The Royal Parks of London – A verdure sanctuary of peace amid the chaos!  Part of London’s appeal is that, unlike many other major cities, it offers green and tranquil sanctuaries among what can only be described as being urban chaos.

Many of these peaceful havens come in the form of royal parks. There are eight royal parks in London altogether – Hyde Park, Richmond Park, Regent’s Park, Green Park, St. James’s Park, Bushy Park, Kensington Gardens and Greenwich Park. These parks are outstandingly beautiful and are a true escape for the people who work and live in London.

Hyde Park

If parks can be cosmopolitan than Hyde Park certainly has to be at the pinnacle of multicultural and thriving parks. Hyde Park hosts concerts and sporting events all year round, which are enhanced substantially by the fact the concerts are situated adjacent to the Serpentine Lake.

One of the most iconic concerts ever to have taken place in Hyde Park was that of the Rolling Stones in the late sixties, just after former Stone Brian Jones was found dead in a swimming pool. Mick Jagger said some words for his old band mate as thousands of butterflies were released over the park.

From one iconic musician to another, the legendary Bon Jovi is playing at Hyde Park in July this year.

This 350-acre park includes a memorial fountain to Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as the famous Speakers Corner’s, where many an allegorical speech has been made by a prodigious speaker.

Bushy Park

With two football pitches, one rugby pitch, five cricket squares, an outdoor heated pool and tennis courts, it is safe to say that Bushy Park is the sportiest of the London royal parks. Teddington Hockey Club has three pitches within the park and is the oldest hockey club in the world. In fact you may well remember the images from the London Olympics as cyclists tore through the park at terrific speed.

Amidst the sporting activity, deer roam throughout this picturesque wonderland, which is situated just to the north of Hampton Court.

Greenwich Park

King Henry V111 introduced deer to Greenwich Park during his reign and deer remain a popular feature of the park today.

The park commands splendid views of the Thames and the Isles of Dogs, especially when observed from Sir Christopher Wren’s magnificent Greenwich Royal Observatory building.

Regent’s Park and Primrose hill

Regent’s Park is one of the biggest of the royal parks and includes London Zoo and Queen Mary’s Garden, which contains around 30,000 roses. 100 acres of this immaculate park are devoted entirely to sport and an outside theatre.

All of the royal parks are kept to a high standard and are used for all manner of artistic and sporting events as the 2012 Olympics has proved. The parks are usually open from five or six in the morning through to midnight. You must visit at least one of these parks even if it is only to eat your sandwich at lunchtime, just like so many of London’s workers do.