CITY SAFARI - London & Partners

IMAGE © THINKSTOCK/PHOTODISCThe royal parksThese beautiful open spaces, many of which were once thegrounds of royal homes, are the property of the Crown.They are some of the biggest green areas in London,and are normally open from 07.00 until dusk, but checkindividual times at : royalparks.org.ukBushy Park, Hampton, Middlesex. A charming park northof Hampton Court Palace. t Hampton Court/Teddington.Off map.Green Park, SW1. A peaceful haven near St James’s Park.Ë Green Park. Map C4/5/D4.Greenwich Park, SE10. Encompassing the RoyalObservatory (p. 43) and offering spectacular views.t Ë Greenwich and Ë Cutty Sark. Map inset.Hyde Park, W2. Swim, boat on the lake, ride horses orlisten at Speakers’ Corner. Ë Hyde Park Corner/LancasterGate/Marble Arch. Map C3/4/D3.Kensington Gardens, W8. Once the grounds ofKensington Palace and a continuation of Hyde Park.Ë Lancaster Gate/Queensway. Map C1/2/D2.Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, NW1 (picture).Home to ZSL London Zoo (p. 50). Ë Baker Street/Regent’s Park. Map A3/4.Richmond Park, TW10. London’s largest open space wasonce a royal hunting ground. Ë Richmond. Off map.St James’s Park, SW1. Enchantingly pretty ornamentalpark with a lake. Ë St James’s Park. Map C5/D5.Primrose Hilllike animatronic dinosaursincluding Triceratops andTyrannosaurus Rex in theirnatural habitats. Look outfor the Aquarium, showinglife under the waves inprehistoric times, and theFossil Zone. Tues-Sun10.00-18.00. Admission£14.25, child £11.25.Meridian Gardens, The O 2 ,Peninsula Square, SE10.% 020 8463 2000.: dinosaursunleashed.co.uk Ë North Greenwich.Map inset.docTor wHoExpErIENcEA must-visit for fans of theworld-famous TV series, thisbrilliant attraction takes you‘into’ the Timelord’s world.Step into the Tardisas Doctor Who’s companionas he journeys through timeand space. Enjoy state-ofthe-artspecial effects, andplenty of villains, includingDaleks and Cybermen.Daily 10.00-18.00 (last entry16.00). Admission £20,child £15.50.Olympia Two,Hammersmith Road, W14.% 08442 097 354.: doctorwhoexperience.com Ë Olympia. Off map.Edf ENErGyloNdoN EyEConstructed to mark themillennium, this icon isone of the world’s largestobservation wheels andtakes centre stage in thecity’s riverscape. Daily 10.00-21.00. Each experience lasts30 mins. Admission from£18.60, child £9.84. Rideand river tour packages, plusjoint tickets with LondonAquarium (p. 43), LondonDungeon (p. 37) andMadame Tussauds (p. 37).South Bank, SE1.% 08717 813 000.: londoneye.comË Waterloo. Map C6.ElTHam palacEThe remains of a medievalpalace, Henry VIII’s boyhoodhome and a 20th-centuryart deco masterpiece,designed by the wealthyCourtaulds. Extraordinarydécor, especially the diningroom. The gardens combineTudor and art deco elements.18-19 Jun A Grand MedievalJoust. Thrills and spills,music, dance, falconry andmuch more (p. 43). Tickets£11, child £6.60. Sun-Wed11.00-17.00. Admission£9.30, child £5.60.Eltham, Greenwich, SE9.% 020 8294 2548.: english-heritage.org.ukt Eltham. Off map.fulHam palacEThis 15th-century buildingwas the summer retreat ofthe Bishops of London, butis now a museum, botanicalgardens, café and galleryshowcasing palace-inspiredartworks. Museum Sat-Wed13.00-16.00; gallery andcafé daily 09.00-17.00;gardens daily dawn-dusk.Admission free.Bishop’s Park, SW6.% 020 7736 3233.: fulhampalace.orgË Fulham Broadway/Putney Bridge. Off map.GoldEN HINdE, THEThe full-size reconstructionof Sir Francis Drake’s 16thcenturyvessel, in which hecircumnavigated the globe,is also a museum. Look outfor Pirate Fun Days, andTudor Family Days. Daily10.00-17.30. Admission,self-guided adult £6, child£4.50; guided adult £7,child £5.Pickfords Wharf, ClinkStreet, SE1. % 020 74030123. : goldenhinde.comË London Bridge. Map C8.Ham HouSESuperb and amazinglywell-preserved 17th-centuryhouse with beautiful gardensand a reputation as one ofthe most haunted places inthe UK. 5 Jun Wind In TheWillows. Performance basedon Kenneth Grahame’s lovelybook. Tickets £12.50, child£9.50. House Sat-Thurs12.00-16.00, garden daily11.00-17.00. Admission£10.90, child £6.05.Ham Street, TW10.% 020 8940 1950.: nationaltrust.org.ukË Richmond. Off map.HampSTEad HEaTHThis wonderful natural parkstretches offers hills andwonderful views, sports fieldsand Kenwood House. Threeof the Heath’s ponds areopen for swimming – men’swomen’s and mixed (p. 8).07.30-dusk. Park admissionfree; ponds £2, child £1.Hampstead, NW3.% 020 7332 3322.: cityoflondon.gov.ukË Hampstead/TufnellPark/Belsize Park.Off map.HampToN courTpalacEA magnificent Tudor palaceand impressive maze setin 60 acres of parkland.Costumed guided toursand Live Tudor Cookery(check dates) included inthe price. In the permanentexhibition The Young Prince,meet the ‘pin-up’ before hebecame fat old Henry VIII.8-18 Jun Hampton CourtPalace Festival. Fantasticannual music event (p. 22).Daily 10.00-18.00 (lastentry 17.00). Palace, maze,gardens £15.95, child £8;maze £3.85, child £2.75;gardens and parkland free.Hampton Court, EastMolesey, Surrey, KT8.% 08444 827 777.: hrp.org.uk t HamptonCourt. Off map.SIGHTSEEINGJune 2011 | LONDON PLANNER | visitlondon.com |29