Holland Park
Ilchester Place Notting Hill London W8
Far from the madness of Portobello Road, Holland Park is a beautiful manicured public garden between the busy areas of Notting Hill and Kensington. To reach the park from Notting Hill, walk down Notting Hill Gate until you see the entrance on your left, at which point you can walk straight through to the shops of Kensington High Street or just relax in the gardens here, which are open to all. The park used to be the grounds of the Jacobean-era Cope Castle, a large mansion hidden in the woods which has now become Holland House. There are 22 hectares of gardens and open woodland here, along with a café, sports areas and children's play areas, and in the summer there are various activities, including Opera in the Park.