From the ancient Sydenham Hill, you can survey the three counties of Essex, Kent and Surrey in an 180° panorama.

This is the site of what was once the Great North Wood in which former Kings of England indulged in hunting deer and boar.

But today it is a pleasant landscape that is frequented by many a painter inspired by the beauty of rich woodlands.

Sculptors take in the natural beauty too, with their many works in wood being an integral part of the wooded landscape.

In the 19th Century, the hill was home to a spa and health resort, and in 1854, the magnificent Crystal Palace, that was built in Hyde Park, was re-homed on the Hill.

It remained there until the devastating fire of 1936, that totally destroyed it, and to this day, the origin of the fire remains a mystery.

Today, Sydenham Hill is a Site of Metropolitan Importance and Local Nature Reserve managed by the London Wildlife Trust.