London’s Autumn Glory

Autumn is one of the best times of year to visit London – the weather is mild, the trees are in full colour and there are a lot of fantastic events to be part of. In this article we take a look at some of the best ways to enjoy Autumn in London.

The parks and gardens

London is a city that is blessed with a huge number of parks and gardens. Hyde Park is one of the best known and most popular – hire a bike and explore the network of cycle paths or just curl up under a tree with a book. Regent’s Park is very pretty, with extensive flower beds that are regularly replanted to make the most of the seasons. Hampstead Heath is a huge expanse of parkland in the north of the city. From the top of Parliament Hill you can get stunning views right across London. Across on the south side of London you will be dazzled by Richmond Park where you will be sharing your picnic with inquisitive herds of deer. At this time of the year a number of the parks offer free guided walks to help you appreciate all the joys of Autumn that are on display.
Taking it to another level completely is the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. Among the many treasures that you will find in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Autumn is the best time to appreciate the Arboretum with its huge collection of trees all in the midst of their seasonal colour change.

The South Bank

London’s South Bank precinct (literally the south bank of the River Thames) has developed into one of the most vibrant and exciting parts of the city. This is the strip of river bank that is bookended at one end by the Tate Modern and the other by the pedestrian bridge that takes you across to Charing Cross. Every weekend there is a different festival or event happening here, plus there is also the National Theatre and the British Film Institute which also bring in big crowds.

The markets

One of the best way to appreciate the changing of the seasons is to wander through some of London’s many great local food markets. Borough Market is the famous one and definitely worth a visit – although it gets really busy so get there early. Broadway Market is more favoured by the locals, and if you fancy some flowers then you can’t go past Columbia Road market.

The fireworks

November 5th is the annual celebration of Guy Fawkes’ Night – a tradition that commemorates an attempt to blow up the British parliament buildings many hundreds of years ago. There are always a number of major fireworks displays held on Guy Fawkes’ Night but it also becomes an opportunity for kids across the city to go crazy with crackers and rockers. It can get a bit hair-raising but it is a lot of fun and always creates a great sense of energy and excitement across the city.

Summer may be over but Autumn still has plenty of treats to offer you on your visit to London.

Image by Magnus D under Creative Commons license. Hyde Park, London.