovery. We hope that you enjoy these walks as much as we did; all you need is a comfortable pair of shoes, a sense of adventure – and this book!
Download the PDF Sample now FREE of charge (including the Table of Contents) and see for yourself how beautiful this book is.
RRP: | £9.99 Survival Books |
Author: | David Hampshire |
ISBN-10: | 1-909282-82-0 |
ISBN-13: | 978-1-909292-82-7 |
Edition: | 1st |
Published: | 27th Apr 2018 |
Number of Pages: | 192 Pages |
Dimensions: | 190mm x 110mm |
Book Type: | Softcover |