With the advent of June, a townie’s thoughts turn to outings in the park. But not only for a sunny lunch break, sandwich in one hand, juice in the other. More to the big outdoor concerts in Hyde Park. Over the years, a number of large rock and pop festivals have been held in the middle of London. To begin with, the incongruity of a mass gathering of music fans in the middle of a capital city a staging more usually associated with the green fields of Glastonbury was part of the appeal. Now, Londoners are less sure.
Camden Council’s demand to reduce the number of summer concerts held in Hampstead’s Kenwood House, due to persistent complaints about the noise, meant that it was no longer a viable enterprise. English Heritage, which ran the concerts and benefited financially from the funds raised, have now had to end the popular series. I really think that you cannot live in London and complain about noise. All our walls are thin, we are overcrowded, the roads are used 24 hours a day, there is the constant hustle and bustle of daily urban life. If you want peace and quiet move to the country.
