Ever wonder why The English Park in Stockholm is so special? It’s not just another green space. The English Park is part of something much bigger. It is a key part of the Royal National City Park.
This Royal National City Park isn’t just any park. It’s the world’s first national city park. Its history stretches back before Christopher Columbus. Imagine that. Nature culture and entertainment all meet here. This makes it a unique destination. It is also Scandinavia’s biggest tourist draw.
King Carl XVI Gustaf opened the Royal National City Park on May 19 1995. He released three doves from Ulriksdal Palace. The doves represented the park’s keywords: Protect Preserve and Display.
The park’s creation followed years of preparation. The WWF and other groups suggested protecting the royal parks. These included Djurgården Haga and Ulriksdal. King Carl XVI Gustaf and the Office of the Governor supported the idea. They are responsible for the royal parks.
The Swedish Riksdag wanted to protect Djurgården as far back as the 20th century. They thought royal rights were enough. But the 1980s construction boom threatened the area. This led to renewed calls for protection. In 1994 the Riksdag created the city park. In 2009 it was named the Royal National City Park.
The Royal National City Park is huge. It covers 27 square kilometers. That’s almost eight times the size of New York’s Central Park. It stretches ten kilometers from Sörentorp to Blockhusudden.
King Karl Knutsson acquired Southern Djurgården in 1452. That was 40 years before Columbus sailed. Djurgården was a royal hunting ground. Later King Karl XIV Johan opened it up to the public.
The park has four royal palaces museums restaurants and cafés. You can find 100 species of breeding birds 800 varieties of flowering plants and 1200 species of beetle. Prince Eugen’s oak at Waldemarsudde is the largest in the park. It is about 500-800 years old. It may even be old enough for Birger Jarl to have patted its trunk.
The Royal National City Park is a green oasis. It is a short walk from the city center. Here you can find parkland buildings woods and beaches. You can stroll in an ancient forest. You can also swim off rocks. You might prefer to visit stately homes castles and museums. Or just sit and watch people after a busy day.
The park stretches from Sörentorp and Ulriksdal in the north to Djurgården and Fjäderholmarna in the south. It spans Solna Stockholm and Lidingö municipalities. It is the most visited recreation area in Stockholm.
The Ulriksdal–Haga–Djurgården–Brunnsviken area became a National City Park in 1995. This protects the park. New development is only allowed if it does not harm the park.
The idea for the park came about in the 1990s. Several major projects threatened the area. People realized the need to protect the area’s value for the future. The National Heritage Board and others got involved.
Getting to The English Park and the Royal National City Park is easy. You can walk or bicycle. The park has many paths. You can also take a bus the Stockholm Metro or a boat.
So next time you are in The English Park remember its rich history. It is a vital part of Stockholm’s green heart. Take a stroll enjoy the peace and appreciate the unique blend of nature and culture.