London Lounge: Holland Park and the new Design Museum
Do you live in London? Are you the type of person who is torn between visiting museums and getting a blast of fresh air in the great outdoors? Me too. If you are at a loose end, this afternoon out might fit the bill.
Holland Park is not quite the North York Moors, but for a busy city park it offers leafy vistas and some unusual features. Start your walk from the Kensington High Street entrance which you can get to from Kensington High Street or Olympia stations. It’s a small park so you’ll be able to get round it without directions from me.
Things to look out for
- The cafe (of course!) for that much-needed caffeine hit before you start wandering
- Holland House, a hub of political and literary activity in the nineteenth century
- The murals of nineteenth-century life at Holland House (very well painted)
- The Kyoto Garden
- The Orangery
- The giant chess set
- Woodland and formal gardens
- and if you have children with you, the playground
The cafe at Holland Park
A detail of Holland House
The Kyoto Garden
My favourite part of the park was the Kyoto garden. Although it was too busy to be peaceful, there was definitely a contemplative feel to it. It has a waterfall which represents mountains and a calm, still lake (complete with koi carp) representing the sea. Lovely Japanese plants and trees abound, and there are peacocks too.
The Kyoto Gardens
A peacock and a squirrel enjoy the sunshine
The Design Museum
When you have finished walking round the park, I recommend you visit the new Design Museum in Kensington High Street, housed in the former Commonwealth Institute. My first impression was ‘Wow!’ when I walked in, the space is spectacular. It has an open, friendly feel with staircases doubling as benches for people to sit and chat. The top floor is set aside for a permanent free exhibition called Designer Maker User, and there are 2 paid exhibition spaces downstairs.
The entrance to the Beazley exhibition
The new Design Museum in Kensington
Beasley Designs of the Year
This special exhibition runs until 19 February 2017 and I urge you to se it. It contains 70 exhibits, nominated by designers, showing the cream of graphic design, product design, digital, fashion, architecture and transport. Time Out said ‘Find out what the word’s geniuses have been up to for the past 12 months’ and they are not wrong.
What else?
There are many good restaurants in Kensington High Street if you are feeling hungry, or if you are in need of more culture the wonderful Leighton House Museum is just round the corner.
