Queen's wood

I have just helped Mb move up to a new flat in an area of London called Highgate.  The location is a bit off the main routes, (as much as one can call it that, and still be in London). The neighborhood is set high on a hill - unusual for London, and is a lovely place to find yourself every morning with the birds singing, and in the evening with sunshine on the back garden.
For the uninspired, the nearest tube stop is two bus stops down the road, just close enough to feel the bus is a waste, but just far enough to know that said bus will get you there faster if you're running late.  But on days when the morning sun is bright, when the air smells fresh and you have locked the door with enough time to pause and look down from the unusually high vantage point on the city of London, there is time to walk through the woods and have an entirely different experience.

Adjacent to the road and within the park is a well-used trail with a soft, dirt path and tall, full canopy.  The woodlands have been here for centuries.  They are thought to be direct descendants of the 'wildwood' that covered most of Britain until about 5000 years ago.  Mostly covered in oak and hornbeam, the deciduous forest feels magical.  Upon imagining fairies and goblins in such woods, one realizes that these are the birthplaces of such tales.  The woods and the lore are inseparable.