With the season of spring in the air, March is one of the loveliest times of the year to visit London, and there’s nowhere better to soak up the fresh spirit of growth, brightness and renewal than in one of the city’s many fantastic parks.
As days get longer, brighter and hopefully, a little warmer, the city bursts into life with green growth and blossoms on the trees, and beautiful flower beds emerging with new colour. A stay at the Park Grand Lancaster Gate is the perfect base to visit the city, where you can make the most of all that the capital’s parks have to offer during the month.
Read on for some suggestions on what you could be enjoying in London, this March.
Get active for spring
If you’ve been trying to get back into shape this year and need a little extra motivation, then embrace the spring energy and get outdoors in one of London’s parks for some fun activity.
If you want to set yourself up for a challenge, Victoria Park will be hosting its regular half marathon on 7 March, providing an invigorating way to take in the pretty and scenic park in a great way. Spanning about 21 kilometres, it’s perhaps not the best one to get started with if you’re relatively inexperienced with running long distances, so if you’d like something a little more easy going, or simply want to enjoy a shorter race, try the Hyde Park Spring 10K, on 15 March.
After all of that extra effort, you’ve definitely deserved a treat, so check out some delicious options at restaurants near Lancaster Gate.
Celebrate Mother’s Day
This year, Mother’s Day in the UK falls on 22 March, and it’s the perfect time to share your thanks and appreciation for the mothers in your life. Whether that’s your own mother, a friend, relative or partner, the day is always a great occasion to show that you care.
If you’re visiting London with someone special, there are plenty of ways to mark the day, from enjoying a delicious Afternoon tea central London, to enjoying a spellbinding West End performance. For something a little more serene and relaxing, treat her to a special Kokedama-making workshop in the beautiful Chelsea Physic Garden, where you can learn to make the delicate and beautiful Japanese moss plant ornament.
For those who have been affected by ovarian cancer in anyway, another way to mark the occasion is by joining in with London’s Run for Mum. Organised by Target Ovarian Cancer, this great event takes place in Hyde Park on 22 March, and is an excellent way of fundraising and increasing awareness, whilst also celebrating and showing support for those affected by the illness.
Discover new affordable art
March sees the return of the Affordable Art Fair to Battersea Park, and this year it will be taking place between 12 – 15 March. Whether you’re a collector of contemporary art or would like to find a new piece to brighten up your home, this is the ideal place to discover original artwork from a variety of artists, ranging from all kinds of backgrounds. From striking photography and traditional painting, to innovative sculptures and more, this is a great place to find something unique.
With prices for pieces spanning between £50 to £6,000, there’s something for everyone here. Just a short Tube ride away from the Park Grand Lancaster Gate, this is a great event to browse and explore. Take a closer look at the work of thousands of artists from a variety of different galleries, and see what you could be taking home.
Take a closer look at nature through your lens
If you love taking beautiful shots of the landscape or London’s parks in bloom and want to learn more about how to capture the natural world in the best way, then you might love to take part in the nature photography workshops that are being held in Hampstead Heath this March. Taking place on 28 and 29 March, the award-winning London-based photographer, Matthew Maran, will lead you through a day long workshop, that will give you a deeper look at how to capture the natural world in the best way, through photography. As someone who has published a photography book celebrating Hampstead Heath himself, you’re in great hands during this event.
The event is open to all levels, and will give you a chance to try out different techniques and skills around the stunning space of the Heath, and leave you with a beautiful print to take home afterwards. You can come with any type of camera, apart from a smartphone, so it’s the perfect chance to dust off the point and shoot camera or DSLR you’ve had kicking around on the shelf. Places are limited and you will need to book on the event ahead of time, which can be done online.
Support a great cause
March also welcomes the annual March for Veterans event in the capital, which supports the efforts of Blind Veterans UK, a charity that aids blinded ex-servicemen and women. On Saturday 28 March, you can take part in a bracing 10 mile walk across four of London’s Royal Parks, providing the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air and enjoy time outdoors, as well as taking in the sight of London’s most stunning historic parks.
It’s suitable for all levels and ages, and a great thing to enjoy together as a family, whether or not you know someone affected by blindness. You’ll need to register in order to participate, and the event is organised as a fundraiser, so make sure to let your friends and family know all about it beforehand, to help raise as much as you can for the special cause.
