Hyde Park / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by gailf548

London has a large number of parks, and some of these are among the Royal Parks in the country. These are Hyde Park, The Regent’s Park, Greenwich Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park, Brompton Cemetery in London, and Bushy Park in Berkshire, which is north of Hampton Court. Among these parks, Greenwich stands out as a real jewel in London’s crown. Although Greenwich Park is currently under development for the equestrian and shooting events for the 2012 London Olympics, it’s worth noting in your diary as a place to visit when the Olympics are over.

Discover the universe at the Royal Observatory

Greenwich Park is a real must see for a family day out. This picturesque park boasts rolling green grass, which leads up to the historical Royal Observatory. This is the home of Greenwich Meantime, and a laser beam is cast directly from the Flamsteed House, the original observatory, showing the Greenwich Meridian Line. This is a fascinating place to take the family for a rewarding and educational trip.

The Royal Observatory is also home to the Peter Harrison Planetarium. Marvel at this incredible exploration of the universe, which often puts on specially designed films with impressive narration. Previous shows have included narration from David Tennant and Patrick Stewart. Now serving as London’s only planetarium, the Peter Harrison Planetarium employs breathtaking HD projection technology, offering a show that’s perfect for kids and adults with enquiring minds.

Greenwich Park / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Peter Pearson

Greenwich Park’s Maritime History

From the height of the Royal Observatory, you can see right over the Thames to Canary Wharf, and the rest of the impressive city scape north of the river. You will also see the new Shard building, rising prominently into the sky. On the south side, the beautiful Queen’s House and National Maritime Museum.

These incredible buildings reflect the elegance and opulence of years long past. The Queen’s House is not to be missed; especially the Painted Hall, where Admiral Nelson lay in state following the Battle of Trafalgar. If you’re looking for more of the UK seafaring history, Greenwich also has the Cutty Sark, one of the last tea clipper sailing ships to be built before the advent of steam powered vessels.

Without a doubt, Greenwich has a lot to offer all the family, from the incredible attractions to the welcoming market town feel of the area.

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The area where the Needles can be found is known as the Jurassic Coast. It is here that the land has been folded as a result of tectonics over the course of millions of years. As a result, the almost vertical strands of rocks can be seen throughout the region. Chalk is one of the more resilient rocks and as a result has continued to stand long after the clays and sandstones have washed away.

The Needles, Isle of Wight, UK by Peter Pearson

It was known that back in the beginning of the eighteenth century, there were four needles in the formation. However, in 1764 a storm ravished the area and knocked over one of the rocks. The name the Needles dates back hundreds of years. Today though, the rocks have lost their needle-like appearance as a result of erosion by the waves.

Another popular attraction in the area is the Needles Lighthouse which was built back in 1859. It has been operational ever since. However, in order to reduce costs and manpower, the lighthouse was automated back in 1994.

There is also an amusement park that can be found on a nearby cliff that over looks the geological land formation. Known as the Needles Pleasure Park, it has grown to become a very popular destination in the area. The park is most well known for the chairlift that takes people to Alum Bay and back.

The headlands that overlook the Needles are home to several gun batteries as well as an experimental testing facility for rockets. While the batteries were in use during the 1950s and 60s, they have long since been decommissioned. The rocket test facility is located mostly underground and was operated by as many as 240 people during the 1960s. Part of the underground facilities have been completely restored and are currently open to the public.

There are a number of old Coastguard cottages that can be found in the area. Now under National Trust, the cottages are available for rental throughout the year. People who wish to have a party in the area, or that would like to visit and stay can rent the Coastguard cottages.

Most of the park and surrounding countryside can be travelled using bicycle or on foot. However, when there is a high wind warning in the area, the site where the batteries are located is closed for safety reasons.

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