Saturday 25 February 2012

What happens when the sun comes out in London


When an unexpected Spring day arrives in February, the locals (and for that read American, French, Spanish, Italian and Middle Eastern) descend on Holland Park.
It is London's largest park at over 50 acres and houses pretty much every imaginable entertainment, there is a dog free (poop free) sport's field which is carefully policed and ensures that visitors can jog, play football, cricket and tennis without stepping in anything unpleasant.
There is a toddler play ground, an adventure playground and a natural play area (rope climbing and camps in the style of Swallows and Amazons) to entertain children of all ages.

There is a giant chess set which offers free Saturday morning lessons for any budding young champions.  
The Belvedere restaurant, which used to be run by Marco Pierre White, has had a facelift and now shimmers from top to toe in exquisite De Gournay wall coverings.



There is tennis, a Japanese garden with a waterfall and acres of woodland, but for me the best activity is the people watching. This is a place to see and be seen, there are lots of peacocks roaming the grounds, literally and figuratively.
The garment that is de rigueur is the (real of course!) fur trimmed parka.  I don't think our friends from the continent struggle with the ethics of fur.  I have always been all for vintage and using something that has already been made, but not so much for creating a new market for cruelty where the fur forms no function and is simply an embellishment.  No such qualms on a sunny day in Holland Park, even the children have mini me versions (watch out pooch!).




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