Another Day in London
- Kaitlen Elaine
- Sep 19, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 12, 2022
Another day, another chance to explore the wonders of London. As much as I enjoy visiting all of the very touristy locations here— for example, Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Oxford Street, etc., I really enjoy visiting more chill and relaxing areas around the city as well. If there is one thing you should know about me, as a reader of my blogs, it's that I love botanical gardens and parks. Anything that involves walking around and observing my surroundings is my favorite—especially when I get to see different types of flowers and wildlife.
I decided to take a bus to Regent’s Park at the beginning of my day, and then rode the tube to Regent’s Canal for a lovely canal walk.
Regent's Park is a 410-acre park that was actually first acquired by Henry VIII, and the area was used mostly as a hunting park up until 1649. It wasn't until around the 1810's to the 1820's that the Prince Regent during the time, George IV, proposed turning it into a 'pleasure' garden. Unmistakably, the gardens were named after him. The park was opened to the public in 1841, and is still one of the main parks in central London to this day!
Regent’s Park is full of alluring gardens, like Queen Mary's Rose Garden or the Japanese Garden island, and lakes, and it also has plenty of gorgeous historical sights, such as grand Regency villas and the statuesque fountains. One of my favorite things to do here is ride bikes around the paved pathways, because so many people spend their mornings and afternoons here exercising and walking their dogs!
Now—let me give you some friendly advice, if you are in London, please visit the Regent's Canal. It is gorgeous and it's near many of the most exciting area in central and east London, cutting through Maida Vale, Regent’s Park (quite obviously), Camden, King’s Cross, Islington, Hackney, London Fields, Victoria Park, and other parts of the city. A walk along the canal allows people to experience a unique alternative to their usual walking scene. While walking along the canal, you never know what you'll see, from colorful canal boats and shops to glamorous houses along the canal's edge.
Some of the poshest houses in London can be found lining the banks of the Regent’s Canal. If you're interested in seeing them, the best way is to ride one of Jason’s Trip’s "traditional canal boats" from Little Venice to Camden. When these colorful barges pass through the edge of Regent’s Park, you’ll see the houses sitting on the banks above you—with their frequently manicured lawns and lavish gardens stretching out and down to the water.
One of my greatest finds on the Regent's Canal to this day is "Word on the Water," which is basically a London book barge on the canal! This floating bookshop sails on a 100-year-old Dutch barge, selling second hand books and new books. They have indoor & outdoor shelves with anything you could think of—classics, fantasy, contemporary fiction, children's books, art and photography, etc. Their canal boat also has poetry slams, live readings and live acoustic music on the roof stage on top of the boat sometimes as well!
As you can see, this barge fills every nook and cranny that it can with a plethora of books and knickknacks. While books are the main attraction for "Word on the Water," the owners also host discussions on engaging topics such as politics, art, feminism, and technology.
Everyone that I have ever met on the boat are always very friendly, and every time I have walked past the barge it is typically attracting new visitors. Also, they are pet friendly!
Below I have linked Word on the Water's website if you're interested in more information!
After leaving the canal, I went to the Hill Gardens and Hampstead Pergola to explore for a bit. It was about a 40 minute journey to get there, but it was only about 6.3 miles from the canal I had previously been exploring. Public transportation is the best and the worst at times— purely because it can either be so convenient or a painfully long expedition from point A to point B.
Hampstead is quite lovely. There are so many cute shops, fancy coffee cafes, and Hampstead Heath near! However, in my opinion, the most beautiful part, and most underrated, is the Hampstead Pergola at Hill Gardens. The Pergola offers gorgeous views over the Heath and Hill Gardens. It's a beautiful hidden gem in North London.
The Pergola's history goes back to 1904 when Lord Leverhulme, a landscape-loving philanthropist, purchased a large townhome on the Heath called "The Hill."
That next year, in 1905, Lord Leverhulme decided that he needed an extravagant terrace, to host garden parties and lazy summer night gathering. During his time he was most likely filthy rich, so if you have the money to spend—why not build a lavish pergola? I would.
If you ever visit Hampstead and the Hill Gardens and Pergola, you can visit any time of the year as the gardens are beautiful for all seasons. It is even arguably more beautiful in the winter when it’s hidden under winter snow, or in autumn when the golden leaves cover the gardens in fall colors. The gardens are well taken of and it's an incredibly peaceful wander about—plus, it's free!
As much as I adore spending my days in botanical gardens and enjoying a coffee while people-watching or reading a book (or writing a blog post for that matter), I also like to appreciate and allow myself to indulge in the United Kingdom's rich and extensive history. I booked a hotel in Bath, England, so I can visit the Roman Baths, the Bath Abbey, and I might even have a look at Stonehenge while I am near (which is nearly 5,000 years old—so, there is so much history waiting for me to be explored).
I've packed up my bags and checked out of my hotel— saying goodbye to my cozy little hotel room at the Grand Royale at Hyde Park (that was incredibly conveniently close to a Waitrose that offered me unlimited snack options at any time of the day). Nevertheless, I am ready for my next adventure on my current tour through England.
When you travel to new places, what types of activities do you enjoy finding to do? (museums, gardens, shopping areas, etc.)
Comment below!
I have to add the book barge to my bucket list.