One thing I was not expecting from studying abroad in London is the park scene. When I thought of “London”, I always imagined the city lights, the London Eye, and gothic-styled structures. What I didn’t imagine was parks and nature all around the city itself. London is enormous. Each Borough is different than the next and within the city are massive parks that took my breath away.
I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a nature-person, but after studying abroad in London I have a newfound appreciation for parks, ironically. I visited Kensington Gardens which leads to the royal palace. Just as a side note, it was so interesting to see how prominent the royal family is to the culture of the UK. Their faces were posted everywhere in stores, tourist shops, magazines, and newspapers. Not only that, but so many structures in London belong to or have belonged to English royalty at one point, such as palaces, statues, gardens, and museums. The monarchy is so engrained in the history and modern culture of Britain.
I also visited Hyde park, where I was unwantedly chased by swans and ducks. For the record, they are fast. Out of all the parks I visited, my favorite was the Regents Park. And yes, as the name suggests, it is a royal park. It honestly felt magical. It feels as though I could walk along the park every day and still discover something new. I was lucky to have visited on a day where the sun was shining brightly and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. It was still cold though because it’s London and London can get very cold in the Fall which I have discovered first-hand. I don’t think a day went by that I didn’t leave my dorm without a scarf and gloves, and if I did, I sorely regretted it.
It was really nice to get a break from the bustling city. It’s a far cry from the crowded tube or the hectic markets and tourist attractions. It was calm and peaceful. Just another pleasantly unexpected part of the London experience.
ZJ Abroad 