PARADISE CITY
The ‘hidden paradise’ in London that has been compared to villas in Capri
WHEN most people think of London, the word "tranquil" is rarely the first word that springs to mind.
Yet there's a place in the north of the city that's been described as both a "hidden paradise" and "criminally underrated" with few tourists paying a visit.
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The Hill Garden and Pergola in Hampstead was commissioned by Lord Leverhulme in 1904, when he decided that his nearby mansion needed an ostentatious area in which he could host outdoor parties.
The result is a warren of ornate pillars, columns and archways, overgrown with twisting plants, that has been compared to both Italian villas and palaces from Game of Thrones.
After Lord Leverhulme's death, the gardens fell into disrepair and, although they have since been conserved by the city, the fixtures have retained a shabby quality, making them seem older than they are.
One person who was very impressed with the gardens was Tiktoker Macy Tong (), who shared footage from her visit in
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She captioned it "hidden paradise in London" and showed how she was able to walk around the gardens on a perfect sunny day, without any other people interrupting her visit.
also enjoyed a peaceful visit of their own, describing the gardens as "the perfect place for a tranquil wander".
Others have compared the pergola's buildings to those found in much more glamorous locations, including the Bay of Naples.
A said the architecture was similar to that which they had seen in Capri, while also praising its quiet and placid atmosphere.
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They wrote: "I wanted a serene, other-worldly secret garden fit for ambling walks and dramatic pathways that wouldn’t look out of place on a hill-top in Capri.
"Luckily, that’s exactly what it is."
Meanwhile, , likened the gardens to fictitious palaces from George R.R. Martin's fantasy novels Game of Thrones.
They wrote: "Hampstead Heath’s romantically shabby pergola is a dead ringer for the Old Palace in Dorne.
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"It’s a grand walkway, now overgrown with twisted trunks and greenery.
"The only difference is that it’s high on a hill above ornamental gardens with dreamy views of London."
Getting to the pergola is fairly straightforward, considering its status as a "hidden" gem.
The nearest tube stations are Hampstead and Golders Green – it’s more or less bang in the middle of the two.
Jack Straw’s car park is close by for those wanting to drive there, while the 210 and 268 bus routes both go to Inverforth House, about a five minute walk away.
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Meanwhile, this landmark in the UK looks like it's in India.
And this holiday hotspot has been compared to Venice by visitors.
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