Holland Park

Holland Park is an extensive woodland area in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in central London and is home to many varieties of wildlife including mammals, birds, and insects. The park has a Japanese garden, orange grove, tennis courts, a cricket field, and a children's playground. The park covers an area of 54 acres on what was once the grounds of Cope Castle. This large Jacobian mansion was built in the early 17th century by Sir Walter Cope and later renamed Holland House when the Earl of Holland's wife, Lady Rich, inherited the property.
The Holland House was greatly damaged during World War II, and much of it is still in ruins. The remains of the house serve as a backdrop for the open air Holland Park Theatre, and one section was repaired and turned into a youth hostel. The park is also home to the Holland Park Ecology Centre. The Holland Park district is one of London's most expensive residential areas with large Victorian houses and high end shopping.

Practical Info

Holland Park can be reached from the Notting Hill Gate or Kensington High Street underground stations.