I know Hyde Park much better than I do Kensington Gardens, so took the opportunity of the closure of Lancaster Gate underground station to explore the area round Queensway, including Kensington Gardens, damp, grey and atmospheric on a wet Saturday morning, and including a curious mix of its original formal geometry, as originally laid out by George London and Henry Wise of the Brompton Nurseries, enlarged by Henry Wise for Queen Anne, and then adapted by Charles Bridgeman for Queen Caroline between 1727 and 1731, with grand avenues leading to Kensington Palace, dogs and big rotting trees:-
Queen Caroline’s temple is attributed to Kent, who had been working with her on a Hermitage for Richmond Gardens:-
I ended up again at Queensway tube:-
We recently moved to the strange and secluded 1970 development St George’s Fields, off the Bayswater Road, immediately south of Connaught Street, and between Albion Street and Stanhope Place. I’ve always loved W2 and it is such a pleasure to be able to walk in Ken Gdns, Hyde Pk by simply going round the corner!
Yes, but east Bayswater feels more conventional, as is Connaught Square, than west. Charles