Get a Taste of the Countryside in London

Whether it’s for business or pleasure, visiting London can be a magnificent experience – particularly if you are staying in a prestigious Kensington hotel.

It must be said however, that in spite of all the attractions of the capital, sometimes big city life can just suddenly get on top of a weary visitor. If you are in the capital on business it might be particularly the case, and you may suddenly have an overwhelming urge to rediscover the countryside.

Londoners know this feeling well

If you do find yourself yearning for something green, you're certainly spolit for choice. The city is very well endowed with vast areas of parkland in its very heart.The iconic green spaces in London are justifiably world famous, and include locations such as Hyde Park, Green Park and Kensington Gardens. All of those are within a relatively short walk of your Kensington hotel.

However, marvellous as they are, they all share in common a certain feeling of formality and cultivation that might not be quite what you are looking for if you’re feeling a real need to escape. If that’s the case, you may well want to consider Little Wormwood Scrubs.

Visiting a prison?

Let’s put your mind at rest immediately because Little Wormwood Scrubs is an entirely different place from Wormwood Scrubs – the latter being a notorious prison elsewhere in London. Little Wormwood Scrubs is an ancient area of open grass and moorland with a history going back to at least the 12th century. It’s located just to the north of Kensington and is very popular with locals because it really is open scrubland and virtually untamed countryside in the very heart of London. The cultural feel here as you stroll about is that you are in open and natural countryside rather than in the manicured beauty and formality of one of the other major London parks.

Little Wormwood Scrubs isn’t very well known to the typical guest in a Kensington hotel, who might be more inclined to rush off to Hyde Park or nearby Kensington Gardens for a breath of fresh air. That’s a pity, because Little Wormwood Scrubs has a quite different feel to it and, for many, is actually rather more of escape from the hectic city life than some of the major parks. In addition to that, partly because of its relatively untouched nature, it is also a haven for wildlife and a major conservation centre. If you have younger members of the family with you who might find such concerns less than interesting, you’ll be pleased to know that there are things such as a toddler play area and other diversions in the park to keep them occupied.

So, if you've booked a stay in a Kensington hotel for your visit to the UK capital, when you feel the need to get back to nature, take the short stroll up to Little Wormwood Scrubs.

Matthew Zelinski works for the London Regency Hotel, a top Kensington hotel. This wonderful hotel embodies the true flavour of Kensington, with its traditional regency-style façade and superb facilities. Whether you're looking for accommodation in London for business or leisure, the Regency offers an effortlessly elegant experience.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.