buck_palace.jpg Buckingham Palace and St James's Park St James's Park is my favourite among all the parks in central London. It lies on a gentle slope between The Mall and Birdcage Walk, and is home to many water birds, including a pair of pelicans. What makes St James's so pleasant is its mix of trees, flowers, and lake. The paths curve gently, making it an oasis of calm amid the city bustle.

]]> countrygarden.jpg A typical English country garden in Oxford The quintessential English country garden is a study of organized chaos. The plants appear to grow haphazardly, just like wild flowers, but the colours and heights are carefully mixed to blend harmoniously.

]]> daisydance.jpg Dancing round the daisies at Capel Manor Capel Manor, just to the North of London, has 12 hectares (30 acres) of gardens and woodland. It's home to the only specialist college of horticulture, floristry, garden design, and animal care in Greater London.

As well as formal themed gardens, you find the odd flight of fancy, such as this trio of girls sculpted out of intertwined branches, dancing merrily amid dandelions, buttercups, and daisies.

]]> dome.jpg Leaden skies over the Dome in London The Millennium Dome in Greenwich never lived up to expectations, but it's a fascinating structure that dominates a bend in the Thames. The pylons that support the roof soar eerily into the sky. Perhaps it's ET still trying to phone home, but the signal can't get through the leaden skies...

]]> eye_stjames.jpg The London Eye keeps watch over the Foreign Office At the opposite end of St James's Park to Buckingham Palace lies Whitehall—home to many government buildings, including the Foreign Office, the Treasury, and the Prime Minister's official residence at 10 Downing Street. A newcomer keeping a watch over them all is the London Eye, the futuristic, yet elegant observation wheel.

The Eye stands 135 metres (443 feet) tall, and when it opened on 31 December 1999 was the world's tallest observation wheel. It was originally given planning permission for only five years, but has since been made permanent.

]]> hgs.jpg Hampstead Garden Suburb in North London Hampstead Garden Suburb in North London celebrated its centenary in 2007. It was founded by Henrietta Barnett as a social experiment to create a beautiful and healthy place, where both rich and poor would be welcome. Although the houses were designed to form a unified ensemble, each one is different from its neighbour.

Many of the roads are lined with cherry trees, and each house is situated in a spacious garden. The unique environment has been preserved thanks to conservation orders. However, in recent years, even the houses intended as "artisans' cottages" have become so expensive, it's no longer a place the poor can afford to live.

]]> mallgarden.jpg The Queen's front garden on The Mall in London This is the view from The Mall towards Constitution Hill, with Buckingham Palace just out of view on the left. The flower beds and neatly mowed lawn provide a formal space between the palace and Green Park, which lies behind the trees.

The flags were out in preparation for Trooping the Colour, the ceremony held in June every year to mark the monarch's official birthday.

]]> summerfair.jpg All the fun of a summer country fair The weather in England is notoriously unpredictable, so it's a particular treat when the sun manages to time its appearance with a country fair. This Crazy Cottage provided endless hours of fun for small children (and their parents), as they bounced around inside and came down the slides.

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