Parks & Gardens

Royal parks 

In London, there are eight incredible Royal Parks, all of which have their own history and charm. They are looked after by the Royal Parks charity, who care for the upkeep of each of them, so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.  

The Royal Parks in England’s capital cover over 5,000 acres of historic parkland, providing beautiful green spaces in the heart of the city. St James’ Park includes the Mall and Horse Guard’s Parade and surrounds Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Whitehall, the lake with its resident pelicans and the long drive to the palace where several state events take place make it an iconic place to visit. Right in the heart of London is Hyde Park, where you can find the Serpentine and memorials dedicated to Princess Diana. This park has a long political history as it is the site of Speaker’s Corner, where people from all walks of life continue to gather on a Sunday to share their views.  

Wherever you are in London, you’re never too far from a wide, open green space with plenty of history and heritage to explore.  

Battlefields 

Along with amazing open spaces, the UK is also home to a number of grass and parklands throughout history. There are a confirmed list of registered battlefields across the UK, though several have been modernised and built on.  

In England, some of the most important battlefields are still available to visit, including the site of the Battle of Hastings, which took place at the present day town of Battle between the Caldbeck and Telham Hills.  

The Battle of Bosworth Field is another famous battle in English history that can still be visited to this day. There is a plaque and a memorial dedicated to the battle at Richard’s Field, a Bosworth Battle Heritage Centre can also be visited at Ambion Hill near Richard’s Well. According to the legends, Richard III drank from several springs and wells in the region on the day of the battle – with this one mentioned in the legend.  

Gardens 

The UK’s historic gardens are a great way to measure changing trends and fashions throughout the centuries.  
For Medieval Gardens, the design tended to look very much like a yard or farmstead, though none remain, there are a number of reconstructions that can be seen, like Queen Eleanor’s Garden in Winchester, where you can find scented herbs and plants that originated in the 13th century.  

Later trends can be seen in a number of Tudor and Jacobean gardens that can still be found at heritage attractions throughout the UK. One example is at Stourhead in Wiltshire, where you can see a wonderful Palladian Bridge. Moving closer to modern times, a number of heritage properties continue to have Victorian and Georgian style gardens, which are set out like rooms including ‘Kitchen Gardens’ and ‘Arts and Crafts Gardens’. The differences in design and landscaping make heritage gardens the perfect location for amateur and professional gardeners alike.