The Mirror Abroad: Ariana’s London Experience

As the weather continues to warm up in London, everyone is making a beeline for the door so that they can enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Believe it or not, the weather is beautiful here – I definitely did not expect that when preparing for the semester – and every day on my way to class, I always see people in squares or parks, lounging on benches or laid out on blankets. While London has quite a few outdoor options if you are looking to get some sun or find a nice place to do your work, the following are my personal favorites.

1. Russell Square – I cross through Russell Square every day to get to my classes and as the weather started to warm up, I started seeing less people huddled in the local cafés, instead opting to eating their lunch outside on the benches. The square is currently in bloom and there are plenty of places to spread out with friends or on your own if you are done with classes for the day, but have no desire to return to your accommodation. Personally, I have spent time on the benches reading and drinking hot chocolate, which is the perfect combination on a mild, spring day.
2. Hyde Park – Due to its size, Hyde Park is the perfect place to walk – or go cycling, if you are feeling ambitious. Despite not being the ideal place to relax since the seating options are few to none, it offers beautiful foliage in Kensington Gardens, especially in the springtime, and you can also visit Kensington Palace if you are looking to sightsee.
3. Regent’s Park – Regent’s Park is perhaps the most picturesque of the parks that I have included on the list. It has numerous café options if the weather is unappealing and you want to warm up inside, but it also has plenty of benches surrounding the expanse of the lake. It is especially nice to watch people in the boats on the lake when it is sunny outside. If all else fails, you can always people watch in the park, which can be incredibly interesting since every time I have visited, I have seen people from different walks of life.
4. Green Park – While I have only visited Green Park on one occasion and it was in passing, the open, green grass was inviting on the sunny day. The only downside of this particular park is that if you use the seats provided on the lawn, you will have to pay a fee to keep it for a set amount of time. Otherwise, I would highly recommend looking into the rates or other areas of the park where you can enjoy some sunshine and good company.