If you are not a Wimbledon resident,
chances are you don't know about the existence
of one of London's most lovely gardens
with a strange Italian name.
Cannizaro Park.
Cannizaro Park was named after the Duke of Cannizaro,
who once owned the magnificent house and its gardens.
The 18th century house has a rich history
having hosted famous writers,
like Oscar Wilde and Henry James,
and royalty {King George III used to take his breakfast there}.
The Cannizaro house is now a hotel and restaurant,
with a lovely cafe overlooking the gardens
{perfect for a summer brunch with the family}.
The Grade II listed Park,
which boasts a rare collection of plants,
became a public park and first opened for the public in 1949.
It covers 35 acres and has several pathways
for everyone to enjoy the park
{some of them are buggy/wheelchair accessible}.
What is stunning is the variety
of different areas and gardens within Cannizaro Park:
the wild woodland, the manicured Italian gardens,
the herb garden, the pond, the meadow.
Cannizaro Park is the perfect place
for escaping London within London,
and for enjoying nature in all its glory.
Head there on a warm spring day,
have a big walk to see the trees and blooming azaleas,
and then lay a picnic blanket on the lawn.
I can assure you,
life can't get any brighter than that!
Cannizaro Park, West Side Common, Wimbledon, SW19 - nearest Tube station is Wimbledon.
Open all year round from 08:00 to dusk.
Free entrance.
What a gorgeous place. We lived just up the road from Wimbledon in Teddington for years and have never heard of this park...
ReplyDeleteI know! I've been living 5 minutes from it and just discovered it!
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