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 Favourite places: London Zoo, Hyde Park, Highgate Cemetery & Hampstead Heath London Zoo Set in the lush green expanses of Regent's Park, London Zoo is home to a huge range of exotic and endangered species, including some that are extinct in the wild. It is the likes of the lions, tigers and apes that draw the crowds, while the kids flock to see the penguins being fed. Just as spectacular are the aquarium and the reptile house – if you're not too afraid of snakes. At some points during the day the zoo keepers give entertaining talks about what their job involves. There are also animal shows, usually twice a day, where well-trained parrots and boars entertain the audience with an array of tricks, to rapturous applause. Address: Regent's Park, NW1. Tel: +44 (0) 207 722 3333. Tube: Camden Town/Regent's Park. Hyde Park Hyde Park is the largest of the Royal Parks, the 'green lungs' that inspired Napoleon to create the boulevards of Paris. It has historically hosted a large number of national events, most recently the Stop The War demonstration in February 2003. A number of open air concerts are also held here. The most famous feature is the Serpentine, a lake set in the heart of the parkland which can be used for boating and swimming. It also has Rotten Row, which was the first ever public road in Britain to be lit at night. Once completed, the Diana Princess of Wales' memorial fountain will also be here. Address: Hyde Park, W2. Tube: Hyde Park Corner Highgate Cemetery The final resting place of Karl Marx is in Highgate Cemetery, a vast graveyard in the suburb of Highgate in North London. The cemetery, to the south of the Underground station at the bottom of Highgate Hill, is actually split into two. The West cemetery houses a number of very delicate graves and can only be seen on a guided tour. The East cemetery however is unrestricted, so long as you keep to the paths. It is here, near a number of other high-profile socialists, campaigners and political exiles, that Marx's giant grave can be found. Nearby is the grave of author George Eliot – in reality Mary Ann Evans. Elsewhere are large, old stones commemorating the deceased of some of London's richest families. On a nice day, Highgate itself is also well worth a look round, being about as close as London comes to the feel of the English country village. Address: Swain's Lane, N6. Tel: +44 (0)20 8340 1834. Tube: Highgate Hampstead Heath Also in North London is Hampstead Heath, an open grassland of around 800 acres. At the bottom end is Parliament Hill, which is used on windy days for kite-flying by what seems like half the population of the South-East of England. There are many ponds around the Heath, three of which can actually be used for swimming in. In summer, there are often classical concerts played in the evenings. And at the north end is Kenwood House, a mansion which is home to a number of 17th and 18th Century masterpieces by the likes of Rembrandt and Vermeer. Address: Highgate Road, NW5. Tel: +44 (0)20 7482 7073. Tube: Hampstead Related links:  London Zoo
The Royal Parks
Highgate Cemetery
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