London calling
Thu, May 14 2009 at 1:25 PM EST
Read more: EU, GREEN TRAVEL
Illustration: Alex Williamson Inside this Article
| 1. Attractions and parks | 4. Accommodations |
| 2. Dining out | 5. London 2012 Olympic Games |
| 3. Shopping and getting around | 6. Ask an insider |
Americans already know to pencil in Big Ben, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace on their London must-see checklist. But a surprisingly eco-friendly city is emerging that’s also worth crossing the pond to see. In recent years, local politicians put climate change and carbon emissions on the radar, and suddenly the whole capital is racing to go green. Many restaurants and boutiques are making fair-trade and organic offerings a higher priority, and museums and walking tours now have the earth-conscious tourist in mind. Even Prince Charles has hopped aboard the greening machine, creating several environmental charities, including a foundation that supports sustainable urban development. We’d never suggest skipping the changing of the guard, but there’s a whole different London to explore.
ATTRACTIONS
Sightseeing need not be a gaggle-of-tourists affair. These under-the-radar highlights let you experience and learn about local and global environmental efforts.
Adventure Ecology
This charity runs a small gallery in Camden that features eco-conscious art to raise funds and call attention to the world’s bleaker regions, like industrialized China, deforested Ecuador, and the melting North Pole. 125 Charing Cross Road, WC2, www.adventureecology.com
Borough Market
Nestled in the London Bridge neighborhood, the city’s oldest food market dates back to Roman times. It’s the local’s choice for cheap whole food or organic eats: wild boar burgers, pints of cider, and all the cheese, olives, and fish your heart could desire. 8 Southwark Street, SE1, www.boroughmarket.org.uk
Climate change audio tour
“And While London Burns” is a 70-minute operatic audio walking tour around the City. This historical, haunting walk explains the area’s role in climate change, taking you on an environmental adventure through the skyscrapers and alleyways. Download an mp3 of the tour from their website.
London Transport Museum
This Victorian building in Covent Garden was refurbished and reopened this fall. The exhibits tell the story of the city’s buses, trams, rail, and the Underground, as well as cycling, walking, taxis, and the Thames River. The museum also features a new family learning area and a play zone for kids under five. 39 Wellington Street, WC2, www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Natural History Museum
Housed in a grand Romanesque building, this South Kensington museum is hailed as a temple to the natural world. Boasting more than 70 million specimens, it features an ecology area that details world-wide conservation efforts and gives tips on how you can make a difference at home. Cromwell Road, SW7, www.nhm.ac.uk
The Original London Walks
Take a ramble on one of dozens of guided sojourns throughout the city, following the footsteps of famous Brits from Shakespeare to Harry Potter. Walks originate from different places and times, and are offered 365 days a year. www.walks.com
London Wetland Centre
Home to one of the largest bird and wildlife havens in any European capital, this award-winning attraction in Barnes spans more than 100 acres of lakes, reed beds, and marshes created from old reservoirs. It also has a café, theater, and a children’s adventure area. Free guided tours twice daily. Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, SW13, www.wwt.org.uk
PARKS
London is world-renowned for its exceptional parks and green spaces. In fact, natural and landscaped greenery accounts for more of the city’s total composition than roads, buildings, and concrete areas.
To relax in some of the city’s finest, visit Hyde Park, a holder of the Green Flag Award—a national program that recognizes England’s and Wales’ best parks and green spaces. Every half hour, the SolarShuttle ferries passengers across the Serpentine Lake. When docked and not in use, the panels’ surplus electricity is fed back into the national grid.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a former royal residence and World Heritage Site near Richmond. Kew’s 300-acres feature Victorian greenhouses and themed gardens and their postal code is the most biodiverse in the world.
Thames Barrier Park spans 22 acres along the river’s north bank at Woolwich Reach. A great place to picnic, it boasts fantastic views of the city’s flood barrier and a beautiful fountain plaza.
NEXT: Dining out >
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Hi, I am creating a website www.arcadiantimes.co.uk which concentrates on local news and local history for the area icluding Kew. Readers may find some interesting articles if they are visiting the area.