Holland Park and Kyoto Garden, beautiful Japanese garden in London

Last updated: 01/10/2019

We are participating in a collective blog about beautiful gardens around the world. We chose to talk about the beautiful Holland Park, not so well known by most tourists, but which hides beautiful surprises such as Kyoto Gardens, the most beautiful Japanese garden in London. At the end of this post you will find several other amazing garden tips.

THE HOLLAND PARK

Holland Park is far from one of London's most famous public parks like Green Park, St. James's Park (both close to the Buckingham Palace) or Hyde Park. We have already spoken on other occasions about our love for the parks: Kensington Gardens, Regent Park, Hampstead Heath, greenwich park, and Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanical Gardens which are UNESCO heritage sites. Holland Park is also a place that deserves to be included in the itinerary.

A little of history…

In the 17th century, the site housed a Jacobean mansion (in the middle of a huge green area) built by Sir Walter Cope, who became Minister of the Treasury during the reign of James I. The mansion, known as Cope Castle, came to be called Holland House after the wife of the Earl of Holland, Lady Rich, inherited the property. During World War II, the mansion was seriously damaged.

Currently, the site is home to Holland Park, a public park located in the Kensington & Chelsea neighborhood. This is an elegant area in west London, famous for being home to beautiful Victorian houses, fine shops and numerous restaurants. Holland Park is much smaller than most of London's famous parks (22 hectares), but it's a cozy and serene option for those who want to relax and breathe in the fresh air. The park has flower gardens, children's playgrounds, sports spaces, large green areas, as well as a ecology center and the concert hall Opera Holland Park, built with part of the remains of the old mansion destroyed in World War II.

ECONOMY IN LONDON: ACTIVITY CARDS

For those who want to do many things and visit many paid places in London, the suggestion is to purchase one of the cards that give you direct access to attractions and ride the tourist bus, saving a lot! O THE LONDON PASS is the most famous of them. The card can be purchased in versions of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 10 days. It entitles you to admission to over 60 of London's top attractions and 1 day tour on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. In addition, the card offers more than 20 exclusive special offers at some of the city's shops and restaurants. See the full list of included attractions in this link. Price: from £69.

Read more: What to do in London – Complete itinerary of 5 days or more

 

KYOTO GARDEN, THE JAPANESE GARDEN AT HOLLAND PARK

Located within the park is also the beautiful Kyoto Garden, a Japanese garden beautiful. Its construction was a collaborative project with the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce in Japan. The purpose of building the garden was to celebrate the Japan Festival in London, which took place in 1992. A curiosity is that this festival hosted the first international sumo competition in the famous Royal Albert Hall.

Kyoto Garden is undoubtedly the most beautiful spot in the entire park. The garden is famous for its colorful flowering trees, a stone waterfall, a pond full of carp and several peacocks that roam around. Look for a bench in front of the lake and sit down to admire all that beauty calmly. The place deserves a few minutes of your time!

In 2012, a second Japanese garden opened in Holland Park, the Fukushima Memorial Garden. It was opened by the Japanese Embassy in honor of the victims of the Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. The Memorial is a symbol of thanks to the British people for their support after the disaster.

WHERE TO EAT IN HOLLAND PARK

• The Belvedere: restaurant located in Holland House's former summer ballroom. A very interesting option for those who want to have a nicer meal inside the park.
• Holland Park Café: good option for those who want something simpler like sandwiches, salads, soups, cakes, fast food and hot drinks.

HOW TO INCLUDE HOLLAND PARK IN THE ITINERARY

Holland Park is close to many London attractions. You can combine a visit to museums, other parks and interesting attractions by making a very nice itinerary through the Kensington area. Check out some options and click to see more tips in specific articles about each location.

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MISCELLANEOUS ATTRACTIONS

• NOTTING HILL: Things to do in the lively London borough of Notting Hill
• KENSIGNTON GARDENS: London: Guide to Exploring Kensington Gardens Park
• KENSINGTON PALACE: London: Kensington Palace Tour, Home of William and Kate
• ROYAL ALBERT HALL: Royal Albert Hall Tour: Beautiful Concert Hall in London
• CHELSEA STADIUM: Football: Museum and Tour at Chelsea Stadium in London (a little further away)

MUSEUMS

• MUSEUM DESIGN: Exploring London's new Design Museum
• NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM: London Natural History Museum
• SCIENCE MUSEUM: Science Museum: The fun Science Museum in London
• VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM: V&A – Victoria and Albert Museum in London

MAP OF HOLLAND PARK & SURROUNDINGS

The map below helps to identify the location of each of the attractions mentioned, facilitating your schedule in the city. In blue are the attractions of Holland Park; in red, places to eat inside the park; in black, the nearest metro stations; is at purple, tips for attractions in the surroundings.

HOW TO GET

The nearest subway station to the park is named after him. Holland Park and is served by  Central Line (red). Other nearby stations are: a Notting Hill Gate at Central Line (red), District Line (green) and circle line (Yellow); and the season High Street Kensington at District Line (green) and circle line (Yellow).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Holland Park

• Address: Ilchester Pl, Kensington, London W8 6LU
• Schedules: daily from 7:30am until half an hour before sunset
• Entrance: free

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Check out other park tips with suggestions from bloggers who are participating in the collective blogging “I love this park”!