Today started early with a walk to Holland Park which was Southwest of my hotel and well worth the 40 minute walk! This 54 acre park was already heavily used by joggers, walkers (and dogs) this morning. I enjoyed the dahlias (seen above) and always like these over-sized chess sets (below) whenever I see them! While many of the gardens were past peak or had been cleared of annuals, the Kyoto Garden (built in 1991) was excellent (see further below). Holland Park and the gardens contained within were excellent and I then took a route back through different neighborhoods (including where many of the consulates from other countries were situated) and ultimately through Hyde Park again where I ran in to the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon which was starting and ending in the park. It made for an interesting timing issue of finding a gap to run through (three times!)!