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The four Inns of Court in central London - the Inner and Middle Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn - are as beautiful and historic as many of the Oxford and Cambridge colleges, but far less crowded.
You can wander freely through the outdoor areas of the Inns of Court on weekdays, during business hours, and picnics are permitted on weekdays in the spacious gardens of Gray's Inn, called "the Walks”. This is a remarkable privilege since all four Inns of Court are still the main workplaces for large numbers of barristers.
The Inner Temple offers the added attraction of Temple Church (built c. 1200), one of five medieval round churches in England and as stunning architecturally as it is unusual.
Underground station: Chancery Lane, Temple; Bus No. 11
Based this year in a deer park in South Wales, this indie-folk festival will feature Field Music and the Brian Jonestown Massacre alongside a medieval village and a jousting display.
Margan Park isn't far from the steelworks of Port Talbot, which creates a dramatic view at night - belching flames across the bay, it's very strange and beautiful, the park itself has lots to offer but it's only a short drive from some great beaches namely Rest Bay and a slightly longer drive to the mumbles and Gower Peninsular.
June 30-July 1
www.tapestrygoeswest.com
www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/margampark/attractions.cfm
A site in the Bogd Khan National Park not far from the capital where travellers can experience the beauty of the steppes on horseback - you stay in a traditional ger and can book single days trekking or several if you want. Run by an English woman together with a Mongolian family to provide a budget experience of Mongolian culture and countryside for independent travellers - new this year and, so far, with excellent feedback. Try it!
Lille Zoo, in the Bois de Boulogne, is free to visit and great fun for kids (of all ages). The park itself is great for a leisurely walk (mind the joggers), and you can hire a segway or bike while you're there.
Avenue Mathias Delobel, Bois de Boulogne;
tel: 03 28 52 07 00;
Metro: République Beaux-Arts;
www.zoolille.com
Spend a lush day strolling around the network of parks just south-west of the city’s inner core. Beginning just behind the Neues Rathaus and sprawling out towards the leafy Plagwitz district, the Johanna Park and the Clara Zetkin Park (into which the Johanna merges) are filled with gardens, woodlands, lakes, Japanese-style bridges, inquisitive red squirrels, and eventually a full-blown river (Weisse Elster).
These gardens are a haven due to a canopy of ancient trees and a peaceful cafe serving cool "imperial" beers. It's where all the trendiest (with baby) hang out on a Saturday morning before shopping at the bio farmers market.
Tram 28 goes from the Praça do Comércio to the Basilica da Estrela. From there it is only a 5 minute walk.
The Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens has just opened 'Australian Garden' at the Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne. This is so different from any other botanic garden I have ever seen anywhere else in the world. It showcases the Australian landscape with red sand, rockeries, dry river beds, arid areas and Australian 'bush'. Breathtaking (and not a rose bush in sight).
1000 Ballarto Road, Cranbourne (about 40 mins from the city);
tel: (03) 5990 2200;
www.rbg.vic.gov.au/australian_garden
Melbourne has superb gardens spread throughout and one of the best - the Botanical Gardens - has 'The Tan'.
The Tan is a wide flat track around the outside of the Botanical gardens, and it’s home to joggers, runners, walkers and pusher pushers. Watch out for the footballers though as they try and complete a lap in record time.
Best of all: it’s free (bring your own running shoes).
The Tan runs around the circumference of the Botanic Gardens and the Domain. Run there, take a tram or walk from Flinders Street station; www.accessibility.com.au/melbourne/garden/tan.htm
It can be accessed from Lusaka, but covers nearly the same area as Belgium, this is the largest park in Zambia and one of the biggest in the world.
With a terrain ranging from the lush riverine forest of the Kafue River to the vast grassland of the Busanga Plains, the park rewards wildlife enthusiasts with glimpses of a generous variety of carnivores and an abundance of their prey.
Almost a stone’s throw away from St Stephen's Green, this little park is a quiet little getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. While full of office workers during lunchtime on summer days, you'll nearly have the place to yourself when they're in work. A real hidden treasure.
Entrance is on Clonmel Street, off Harcourt Street.
Nearest Luas (light rail) stop: Harcourt Street and St Stephen's Green
Lisbon Zoo is fantastic. You don't need children to enjoy the spectacle. A great aerial trip around the park on a mini cable car is included in price (and dangling above lions is great fun).
Estrada de Benfica 158-160, Sete Rios;tel: 217 232 910;
Metro: Jardim zoologico;
www.zoolisboa.pt/main.aspx
Recently restored, the temple of mercy/compassion is little visited by tourists, despite being in the centre of Chengdu. Aside from its main purpose, this temple has a very lively yet relaxing teahouse (various teas, average price 5-8 Rb) and there’s a folklore museum. Some outstanding statues/carvings. 3 Rmb to get in. Open 9am to 6pm.
Da Ci Si Lu 23 hao (10-15 mins walk from Crowne Plaza/Holiday Inn);
www.randomstuff.biz
Opposite the Jardim da Estrela, near the end of the 28 tram route, is the walled English Cemetery - an extraordinary, overgrown jumble of graves, trees and stories. Not just English ones: all sorts of expats, adventurers, drifters and romantics ended up here. So did Henry Fielding, who came to Lisbon for his health, hated it and died. It feels like walking into a secret history of old Europe.
Rua de Sao Jorge, Estrela;
Metro: Rato, or catch tram 28
Lisbon's botanical gardens are - like most things in Lisbon - on a precipitous slope; they're also lush, tropical, usually empty and feel like they've been there a million years. A beautiful, cool oasis right in the heart of the city.
Rua Escola Politécnica, Principe Real;
Open every day from 9am - 7pm
Large gardens, greenhouses and indoor plant houses. Peaceful and tranquil. A real splash of colour in season.
Glasnevin, Dublin 9 - on north side of the city, as you go out to the airport;
www.botanicgardens.ie
Uluru is a large sandstone rock formation located in Uluru-KataTjuta National Park, some 475km from Alice Springs. Uluru is sacred to the Aboriginal people of the area (Pitjantjatjara). The park also houses Kata Tjuta, or “The Olgas”, literally meaning 'many heads' owing to its peculiar formation - this is another rock formation about 25km from Uluru and they make for two must-see features of Australia's Red Centre.
The local Aborigines request that you do not climb the rock as it passes an important dreaming track and can also be very dangerous. A free coach is at hand to transfer you from the airport to the nearby Yulara resort, where there are three, four and five-star rated hotels and also a youth hostel that has a very relaxed feel and live music with bring-your-own BBQs in the evening.
Accommodation is extremely pricey, as is food and drink, although the supermarket is reasonable. One must-have for Uluru is insect repellent. The flies will have you performing several “bush salutes” a minute if you aren't able to ward them off in some way.
Uluru is an amazing landmark, once referred to as the “remarkable pebble” by the explorer Ernest Giles. The many tours are informative and provide breathtaking sights of Uluru, especially at sunrise and sunset when the rock puts on a magnificent display, changing colour with the sun’s position.
Uluru is 475km by road from Alice Springs. It takes around 50-60 minutes to fly, and around 4.5 – 5 hours to drive.
Google map: tinyurl.com/mpddkq
These gardens are a haven of peace in the centre of the Estrela district with excellent views of the Tejo river and the Ponte 25 de Abril.
Tram 28 goes from the Praça do Comércio to the Basilica da Estrela. From there it is only a 5 minute walk.
A spacious park with a relaxing atmosphere.
At the northern end of the Avenida da Liberdade, is is a 20 min walk up from the Praca do Comercio; Nearest metro: Marques de Pombal
Watch out for the stone statues that are created by an amazing artist working on the beaches year round. Also try a walk around beaver lake where the wildlife is awesome!
In the grounds of Cornwall Park there are sheep, cows, and chickens. There's room to play sport, built in BBQs, a lovely restaurant to have afternoon tea too. It really is a gorgeous park and although it gets busy on hot sunny days you'll still find space to relax in the greenery.
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