London's Secret Garden
You’ve probably been to the city’s most famous parks.
Green Park-check
St. James’s Park-check
Hyde Park-check.
Regents Park-cheeeeeeck!
All of these parks are lovely and very picturesque; fit for any type of picnic, a leisurely walk, a date, or some quality time with the family, and in my case, a photo shoot.
But have you ever been to Hampstead’s Pergola and Hill Gardens? Some of you might have been here but I’m guessing most of you have not yet… Some may not even have heard of it. It hardly gets a mention in the London press, or in all the brochures that draw the hordes of tourists to this amazing city; even local residents here don’t necessarily know of it (I would be the first to admit that my husband had no clue where it was)…
It isn’t as big as some of London’s other famous parks but is comparable, and possibly even exceeds some of them in terms of beauty. In this case, size really doesn’t matter. Every nook and cranny seems to be picture perfect. When you think you’ve seen all of it, just walk a bit more and you’ll be surprised to see there’s a lot more! It’s like a maze without trying hard to be one… Or a never ending pit full of amazing new discoveries… or even better, a gift that just keeps on giving! But since it’s small, you can explore the park by foot in half a day or less, unlike some of the other major parks wherein you’ll need bikes or probably a few days if you want to explore all of it.
It’s not as if it’s purposely being kept a secret by people. In fact, it’s a public park. It’s a hidden jewel up in the northern reaches of London. However, like all hidden jewels, it takes some effort to find. It’s what makes it more special and less mainstream.
I’ve done a shoot here once but how I’d love to shoot more at this location! It’s perfect for any type of season. The best part is, since it’s off the beaten track, there typically aren’t many nosy onlookers or curious passers-by. We can be as carefree as we want, which just adds to the marvel and beauty of the picture! So come give it a shot… get in touch and we can go take pictures at this beautiful location… It’ll make us both Happy!
Happy Gaile Photography
Portrait and Lifestyle Photographer | London
email: happygailephotography@gmail.com
