LONDONLIFE

We want to look back and realise we made the absolute best of this challenging time and know that we evolved, thrived, and enjoyed ourselves.

London Life...

after lockdown

What a strange year we have had so far. Festivals have been cancelled, holidays cancelled, weddings cancelled. Despite this we need to remind each other that 2020 has not been cancelled. The seasons of summer, autumn and winter will come and go as they always do, and this year will very much continue to soldier on as it always has and therefore so must we. Over the past year, our team of writers and reviewers have searched the county and it’s surrounding towns to discover the very best of Sussex and beyond. Now, as we take a look back at our encounters and expeditions, we have narrowed down this extensive list to bring you our guide to the ultimate must-visit places for you to add to your bucket list!

2020 has so far been challenging and quite different from everything we could have imagined at the start of the year. This period may have been a stressful, tedious, and sad time for many, and possibly physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. It will however be a time of much needed change. Challenging periods in our lives can often symbolise the start of changing circumstances which can be incredibly positive if viewed with mindfulness, openness, and optimism. This time of change will be an accomplishment for many. Those that turn challenging situations in to opportunities, and those that try to grow and learn in times of turmoil will thrive and accomplish so much. Individuals, families, and businesses will evolve and adapt to find new ways of behaving, living with each other, thinking, and working together safely.

We are now in the glorious summer months, so let us use our time wisely to be with our families and friends virtually and with social distancing and get outside safely as much as we can. Let us prepare, plan, and look forward to the future and try not to be disheartened by our cancelled plans. We want to look back and realise we made the absolute best of this challenging time and know that we evolved, thrived, and enjoyed ourselves. This time will not come this way again, so let us enjoy each small step towards normality and a life after lockdown, and not waste another moment of our year.

London Parks and Green Open Spaces.

It is so important to still enjoy the outdoors while observing social distancing, but do also be mindful of observing the changing of the seasons which help you realise there is so much beauty in our surroundings to be grateful for, as long as we slow down long enough to notice it.

It is vital we all visit parks and outdoors spaces regularly for recreation and exercise to help boost our physical health and mental wellbeing. However, the toilet situation for many of us has become somewhat of an issue when visiting outdoor places during the Covid-19 epidemic. Now thankfully more parks and public open spaces with public toilet facilities are becoming available and re-opening. Phew!

The Royal Parks.

The Royal Parks include Hyde Park, Greenwich Park, The Green Park, Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park, The Regents Park and Primrose Hill, Bushy Park and Victoria Tower Gardens.

Currently, the car parks and the toilets in the Royal Parks remain closed, and the Royal Parks are asking Londoners and visitors to respect the open spaces they visit and adhere to the 2-meter social distancing. Two of my favourite parks are Greenwich Park and Richmond Park.

Greenwich Park is one of the single largest parks in London and is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site with amazing views that overlook the Thames. This park is also home to the Prime Meridian point and The Royal Observatory, and certainly worth a visit as it is simply bursting with beautiful ancient trees and tranquil flower gardens. Greenwich park, London, SE10 8QY. Richmond Park is open but there is no vehicle access and the main carparks are closed. Cycling in the park has been limited to before 10am and after 4pm on weekdays only. The Richmond Park Golf Course has been re-opened since May. Dogs can be walked but need to be kept on leads, and the park cafés are open offering take-away refreshments., while the children’s playgrounds and toilets facilities are also currently unavailable. Richmond Park, London, TW10 5HS.

Crystal Palace Park.

Crystal Palace Park is a huge leafy Victorian public park in South East London. The small farm, the play park and toilets in the park are currently closed, but access to the car park remains open. Crystal Palace Park. Thicket Road, London, SE19 2GA.

Blackheath.

Blackheath in Greenwich is a beautiful open space, great to visit with a picnic or to fly a kite on a windy day. There is limited metered car parking on the residential roads around the heath. Blackheath. London, SE3.

Clapham Common.

Clapham Common is 220 acres of green space and urban park in the centre of Clapham in South London with three ponds and a Victorian bandstand. The Common is usually a popular place for concerts and festivals over the summer months, however, it is still a pretty, large open green location great for picnics and with space to walk, jog or cycle around the perimeter. Clapham Common, Windmill Drive, London. SW4 9DE.

National Trust

The National Trust has started to open parks and gardens in the UK and Northern Ireland, and these will require tickets to be purchased in advance to help with the social distancing measures. Entry availability and tickets to new locations and their carparks are being released every week online.

Morden Hall Park.

The Morden Hall park and garden centre are open daily from 10am until 4pm. Unfortunately, the café, book shop and toilets are still closed. The car park has no direct access through to the park and this also closes at 4pm. No dogs are allowed except assistance dogs. Morden Hall Park. Morden Hall Road, Morden, London, SM4 5JD.

Osterley Park.

The beautiful Osterley Park is a Georgian country estate in the county of Middlesex in the suburbs of West London. Osterley House, along with the shop and play trails, are unfortunately still closed but the gardens are open to visitors. Dogs are allowed in parkland only and must be kept on leads. The toilets are also open and have baby-change facilities available.

The garden and parkland on the estate boasts colourful manicured gardens, fragrant rose gardens, herbaceous boarders and ornamental vegetable beds, and there is also a picturesque lake, manicured lawns, wild woodland walks and an ancient wildflower meadow to be discovered. The garden is open 10am until 5pm and the park is open 9am until 5pm. The car park costs £7 per car per visit, and there is free parking for National Trust members. Pre-paid tickets are required for your visit and entry to the gardens, parkland, and car park.

Ticket prices: Adult ticket £12, Child ticket £4, Family tickets £20 and one adult family tickets are £12. Osterley Park and House. Jersey Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 4RB.

Gardens at Ham House.

Ham House is a 17th century mansion in Richmond on the banks of the River Thames. The House itself is infamous for its collection of antique paintings, textiles and furniture and is rumoured to be haunted. Unfortunately, this beautiful house, its café and shop have been closed but the garden is open for visitors, and the toilets and baby-changing facilities are also open.

Entry tickets for your visit to the Ham House gardens will need to be booked in advance online via the National Trust website, and this includes members. The National Trust at Ham House also request that you arrive within your 30-minute time slot and then you are welcome to stay the whole day until closing if you wish.

Ticket prices: Adult ticket £5, Child ticket £2.50, Family tickets £12.50 and one adult family tickets are £7.50. Its fee entry for National Trust members, however, pre-booking online is still required as a designated arrival time slot will be allocated. Ham House Gardens. Ham Street, Ham, Richmond Upon Thames, TW10 7RS.

after lockdown

English Heritage.

Eltham Palace and Gardens.

English Heritage look after many historic buildings, prehistoric sites, medieval monuments, Roman forts, and country houses around the UK. Many of their sites will be back open from 4 July, and hopefully almost all the sites will be re-opened by August. Entry tickets will need to be booked in advance to be allocated a specific visiting time slot and visitor numbers will be limited. Each site will have special measures in place to adhere to social distancing.

Opening in July will be the 19 acres of magnificent gardens of Eltham Palace in South London. This is a wonderful time to visit the beautiful art deco style gardens which were formally a medieval estate and Tudor residence, full of pretty rock gardens, stunning rose gardens, herbaceous boarders, a picturesque moat and also London’s oldest working bridge. The café is open for take-away drinks and light refreshments. The Palace itself is unfortunately closed but the toilets are open.

Garden ticket prices: Child tickets are from £7.50, adult tickets are from £12.50 and family tickets from £32.50. Eltham Palace and Gardens. Court Yard, London, SE9 5QE.

London Walks.

As we all know walking is great exercise, and there are plenty of walkways in and around London that are all free and a great way to see the sights and famous landmarks of our capital. Visit the TFL -Transport for London website for heaps of walkway route inspiration and for maps across London. Below are just a few Absolute London favourite sight-seeing walks. www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/top-walking-routes

The Thames Path river walk.

This infamous Thames Path river walk will take you past some of London’s most iconic landmarks on both the north and south banks of the River Thames from Hampton Court and Richmond all the way down to the Thames Barrier and the River Darent. The most central and infamous sights you will pass are Syon Park, Hampton Court Place, Kew Gardens and Chiswick Pier, Kingston Pier and Teddington Lock. The further along on the walk in central London you will spot the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, Westminster Bridge, The London Eye, and Canary Wharf, then as you walk along down the river you will pass the Tate Modern, The Globe Theatre and the Millennium Bridge. The walk then snakes its way around Borough Market, past Southwark Cathedral, by the Shard and then on towards the end of the path walkway are the sights of Erith Marshes and the Thames Barrier. The route of this 75.9-mile walk is divided in to 4 sections on both the North and South Banks of the River Thames. The signage for this popular walk is marked with the Thames Path National Trail symbol and beyond the Thames Barrier you will find the route marked with the Thames Barge symbol.

North Bank: Section 1: Hampton Court to the Albert Bridge, Section 2: The Albert Bridge to Tower Bridge, Section 3: Tower Bridge to Greenwich and Section 4: Greenwich to the East India Dock.

South Bank: Section 1: Teddington Lock to Battersea Park, Section 2: the Albert Bridge to Tower Bridge, Section 3: Tower Bridge to Thames Barrier, Section 4: Thames Barrier to River Darent.

London Loop.

The London Loop is a huge circular route mapped all the way around the outskirts of London and split into 24 shorter flat or gently sloping walks from Erith station to Purfleet. Popular areas in these walks are Bushy Park, Farthing Downs, Hall Place and Hainault Forest Country Park.

The Jubilee Greenway.

The Jubilee Greenway is the 60km walking route created to mark the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympic Games in 2012. Just a few of the famous sights to be seen and areas to visit on this popular walkway are Kensington Place, Victoria Park, Olympic Park, Greenwich Park, HMS Belfast on the River Thames, Buckingham Palace, and Regents Park. This route is split into 10 shorter walking routes which are marked by iconic glass paving slabs. Cycling in London.

Over the summer, TFL - Transport for London are planning to create more space on London streets for cyclists and pedestrians to travel around London safely while social distancing. Strategic cycling networks are being created and London town centres will be improved to help safer cycling and walking. Also, 30km of cycle lanes will be added to the existing London 160km cycle way. www.tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvementsand-projects/streetspace-for-london

Dulwich Park.

Dulwich Park, in the borough of Southwark in South London is a 30-hectare park with plenty of scenic open space, with a great cycle route, which makes it the perfect place to visit for a bike ride and a picnic. The tennis courts, cricket ground and fishing facilities are also open. Dulwich Park. College Road, London, SE21.

Regents Canal.

The Regents Canal cycle route offers a scenic bike ride along the Regents canal in Camden and through Regents Park. The distance is about 4.6 miles and starts in Regents Park before leading down the Regents Canal Towpath and then through London Zoo. Regents Canal. London.

Charlie McBrien