19 August 2008

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Park Café's in London

Whatever the weather, a run around in your local park is a great way to blow away the cobwebs and it's even more fun with the temptation of a hot chocolate or ice cream in the local park café. Many park cafés are in lovely old buildings and are very child friendly. So, forget those high street corporate coffee shops and jog along to your local park café!

Brew House, Kenwood House

In the basement and terrace of neo-classical Kenwood House Large outdoor tables set amid flower beds and hanging baskets are always at a premium in warm weather. Inside are high ceilings, lightly frescoed walls and village-style signposts that point out the cake stand (as if you could miss the huge chunks of carrot cake, pineapple pavlova, scones, and gooseberry cheesecake) and guide you around the jam-packed service area. Homely grub matches the setting perfectly.

Kenwood, Hampstead Lane, Hampstead Heath, NW3 7JR (8341 5384). Bus 210, 214. Open Oct-Mar 9am-dusk daily. Apr-Sept 9am-6pm daily (7.30pm on concert nights). Credit (over £10) MC, V.Buggy access. Children's menu (£2.50-£3.95). High chairs. Nappy-changing facilities. No smoking (inside). Tables outside (400, garden). Takeaway service.

Common Ground, Wandsworth Common

Warm, friendly staff skilfully avoid treading on contented toddlers (there are many well-cuddled toys), and effortlessly maintain a relaxed atmosphere. The cosy back room - with room enough to play - is a heavenly retreat on a winter's day. The food is own-made such as a goat's cheese, baby spinach and pine nut tart. There are also cakes and sandwiches and a selection of mini meals - pasta, chicken strips, Marmite sandwiches, cookies, cakes and babycinos - for children.

Wandsworth Common, off Dorlcote Road, SW18 3RT (8874 9386). Wandsworth Common rail. Open 9am-5.15pm Tue-Fri; 10am-5.15pm Sat, Sun. Main courses £3.50-£9. Unlicensed. Credit MC, V. Children's menu. High chairs. Toys.

Garden Café, Regents Park

The spacious interior of the 40-year-old Garden Café in Regents Park had a makeover in 2005 and now looks rather chic. There's plenty of space inside and if it's sunny, the outdoor area surrounded by rose beds is lovely. The menu has classics like prawn cocktail, ploughman's lunches, puddings, sandwiches and cakes.

Inner Circle, Regents Park, NW1 4NU (7935 5729/www.thegardencafe.co.uk). Baker Street or Regents Park tube. Open 10am-dusk daily. Main courses £4.25-£12.95. Licensed. Credit MC, V. Tables outdoors.

Golders Hill Park Refreshment House

Always a choice spot for freshly made ice-cream, this Italian-run park café has a bright, clean glasshouse interior and a good selection of cakes and drinks. The savoury menu includes a long list of salads and pasta dishes, plus an extended children's menu. In summer bowls indulge in bowls of strawberries and cream and big wedges of refreshing watermelon.

North End Road, Golders Green, NW3 7HD (8455 8010). Golders Green or Hampstead tube. Meals served summer 9am-dusk daily. Winter 10am-dusk daily. Main courses £3-£7. No credit cards. Children's menu (£3-£5). High chairs. Nappy-changing facilities. No smoking. Tables outdoors (25, terrace). Takeaway service.

Inn The Park, St James' Park

This is an attractive lakeside wood-and-glass pavilion with glazed walls that slide back. There are great ice-creams, afternoon teas and cakes and breakfasts. Children get their own menu of chicken and chips or sausage and mash. Buggy access. Children's menu (£7.50). Disabled access: toilets.

St James's Park, SW1A 2BJ (7451 9999/www.innthepark.com). St James's Park tube. Open 8am-11pm Mon-Fri; 9am-11pm Sat; 9am-10pm Sun. Main courses £11.50-£14.50. Credit AmEx, MC, V. High chairs. No smoking (inside).Tables outdoors (40). Takeaway service.

Pavilion Café, Dulwich Park

The glass-fronted pavilion, decorated with striking contemporary art (for sale) and large bunches of fresh flowers, can be opened up on hot days, with plenty of tables inside, though it's a bit of a squeeze outside. The café has a relaxed atmosphere even when busy. Sweets, lollies, ice-creams, English breakfasts and the usual sandwiches and cakes are available, with treats such as orange-blossom and ginger cake, and tender pork marinated with rosemary, served in flatbread with salad and apple and cinnamon sauce. Produce is free-range and locally sourced. Children's parties are a speciality.

Dulwich Park, off College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BQ (8299 1383). North Dulwich or West Dulwich rail. Open summer 9am-6pm (with some late evenings) daily. Winter 9am-dusk daily. Main courses £3.50-£6.50. No credit cards. Buggy access. Children's menu (£1.50-£3.50). Disabled access: toilets. High chairs. Nappy-changing facilities. Tables outdoors (11, terrace). Takeaway service. Toys.

Pavilion Café, Highgate Woods

This café is very popular, and rightly so, thanks to its tasty, beautifully presented food and location in Highgate Woods. Enjoy dishes such as a mixed platter of dips and smoked mackerel or steak with onion. For children there's pasta, fish, chicken goujons and chips and mini eaters are welcome into the evening. The setting is perfect for jazz on Thursday or Friday evenings.

Highgate Woods, Muswell Hill Road, N10 3JN (8444 4777). Highgate tube. Open summer 8am-8pm daily. Winter 9am-dusk daily. Main courses £6-£8.95. Licensed. Credit AmEx, MC, V. Children's menu (£3). Tables outdoors.

Pavilion Tea House, Greenwich Park

This is a lovely spot, where the soup, salads and sandwiches are of the gourmet variety. Puddings and cakes go down well with a nice pot of tea. Children have a small selection of hot options, or can just stick to cake and ice-cream. The garden is safely hedged off from the central thoroughfare.

Greenwich Park, Blackheath Gate, SE10 8QY (8858 9695). Blackheath rail/Greenwich rail/DLR. Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri; 9am-6pm Sat, Sun. Main courses £4.95-£8.50. Licensed. Credit MC, V.Children's menu. High chairs. Tables outdoors.

Ravenscourt Park Café

A pleasant park stop that caters for lunchtime blowouts and mid-afternoon snacks. Light meals include own-made soups and sandwiches or Cumberland sausages with lentils, and pasta dishes The lemon curd bread and butter pudding is highly recommended. Children's meals include free-range nuggets and fish fingers.

Paddenswick Road, W6 OUL (8748 1945). Ravenscourt Park tube. Open summer 9am-5.30pm daily. Winter 9am-4pm daily. Main courses £5.50-£7.50. Unlicensed. No credit cards. Children's menu. Tables outdoors.

Springfield Park Café

Order at the counter, beside a big sculpture of a dog, from a pretty fabulous menu: Springfield Special sandwiches (roasted veg and halloumi, perhaps), own-made soups, tasty cakes, shakes and organic juices. The lawn out front rolls down towards the River Lea and the Springfield Marina. Children are very much welcomed, and they'll find plenty of treats on the menu.

White Mansion Lodge, Springfield Park, E5 9EF (8806 0444/www.sparkcafe.co.uk). Stamford Hill or Stoke Newington rail. Open Apr-Oct 10am-6pm daily. Nov-Mar 10am-4pm daily. Main courses £3.90-£5.90. Unlicensed. No credit cards. Tables outdoors.