What is it?
Not a fan of flowers? Green Park is the one for you. As the name suggests, this 40-acre open space is a masterclass in verdant hues, with its green lawns dotted with emerald-and-white deckhairs, and interspersed with deeply shaded tree-lined avenues. Legend has it that its famous absence of flowerbeds is all down to King Charles II's wife Queen Catherine, who ordered them to be ripped up after she found her errant hubby picking blooms for another woman.
Green Park also lacks the intriguing buildings or duck-filled lakes of London's seven other, bigger Royal Parks. But it's still got plenty to recommend it to the casual stroller.
Why go?
Green Park's location right by Buckingham Palace makes it a pleasant place to wander and picnic after checking out London's royal architecture. Enter through the gloriously gilded Canada Gate, which was built as a memorial to Queen Victoria, then look over towards the grand facade of former royal residence Lancaster House and its neighbouring mansions to get a glimpse of central London at its most opulent. There are two kiosks for ice creams or hot drinks, and the lawns here are much less busy than nearby St James Park on a sunny day.
Don't miss:
This park is studded with war memorials, including the grand stone Bomber Command Memorial, which commemorates the 55,573 who died while serving during the Second World War.
When to visit:
The pedestrian gates open from 5am and close at dusk each day.
Ticket info:
No tickets are needed to enter the park.
Time Out tip:
Visit in late February or early March and you'll see London's most glorious display of daffodils, with thousands of yellow blooms springing up beneath the trees.
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