The Top Floor Flat

We’ve been enjoying an unseasonable bout of good weather complete with gloriously sunny weekends, a distinct lack of rain and the inkling that it will be properly warm in a few short weeks.  Last Saturday I took advantage of the weather to take a stroll through the nearby Holland Park as part of my ongoing efforts to explore the neighbourhood.  I couldn’t have picked a better place for my outting and spent a happy few hours exploring Holland Park.

I had been in the park once before, at the end of the summer.  I had originally been tempted into the park to inquire about their evening opera performances which take place at a beautiful open air opera house in the centre of the park but had unfortunately missed the last scheduled date.  Despite the lack of performance, I spent some time wandering the paths and was immediately impressed.  Upon my return this weekend, I wondered why it took me so long to get back.

Holland Park was absolutely packed with visitors enjoying the sun but the diversity of the park’s offerings meant that people were comfortably spread out through the grounds.  There are a number of different areas.  The entrance I used led into a long, shaded walk along a series of sports fields but at the end of the path, the real charm of the park becomes apparent.  One direction leads to the opera house, the Orangery – a small art gallery showcasing local work, the Ice House – the park cafe, and the most incredible flower gardens and promenade.  Although the roses won’t be in bloom for a while, the majority of the beds were absolutely alive with colours and full of daffodils, tulips and greenery.  The promenade which leads between the Ice House and the Orangery has one wall covered with a mural depicting men, women and children enjoying the park in Victorian style clothing.

However should one turn the other direction from the top of the entrance path, mini trails lead to short shaded walks that loop around the park.  Throughout my walk, I kept coming across hidden patches of grass where couples were picnicking, secluded benches, and amazingly beautiful flower beds.  The trails looped back towards the centre of the park with the tended flower gardens, Ice House and Orangery but not before passing by two playgrounds for toddlers and children and possibly the best secret of Holland Park, the Kyoto Gardens, complete with Zen sensibility in planning, Koi fish and, on the day I happened to visit, a set of enthusiastic anime fans in impressively complete costumes doing a photoshoot.

I’ve already made tentitive plans for a Holland Park picnic later this week in the hopes I can enjoy the spring flowers again in the nice weather.  Regardless, now that I have the opportunity, I’ll certainly return for the summer opera series and to enjoy the wonderful little park hidden away in my side of London.