Greenwich Park is one of the most pleasant places in London. Here, the beauty of nature and the brilliant architecture of majestic buildings are harmoniously combined. But it is not only the manicured greenery and magnificent examples of English Baroque that make this park famous; this place truly breathes history.
In the 15th century, King Henry VI granted 80 hectares of former church lands to his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester, who built a small mansion called Bella Court here. The Tudors loved coming to this family retreat, around which there were extensive hunting grounds. For the frequent visits of the royal family, Greenwich Castle was built here, where the great and terrible Henry VIII was born, as well as his no less great and beautiful daughter, Elizabeth I. Elizabeth's successor, James I, gifted the Greenwich estates to his wife, for whom Queen's House was built. When the following monarchs preferred to live in other residences, the grand complex of Greenwich Hospital was erected around the Queen's House.
Today, Greenwich Park is home to a whole range of historical attractions, most of which are united in the National Maritime Museum. Even the trees here are incredibly ancient: there are entire avenues of 17th-century chestnuts, and according to legend, the Queen's Oak gave shade to Elizabeth I herself, who loved to walk beside it.
English parks were famous all over the world for their delightful layouts, luxurious flowerbeds, and beautiful fountains, and Greenwich Park is considered the best of them, so be sure to stroll along its shady alleys.
