Where Kensington high o’er the neighbouring lands
‘Midst greens and sweets a regal fabric stands,
And sees each spring, luxuriant in her bowers,
A snow of blossoms and a wild of flowers,
The dames of Britain oft in crowds repair
To groves and lawns and unpolluted air.
Here, while the town in damps and darkness lies,
They breathe in sunshine, and see azure skies.

~Thomas Tickell, Kensington Gardens

Kensington Gardens, a lovely place to meander if you happen to find yourself in London. Magnificent trees, sculpture and a royal palace are spread across  242 acres. Kensington was originally part of Hyde Park and it was in these gardens Queen Victoria lived, until she became queen of England in 1837. When I visited, in 2012, I tried to imagine her as a young girl, strolling through this elegant landscape with its serene gardens.

Take the road less traveled, Beth