London: Tea Time in Wonderland

What do you love best in the Royal Parks? Here’s mine:

I measure the year through those iconic green and white stripes. When they appear in March, I start dreaming about spring. When they disappear in October, I wave goodbye to any hope of a longer Indian summer and to the last autumn sunshine rays.

If you’re a local, you know they do not come for free: they are rented £1.50 an hour, £3 for 3 hours, £7 for the day. From time to time, a guard will come and check on you, asking for a few coins. Tourists tend to pay for the privilege, Londoners… will migrate to a different side of the park to gain a few more free minutes of siesta.

This year is a festive one. In 2006, 2007, 2008, the parks foundation had worked with artists, painters, illustrators, fasion designers… for wonderful editions. 2009 had skipped a beat – I guess the economical crisis had refocused the projects. But with 2010, new works of art are blooming – 14 new ones:

Shanghai gardens is exchanging with the Royal parks, hence the Asian touch. So elegant!

There is no way to walk out with one of those, you will be stopped within 10 steps of the lawn. However, get a hammer and your piggybank and buy one from the website! The profits will help supporting the gardens and the foundation. count £86 + £20 pp. Models from the previous years are still available and o joy, it counts artists such as Agnes B, Alexander Mc Queen, Quentin Blake, Blek le Rat, Polly Morgan, Raymond Briggs…

Deckchair dreams
The online shop

Pssst: get one of those to go with your chosen park!

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