HOLLAND PARK Central Line


If you go to Holland Park on a sunny day in mid April you may be lucky enough to see bluebells in the woodland, glorious tulips in full glow and, to crown it all, parading peacocks displaying their tail feathers to admiring visitors.

The original Jacobean Holland House was badly bombed in WW2, but what remains shows that it had an elaborately decorated frontage with a raised terrace. The three storeys on the east side are much plainer, but attractive, with ‘Dutch’ gables . They face the Youth Hostel built in the 1950’s. The park itself was first opened to the public in 1952, and is a fascinating place, full of surprises and tucked-away gardens.

As well as sports facilities and an excellent children’s playground, there is an icehouse (now an art gallery), a café and an outdoor opera stage. The up-market Belvedere restaurant is housed in a charming building at the end of the orangery (another art gallery) This was formerly a summer ballroom in Victorian times when Holland House became a centre for intellectuals who enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and the third Lord Holland’s lavish hospitality. Vast sums were spent by his son and heir on remodelling parts of the house and grounds in fashionable Italian style – evocative murals in a nearby brick arcade capture the atmosphere of an elegant garden party in the 1870's



For something completely different, visit the Japanese Kyotogarden created in 1991. It is peaceful, with waterfall, pool,stone lanterns and bridge – reminiscent of a chapel reserved for private prayer in a cathedral.

If you take one of the Kensington exits from the park tyou will find some eye-catching Victorian houses, especially in Melbury Road. Here there’s a real monster in red brick, Tower House, designed by Gothic Revival architect William Burges for himself in the 1870’s - a French chateau a l’anglais.
A lot of artists lived nearby – Holman Hunt’s house is huge but not particularly distinguished – it’s next to a rather odd detached tall thin house. In Holland Park Road, Leighton House (not a beautiful exterior, but having a wonderful ornamental tiled interior) isopen to the public. It was the home of the Victorian artist, Lord Leighton and has a collection of the works of his contemporaries (John Everett Millais, Edward Burne-Jones and George Frederick Watts).


A varied and rewarding area. To get to it, go left from the Tube station, crossing Holland Park Avenue and take the first right, Holland Park. Soon you will see a small archway in a whitewashed wall – pass through this to get to the park.
MAP
Holland Park is just one walk from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and whacky buildings to be found, even in the most unpromising areas covered by the Greater London Underground stations. Usually the places listed are within a mile of the Tube - often only five minutes walk away. If you reached this as an individual page via a search engine, you might like to go to www.londontuberambles.co.uk to see the other destinations explored . You'll be amazed at what's out there!


© DR2007