Quite simple. No grass to sit on, mostly consists of gravel and metal chairs, basically not somewhere you can go to relax.
Battle of the London parks!
- Thread starter ChrisFilter
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Quite simple. No grass to sit on, mostly consists of gravel and metal chairs, basically not somewhere you can go to relax.
I have to admit that the parc monceau and parc montsouris appear to have eluded me when I was there...
Beautiful little places.
I see what you mean about Luxembourg Gardens, and in that sense you're right. Then again, there are a shedload of chairs to sit on. I find it a very relaxing place. My point was that 55 acres of public space filled with trees, shrubs and plants in the middle of a city constitutes a park to me, and I was mainly responding to the bizarre assertion that Paris has no parks.
I see what you mean about Luxembourg Gardens, and in that sense you're right. Then again, there are a shedload of chairs to sit on. I find it a very relaxing place. My point was that 55 acres of public space filled with trees, shrubs and plants in the middle of a city constitutes a park to me, and I was mainly responding to the bizarre assertion that Paris has no parks.
Yeah I googled them and they both looked quite nice with grass to sit on. I'm really stretched as to where they actually are!
That statement would only be correct if you didn't have a clue about the city.
Well, get off Cloud Pompous, Jbob, 'cos I actually live here.
A "park" is not a ornamental garden (Luxembourg), or a patch of grass with "Keep off the Grass" signs everywhere, or a Japanese minimalist water feature with not an ounce of shade (Andre Citreon - although for other reasons I do quite like that as a space). Paris has no breathing space, green spaces, lungs - just little squares or playgrounds.
Well so what that you live there? Doesn't mean you necessarily know the place very well, does it? I come from London but it doesn't mean I would arrogantly assume that by definition means I know the place better than someone who's been visiting regularly for 20 years.
You said there 'were no parks in Paris', which is untrue and suggests that you don't know what you're talking about. A park can be any of those things you mention. Just because you happen not to like their style is irrelevant. What about Bois de Boulogne? - about 3 times the size of Hyde Park (a little way out admittedly); the previously mentioned Parc des Butes Chaumont? Bois de Vincennes?
I know the city reasonably well, and would say it has more public spaces than London - given that it's tiny in comparison - London being four times the size (which should give some perspective when making comparisons between the two cities).
Bois de Boulougne isn't actually in Paris, though, is it?
It's like telling someone, "oh yeah, London is full of parks - just catch a train down to the South Downs." You have to make a trip out to go there.
I agree that Paris has more "public spaces", in terms of squares and benches and playgrounds but it really doesn't have any parks, in the sense of green open space in every borough/neighbourhood, that London does.
Mind you, you're average Parisien is so uptight, they wouldn't know how to 'chill out' in a real park anyway.
It's like telling someone, "oh yeah, London is full of parks - just catch a train down to the South Downs." You have to make a trip out to go there.
I agree that Paris has more "public spaces", in terms of squares and benches and playgrounds but it really doesn't have any parks, in the sense of green open space in every borough/neighbourhood, that London does.
Mind you, you're average Parisien is so uptight, they wouldn't know how to 'chill out' in a real park anyway.
Treacle Toes
Time
Could be through the lack of parks eh?
Seriously, London is special for it's abundance of parks.
No other capital city in the world can complete for open, public green spaces really, IME.
Like our welfare state.....
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
Treacle Toes
Time
mmmmmmmm Clissold?
Well, admittedly I was stretching credibility somewhat
Yeah, and if you do make that trip, it's one that's worth curtailing come sunset 
I get what you're saying, but I'm inclined to think that given Paris is relatively small it's well represented.
You have point here! Maybe metal chairs on gravel paths are perfectly suited to the general persona of the inhabitants ...
dynamicbaddog
run for your life
Today I was in Shrewsbury which is in Plumstead just up the hill from the common, it's one of my favourite lesser known parks, it's very high up - you get an amazing view of Kent from there
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
yep
Stobart Stopper
Well-Known Member
This place pisses on everything on this thread:
http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/3Late Summer flowers.htm
http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/3Late Summer flowers.htm
Well, admittedly I was stretching credibility somewhat
I get what you're saying, but I'm inclined to think that given Paris is relatively small it's well represented.
Actually, my new favourite discovery is Parc de Belleville. A sort of modernist park on terraces, but very little frequented, great views, and best of all, a spot of proper rough muddy grassy field you can actually sit and have a picnic on.
I would consider Bois de Boulogne to be in Paris, just as I would consider Hampstead Heath and Richmond Park to be in London.
Thing is BdB might be 'bigger than Hyde Park' - and I'll take bob's word for it - but even in BdB from what I recall, there were very few areas where you could get away from it all, it was all broken up by roads.
Yes - I discovered this area, and found that it was one of the most underrated areas of paris. There was also a great view of the city from the top of the park.
It's become a tale of two cities ...
MysteryGuest
beyond boring and interesting
Trent Park for me.
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
Indeed, my friend lives in Belleville and it is a great spot. View
dynamicbaddog
run for your life
Sundridge Park in Bromley is very nice
I was there yesturday with the dog we walked from there to Chislhurst Common
I was there yesturday with the dog we walked from there to Chislhurst Common
dynamicbaddog
run for your life
Beckenham Place is excellentShout-out for Horniman Gardens and Beckenham Place Park
it's a so huge you could spend hours in a park that size
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
I decided to spend the week exploring the parks as I have a week off, I'm skint, and the weather's good.
Today - Horniman Gardens and Dulwich Park.
The Museum is ace - loved the musical instruments - hearing the music and seeing the huge range of instruments and the immense diversity of the places it came from gave me a bit of manly grit in my eye. The gardens were lovely too.
Dulwich Park was impressive too - a proper Victiorian park with a nice carriageway for cycling and the usual pretty stuff in the middle. The rhododendrons are still about and were very fragrant, which is nice.
I also had a quick scoot around Brockwell Park on the way home.
Tomorrow: Belair Park, Ruskin Park and Crystal Palace.
Next week: further afield - definitely Hampstead Heath cos I've only been to a tiny corner once last year, maybe even as far as Springfield Park.
Today - Horniman Gardens and Dulwich Park.
The Museum is ace - loved the musical instruments - hearing the music and seeing the huge range of instruments and the immense diversity of the places it came from gave me a bit of manly grit in my eye. The gardens were lovely too.
Dulwich Park was impressive too - a proper Victiorian park with a nice carriageway for cycling and the usual pretty stuff in the middle. The rhododendrons are still about and were very fragrant, which is nice.
I also had a quick scoot around Brockwell Park on the way home.
Tomorrow: Belair Park, Ruskin Park and Crystal Palace.
Next week: further afield - definitely Hampstead Heath cos I've only been to a tiny corner once last year, maybe even as far as Springfield Park.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Big up Stoke Newington:
