Hatfield House
Hatfield House is a 30-minute ride from London, King's Cross station. After you get off the train, you'll see the gates of the house. It is near London, so I thought that it would be a good place to visit as the spur of the moment. Actually, I never expected that this house would be so good.
However, soon after I entered the house, I was moved by the beautiful gardens.
Firstly, I took a guided tour. I was surprised by hearing the tour guide's explanation. This house was related to the Cecils who I dealt with in my graduation thesis when I was a university student. Before the Cecils owns the house, Hatfield Hose had some relation to Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. This house appeared on "Elizabeth", the movie. (But, the staff of "Elizabeth"used another place, probably Warkworth Castle, as Hatfield House.)
From the end of March to the middle of October, it is open to the public. The house and the West Garden are open every day exept Monday, but the East Garden is open only on Monday. Therefore, if you want to see all of the house, you have to visit twice. I visited there on two successive days. When I visited there for the second time, the gatekeeper remembered me and said, "Uh, you are coming again. I think that you really liked this place."Yes! I really like it".
to Hatfield House

Kew Gardens
I think that all English people may like Kew Gardens. One year, when I went to England with Akiko, I had a chance to meet and talk to some English people. When we said to them, "We are going to visit Kew Gardens.", everybody answered "Yes, it is a good place. I like Kew Gardens." Therefore, our expectation became bigger and bigger. However, when we went there, we actually thought "Is it so good?"It may be because the grass wasn't so green because it was the midsummer. Or it may be because that oriental atmosphere attracts the English, while it doesn't attract us so much because it isn't unique to us.
Anyway, as far as I can remember, if you buy a ticket once, you can visit again and again in some period, so it may be an economical garden for people who visit there many times.

Hampton Court Palace
I think that everybody knows that Elizabeth I's father was Henry VIII. He married Catherine of Aragon, his older brother's wife after his brother died. However, finally, he set up the Anglican Church, because he wanted to divorce her. He was tyrannical, wasn't he? After that, he married six women including Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I's mother. Hampton Court Palace is connected with Henry VIII.
In the old days, they say that it was a hunting ground, so it is really vast.
It is amazing that you can see such a large house and garden after only a forty-minute ride from Waterloo station. I highly recommend this place.

The Chelsea Physic Garden
The Chelsea Physic Garden is in London. You can walk from Sloane Square station. However, it is open to the public for restricted hours only on a few days a week. Therefore, although I wanted to go, I haven't had a chance to visit for many years.
Many varieties of flowers fill the garden. It is quite a small place, but most enjoyable. If you visit there, I'm sure that you can feel relaxed.

(2002.9.19)

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Trip to England

I really love London!