Kensington Gardens

Kensington Gardens is by far one of the most beautiful places I have seen. Others might disagree, but I often find that true beauty rests in the hands of simplicity. I must have walked around what seemed like a dozen times, and each time I made my way around I discovered something new that my eye had missed.

The vine tunnels especially fascinated me. It was like walking in a cozy cocoon. Light cracked through the leaves, creating an abstract mosaic on the dirt path. I was enveloped in a world where princes, princesses and magic existed. My childhood dreams came to life in those tunnels and I could have stayed in there forever if I could. For once, I wanted to stay in the shadows the tunnel provided me, rather than to walk out into the harsh sunlit reality.

Leaving Kensington Gardens behind you, you enter onto this tree-lined half-mile street that connects Notting Hill Gate to Kensington High Street. A strategic point in the Second World War and the Cold War, and home to some embassies, this is a quiet, peaceful street. It is often described as the most exclusive address in London, where the price per square meter is the most expensive in the world.

In my weekend trip, after a tiring Saturday, we spent the morning walking around Kensington Gardens, a huge park which overlaps with Hyde Park. We went early and the morning chill and the mist cleared our minds. Much-recommended, especially in autumn.