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History, Sun, And Fresh Air: Museums With Parks And Gardens.
02/05/2006
Image: photo shows Japanese farmhouse
The Japanese minka at Kew
Now that spring has finally arrived we look at a few places where you can combine cultural histories with sunshine - either in plush grounds or public parks.
1. Kew Gardens are an obvious place to start. Enjoy the spring air, or explore glasshouses full of plants from every climate from tropical to desert.
At the end of May Kew Gardens will be re-opening their Chinese pagoda to the public for the first time in many years. It has previously been too frail to allow many visitors. The pagoda was built in 1761 when all things Chinese were a novelty and highly fashionable. Whilst not a particularly accurate representation of a Chinese pagoda, it's an interesting early attempt by the West to represent the East.
The Japanese minka, or farmhouse on the other hand, is completely authentic: it is an original that was shipped from Japan to Britain five years ago for a festival.
Image: photo shows very tall pagoda surrounded by trees
The Chinese pagoda at Kew in summertime. Courtesy of Kew Gardens.
2. The Horniman Museum has some of the loveliest gardens in London - with winding paths and plenty of informal space to lounge in the sun.
Inside the museum, you can see the long-running Amazon To Caribbean exhibition, as well as new display of Buddhist Textiles from Cambodia and - opening shortly - photographs of 21st century Native American lives.
Image: photo shows crowds sitting on hill
Crowds in Horniman Museum Gardens during the Africa 05 music festival. Photography: c. Len Cross
3. All of the museums in Greenwich are just five minutes walk from Greenwich Park - 183 acres of grounds suitable for picnics, kite flying and informal football games. The museums include the National Maritime Museum and the
Meanwhile the Fan Museum has its own tiny Japanese garden tucked away in its grounds and invisible to all but visitors to the museum.
Image: photo shows white building with ornate red and gold roof
The Buddhapadipa Thai Buddhist Temple near Wimbledon Common. Courtesy of Buddhapadipa Temple.
4. More contemplative spots include the beautiful Buddhapadipa Thai Buddhist Temple in South London. These small gardens with lakes and willows are for walking around in quiet meditation. All are also welcome inside the temple itself, which is the only traditional Thai temple anywhere in Europe.
5. Whilst we often recommend the beautiful Arab Hall at Leighton House Museum, the gardens are less well known. Staff tell us that they are often very quiet and empty - a good place for peace and quiet in an otherwise very urban area.
Image: photo shows tulips in Horniman gardens
The Horniman Sunken Gardens display spectacular floral displays in Spring and late Summer. Photography: c. Horniman Museum
6. At the top of Exhibition Road, next to Hyde Park the Royal Geographical Society is running an exhibition on the past 100 years of Sri Lanka - seen through the eyes of increasingly-disillusioned early 20th-century colonial administrator Leonard Woolf, and modern businessman-turned-writer Christopher Ondaatje, who was born in Sri Lanka. Woolf in Ceylon runs until 26th May.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB, Surrey, England
Open: 9.30 am
Closed: Closing times vary according to the season.
Call 020 8 332 5655 for up-to-date information.
Kew Gardens is open daily except for Christmas Day and New Years Day
Horniman Museum & Gardens
Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ, England
Open: Open daily: 1030-1730
Stephen Lawrence Gallery at the University of Greenwich
The Stephen Lawrence Gallery, Queen Anne Court, room 077, University of Greenwich, Park Row, Greenwich, London, SE10 9LS, England
Open: 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday
Royal Geographical Society (with The Institute of British Geographers)
Royal Geographical Society (with The Institute of British Geographers), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR, England
Open: 10am - 5pm Mondays to Fridays
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