Category: Parks & Gardens

1. Crime and Cream Teas at the Agatha Christie Festival Part I - Greenway

   Posted on 8:00am Tuesday 7th Oct 2014

    

   

    Barnaby

   Greenway was Agatha Christie's beloved holiday home in Devon and seems a good place to start the first installment of my blog about the recent Agatha Christie Festival. This annual crime writing festival takes place in and around Torquay, Agatha's birthplace, each September to coincide with her birthday. Since my last visit in 2011 the festival has certainly grown both in the numbers of visitors and organised events.

2. Blooming Marvellous - An Incredible but Inedible Knitted Garden

   Posted on 10:30am Tuesday 19th Aug 2014

   

    Detail of the picnic rug laid out with tasty treats

   Last week I visited a life size knitted garden at the artsdepot in Finchley, North London. Blooming Marvellous, as it's known, certainly lives up to its name. It’s brilliant, bright, quirky, extremely colourful, utterly delightful and great fun to visit. Hurry if you want to visit as it is only on display until Thursday 4^th September 2014. 

3. London's Only Model Village? A Charming Surprise in Vauxhall Park

   Posted on 9:30am Sunday 17th Aug 2014

   

   I was delighted to discover recently a small (no pun intended) model village in a secluded corner of Vauxhall Park. It’s utterly charming and evokes a wonderful sense of nostalgia with its olde worlde character. 

4. Spectra in Victoria Tower Gardens - Artwork to Commemorate the Start of WWI in Britain

   Posted on 8:00pm Thursday 7th Aug 2014

   Spectra is a powerful lightbeam illuminating London's iconic skyline for this week only.

   The public are able to view this temporary art installation at the Victoria Tower Gardens, 24 hours a day until Monday 11th August 2014. 

5. The Secret Gardens of Marylebone Part II (including some rather unique toilets)

   Posted on 9:30am Tuesday 24th Jun 2014

   

   Paddington Street Gardens

   In Part II we are looking at Paddington Street Gardens (which includes some public toilets which have some rather unique features) and the gardens of the Wallace Collection, which are a couple of my favourite public open spaces in Marylebone.

6. The Secret Gardens of Marylebone Part I

   Posted on 11:00am Sunday 22nd Jun 2014

   

   Marylebone is one of my favourite parts of London as it has magically retained a village type atmosphere. Although just a short walk from Oxford Street it's less busy and the roads in and round Marylebone High Street and up and coming Chiltern Street are full of fabulous, small and independent shops and delightful cafes, pubs and restaurants. Marylebone also has some beautiful gardens which form the centrepieces to its grand squares. They are known as Key Gardens as they are private, gated gardens which are usually only open to residents or businesses located in the square who have access via their own key or key fob. However these charming gardens are occassionally open to the public, such as during Open Garden Squares weekend, and are worth exploring.

7. Tea House Theatre - Taking Refreshments in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 13th May 2014

   

   The Tea House Theatre has quickly become one of my favourite tea rooms in London with a well deserved reputation for its delicious home baked cakes. The cakes are displayed on various tables round the cafe rather than at a central counter which compliments its charming and relaxed character.

8. Celebrating John Lewis� 150th Anniversary in Style � Roof Garden and Exhibition

   Posted on 6:00pm Monday 5th May 2014

   

   John Lewis opened his first store at 132 Oxford Street, London on 2^nd May 1864. In celebration of the store’s 150^th anniversary the roof garden and a special exhibition are open to the public from Saturday 3^rd May 2014. 

9. Scones of the Month - April 2014

   Posted on 6:00am Wednesday 30th Apr 2014

   

   Vintage Emporium

   April started off with eating scones by candlelight in Vintage Emporium, which was a first time for me and took my scone eating pleasures to new heights. 

10. Guesting on London Undone's Podcast about Postman's Park

    Posted on 10:00pm Thursday 10th Apr 2014

    A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to be interviewed by London Undone about Postman's Park, a delightful small open space which is also my favourite place in the City of London. It was my first ever podcast and great fun to do. My interview is just one of five City Guides talking about different aspects of the park. So if you'd like to hear the podcast click here.
    

    If you enjoyed reading this you might also like reading our guest blog for Cemetary Club about Postman Park.
    

    The author of this blog is a qualified City of London and City of Westminster Tour Guide who leads guided walks combining world famous landmarks with hidden treasures often missed by the crowds.

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