London, being a city and all that, has an awful lot of concrete spread about the place.
There are, of course, plenty of parks to escape to, and that's all well and good, but sometimes it would be nice to just relax in a boat and bob up and down a bit, forgetting completely that you're in one of the world's biggest metropolises.
One of the best places for bobbing up and down in the capital is on
the boating lake in
Regent's Park. The large lake is in an idyllic setting and is the perfect spot to unwind with the family or friends.
The lake is open to boaters on a daily basis between the months of April and September. An hour on the water costs an adult a reasonable £6.50, while 30 minutes costs £4.85.
For children an hour costs £4.40, with 30 minutes costing £3.35. A family ticket (two adults and up to three children) will set you back £20 and gives you an hour of fun on the lake.
Those under the age of 12 are asked to wear a life jacket, which is provided. Each boat can take up to five people.
Once your time's up on the lake, head to the lakeside cafe,
The Boathouse, for refreshments.
Specialities include the tuna nicoise salad, the salami, red onion and mushroom pizzetta, and, for dessert, the rhubarb and stem ginger tart.
Boating on Regent's Park lake is a great way to relax while away a few hours on a sunny day, giving you a wonderful chance to zone out and leave the hardships of city life behind.
But you will need to make one decision before leaving dry land. Do you want to give your arms or your legs a workout?
For those who want to build their arms up a bit, there are plenty of rowing boats to hop into. On the other hand, if your legs need toning up, pick a pedal boat instead.
Alternatively, if you're feeling lazy, simply take along a generous friend and get them to do all the work.
