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London Parks: A Stroll Around the Capital’s Greatest Glories
We need our parks more than ever before, for our health and spirits, our bodies and souls, to keep us fit, to save us from pollution, to protect nature and wildlife; and Londoners are lucky enough to enjoy more green spaces than any other major city in the world.
In London Parks, Hunter Davies illustrates their wonders by spending a year walking round his favourite parks. From his local haunt on Hampstead Heath to the capital’s latest wonder, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, each one is chosen for its unique appeal. Informative and entertaining, he details their history, describes their layout and reveals hidden delights and new attractions that might otherwise be missed, such as the statue of a small brown dog in Battersea Park, a garden full of exotic plants and palm trees in south London’s Burgess Park or, for something completely unique, Ian Dury’s musical memorial bench in Richmond Park.
Fun, thought-provoking and uplifting, London Parks is an essential companion for anyone wishing to explore the ever-green beauty of Britain’s capital city, whether it’s spotting pelicans and politicians in St James’s Park, the birds in the London Wetland Centre or the views from Greenwich Park.
In London Parks, Hunter Davies illustrates their wonders by spending a year walking round his favourite parks. From his local haunt on Hampstead Heath to the capital’s latest wonder, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, each one is chosen for its unique appeal. Informative and entertaining, he details their history, describes their layout and reveals hidden delights and new attractions that might otherwise be missed, such as the statue of a small brown dog in Battersea Park, a garden full of exotic plants and palm trees in south London’s Burgess Park or, for something completely unique, Ian Dury’s musical memorial bench in Richmond Park.
Fun, thought-provoking and uplifting, London Parks is an essential companion for anyone wishing to explore the ever-green beauty of Britain’s capital city, whether it’s spotting pelicans and politicians in St James’s Park, the birds in the London Wetland Centre or the views from Greenwich Park.
- GenresNonfictionLondonTravel
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2021
11 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Hunter Davies
133 books70 followersEdward Hunter Davies OBE is an author, journalist and broadcaster, and a former editor for the Sunday Times of London. He is the author of numerous books, including The Glory Game and the only authorised biography of the Beatles. He was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, to Scottish parents. For four years his family lived in Dumfries until Davies was aged 11.
His family moved to Carlisle in northern England when Davies was 11 and he attended the Creighton School in the city. Davies lived in Carlisle until he moved to study at university. During this time his father, who was a former Royal Air Force pay clerk, developed multiple sclerosis and had to retire on medical grounds from a civil service career.
Davies joined the sixth form at Carlisle Grammar School and was awarded a place at University College, Durham to read for an honours degree in History, but after his first year he switched to a general arts course. He gained his first writing experience as a student, contributing to the university newspaper, Palatinate, where one of his fellow student journalists was the future fashion writer Colin McDowell. After completing his degree course he stayed on at Durham for another year to gain a teaching diploma and avoid National Service.
He lives in London.
His family moved to Carlisle in northern England when Davies was 11 and he attended the Creighton School in the city. Davies lived in Carlisle until he moved to study at university. During this time his father, who was a former Royal Air Force pay clerk, developed multiple sclerosis and had to retire on medical grounds from a civil service career.
Davies joined the sixth form at Carlisle Grammar School and was awarded a place at University College, Durham to read for an honours degree in History, but after his first year he switched to a general arts course. He gained his first writing experience as a student, contributing to the university newspaper, Palatinate, where one of his fellow student journalists was the future fashion writer Colin McDowell. After completing his degree course he stayed on at Durham for another year to gain a teaching diploma and avoid National Service.
He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 4, 2022
I read the hardback, with its beautiful retro cover. I am in two minds about this book and I'm not entirely sure the three stars isn't out of sentiment (Hunter Davies and his guide to the Lakes getting me over a couple of decades of antipathy to the area, for which I am grateful) It didn't quite live up to its promise in the execution. The concept I loved - visiting London parks. I love a project, especially of the low key unpressured variety, and of course the pandemic, when this book has come out, has taught most of us how very necessary parks are, especially to city dwellers.
Another reviewer has described it as sub-Bryson and I'd concur with that... or perhaps even with contemporary Bryson. He approaches the self-set task in a journalistic fashion which doesn't suit, not quite putting the ages of all his interviews in brackets after their names but near as damn it. The book ends up as a faintly cludgy combination of repetition, too many, or at least rather quirky and not in a cute way, details, not enough details about other things (I don't need long accounts of botanising but he is too proudly uninterested and unknowledgeable), grumpy old man schtick, 'never go south of the river' North Londoner schtick, and an odd combination of uplifting, cringe-making and impersonal about his new relationship in his widowerhood. There are books that feel churned out, but this didn't quite feel like that - I did feel he'd genuinely enjoyed his visits (mostly conveyed) and talking to people (possibly whether they liked it or not) - but there did feel something not quite right about it. Almost as if someone else had helped put it together (what an irony given his record as a ghost writer himself) Perhaps it was just a case of over-expectation on my part.
Another reviewer has described it as sub-Bryson and I'd concur with that... or perhaps even with contemporary Bryson. He approaches the self-set task in a journalistic fashion which doesn't suit, not quite putting the ages of all his interviews in brackets after their names but near as damn it. The book ends up as a faintly cludgy combination of repetition, too many, or at least rather quirky and not in a cute way, details, not enough details about other things (I don't need long accounts of botanising but he is too proudly uninterested and unknowledgeable), grumpy old man schtick, 'never go south of the river' North Londoner schtick, and an odd combination of uplifting, cringe-making and impersonal about his new relationship in his widowerhood. There are books that feel churned out, but this didn't quite feel like that - I did feel he'd genuinely enjoyed his visits (mostly conveyed) and talking to people (possibly whether they liked it or not) - but there did feel something not quite right about it. Almost as if someone else had helped put it together (what an irony given his record as a ghost writer himself) Perhaps it was just a case of over-expectation on my part.
April 21, 2024
This was a very average offering from Hunter Davies, very much a "Dad" book! The format is simplified and attempts to be conversational with an overly jokey manner at times.
It starts off well. He names a park, goes to see it, describes some quality features, gives us a bit of history, talks to its custodians and moves on. The problem being however is that most of the parks have a similar sort of history and similar features and custodians. The book quickly gets repetitive and quite frankly boring. Davies is an old school writer, the jocular, avuncular type which is fine but this style doesn't really hold my attention much.
I found myself speed reading to the end, wanting to "get it done"!
Just ok if you don't mind a bit of vacuity to distract you.
It starts off well. He names a park, goes to see it, describes some quality features, gives us a bit of history, talks to its custodians and moves on. The problem being however is that most of the parks have a similar sort of history and similar features and custodians. The book quickly gets repetitive and quite frankly boring. Davies is an old school writer, the jocular, avuncular type which is fine but this style doesn't really hold my attention much.
I found myself speed reading to the end, wanting to "get it done"!
Just ok if you don't mind a bit of vacuity to distract you.
July 18, 2021
Not the narrative style for me but interesting park stuff.
December 29, 2025
3.5, very cosy
August 20, 2021
Lovely, uplifting books about 11 parks in London. It’s full of their entertaining histories, unique park stories by parkies (park-keepers) and a little love story between the author and his new girl friend. I learned a lot of interesting facts and histories about the parks in London. They were not too difficult to understand, but it is a great page-turner!
The concept of parks must be very different between the UK and Japan. Most parks in the UK are greenery with lots of tall trees and huge enough to organise big concerts. And parks are for EVERYONE: a social place to chat with friends and families, walker, runners, dog walkers and so on. On the other hand, most parks in Japan are very similar to ‘playgrounds’ in the UK and they are for children to play with slides, seesaws and so on.
I am very happy to know that Battersea Park has the pagoda to honour the victims of Nagasaki and Hiroshima during WWII.
Whether you are familiar with parks or not, I am sure that you will learn something fascinating that you did not before!
Enjoy exploring the greenery parks with this book!
85歳で作家、コラムニストのHunter Daviesさんによる１冊「ロンドンのパーク」。ロンドンを代表するパークやあまり知られていないパークまで、合計11のパークについて書かれています。少し小難しい文章なのかなと思っていましたが、テンポも良くて、興味深いロンドンのパークの歴史、パーク管理人のユニークなストーリー、そして著者と新しいガールフレンドのお話がとても面白かったので、あっという間に読み切りました。
「パーク（公園）」のコンセプトがイギリスと日本では大きく違うのかなと思っています。この本に取り上げられた11つのパークはもちろん、私の近所のパークも緑がいっぱい。背の高い木が並ぶ並木道は、ランニングをする人たち、犬とウォーキングを楽しんでいる達がたくさんいます。芝生の上では、大人も子供もおしゃべりを楽しんでいます。パークは、イギリス人にとって、欠かせない存在のようです。
「ロンドンパーク」を読みながら、緑が茂るロンドンのパーク探索をお楽しみください🌿
The concept of parks must be very different between the UK and Japan. Most parks in the UK are greenery with lots of tall trees and huge enough to organise big concerts. And parks are for EVERYONE: a social place to chat with friends and families, walker, runners, dog walkers and so on. On the other hand, most parks in Japan are very similar to ‘playgrounds’ in the UK and they are for children to play with slides, seesaws and so on.
I am very happy to know that Battersea Park has the pagoda to honour the victims of Nagasaki and Hiroshima during WWII.
Whether you are familiar with parks or not, I am sure that you will learn something fascinating that you did not before!
Enjoy exploring the greenery parks with this book!
85歳で作家、コラムニストのHunter Daviesさんによる１冊「ロンドンのパーク」。ロンドンを代表するパークやあまり知られていないパークまで、合計11のパークについて書かれています。少し小難しい文章なのかなと思っていましたが、テンポも良くて、興味深いロンドンのパークの歴史、パーク管理人のユニークなストーリー、そして著者と新しいガールフレンドのお話がとても面白かったので、あっという間に読み切りました。
「パーク（公園）」のコンセプトがイギリスと日本では大きく違うのかなと思っています。この本に取り上げられた11つのパークはもちろん、私の近所のパークも緑がいっぱい。背の高い木が並ぶ並木道は、ランニングをする人たち、犬とウォーキングを楽しんでいる達がたくさんいます。芝生の上では、大人も子供もおしゃべりを楽しんでいます。パークは、イギリス人にとって、欠かせない存在のようです。
「ロンドンパーク」を読みながら、緑が茂るロンドンのパーク探索をお楽しみください🌿
May 31, 2023
Every big town needs a park, and so very big London needs several. Small ones, like Green Park, the smallest of the 8 Royal parks, or very very big ones like Hampstead Heath, a whopping 320ha, and sometimes feeling more like a forest than a park. The city boasts no less than 370 parks in the greater London area that are over 8ha, and many more that are smaller, and they played a vital role during the lockdown for the Londoners. But some of them have long histories and in this book Hunter Davies highlights the most important of them. After reading it, you feel like taking the Eurostar just to visit them, and I recently did: Hyde Park, Regent’s park en Hampstead Heath in 2 days.
A book full of History and Humour (my favourite H’s) by a very productive writer showing that age (he is an octogenarionan) is not a limit for either walking or writing (both keep you sane). I loved it.
A book full of History and Humour (my favourite H’s) by a very productive writer showing that age (he is an octogenarionan) is not a limit for either walking or writing (both keep you sane). I loved it.
November 1, 2021
I picked this up casually in the library, as I thought it'd be nice to get a sense of the parks of London and which ones might be worth visiting. Written by Hunter Davies in a wry - sort of sub-Bill Bryson - style, this book picks ten of the larger parks in the greater London area and discusses their history, location, how they are run today, etc. It was quite interesting, and highlighted the diversity of parks in London. A city which, it appears, is one of the 'greenest' in the world. A nice book, especially if you plan to visit London at some stage.
July 4, 2023
A charming wander through 10 diverse London parks, some well known, others less so - all with their own stories to tell.
‘You can’t actually visit history, or enter it. It’s all gone. You have to be told about it, or read about it, then look out for relics and traces of it, then it will make sense.’
‘You can’t actually visit history, or enter it. It’s all gone. You have to be told about it, or read about it, then look out for relics and traces of it, then it will make sense.’
July 25, 2021
I loved reading this book. It gave me a nostalgia and determined adventure to explore more of what I think makes London stand out as an amazing city. I've already found the nursery at Greenwich Park and have been retelling facts whenever I can.
August 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this book about London Parks - lots of interesting information and just a fun read. It has also given me some ideas of places to visit next time I go to London. Great to see that Hunter Davies is still going strong well into his eighties.
March 14, 2023
Very good and funny to read if you are in London and interested in learning more about the big parks you may have/have not been to before. Loved the way he wrote and will be recommending this to others – especially architects.
May 16, 2021
Charming book, a sweet idea told interestingly and funnily which has inspired me to visit more of London’s parks
January 19, 2022
An insider's guide to parks
March 18, 2022
Enjoyable, light read. Made me want to visit those parks, but not necessarily hear more from the author.
January 5, 2023
A lovely little read. Interesting, light, just the ticket for a break from heavier reading.
February 3, 2025
Book for summer
January 7, 2025
Get this on your coffee table
Side note- if you’re reading cover to cover, there’s a little love story
Side note- if you’re reading cover to cover, there’s a little love story
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews