A breath of fresh air at Claremont Landscape Garden
Parents living in and around London will know how tricky it can be to meet friends who live on the other side of town. It’s usually not just a short drive away, it’s more a trip, a journey… or how we like to call it for our little one: an ‘adventure’.
We live in South East London and our dear friends live way north of London. So where do we meet? Richmond was out of bound because of the RideLondon bike race so we decided to try a new place: National Trust’s Claremont Landscape Garden in Surrey. Apparently Queen Victoria used to play there as a child so our kids could well do too...
My first impression was space and greenery. You quickly start the walk with a turf amphitheatre on one side and a serpentine lake on the other, with a variety of birds flocking their way around us. Of course, the kids loved chasing the birds and quickly running away when they got a bit too close.
Equipped with wellies, our boys stepped in mud (as you do) and played the adventurers in the woods, hiding, looking for an escape, while we, the grown-ups, kept walking on the main path.
We reached Camellia Terrace and sat on benches to enjoy our sandwiches and a chat. A pretty relaxed spot with a view.
We then explored the other side of the lake with a comfy stop in the traditional National Trust deck chairs. Hard to beat such Britishness!
We ended up in the Children’s play area, which is no ordinary playground. It’s all made of wood and it really is an inspirational place to play: castle to climb, house to hide in, a bridge to walk back and forth… And while we watched them run around, we tested the café’s lovely take-away hot chocolate. Yummy!
It's definitely a place I would recommend for a day-out as a family, great for playing and exploring in a gorgeous environment.
Looking for something to do with your kids this weekend? Take a look at the National Trust's website for Claremont Landscape Garden.
Marion & You Photography is a lifestyle family photographer in South East London specialising in family, newborn, baby and maternity photography.
[Marion specialises in London family photography, Beckenham family photography, Bromley family photography, Dulwich family photography, Forrest Hill family photography, Herne Hill family photography, Greenwich family photography, Kent family photography as well as areas in and around London.]