Website: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde-parkparks/hyde_park
Phone: 030 0061 2000
For over 370 years Hyde Park has been the ‘Lungs of London’—the place to go for oxygen-starved Londoners to take a breath of fresh air. This park remains an essential part of the beating heart of London. As the city’s grown, so has the desire to preserve this 350-acre mass of parkland and thankfully, Hyde Park has never been in better shape.
Perambulating through the park is bound to get that metabolism going, so stop off at one of the numerous food stalls to quench your thirst or down a plasticky hot-dog. Yum. For a more civilised affair check out one of the park’s seated joints: the Lido Café (which also has a paddling pool) or The Serpentine Bar & Kitchen.
The Serpentine Lake attracts the usual assortment of ducks as well as some exotic additions, such as Egyptian Geese. The Lookout Education Centre holds informative talks about the park’s wildlife. The Grand Entrance at Hyde Park Corner is an awe-inspiring arched construction of Greek influence, whilst the Albert Memorial, erected by Queen Victoria after her husband’s death, is a true show of love. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, remains one of the most visited areas in Hyde Park and is worth a look to satisfy curiosity, as is the Peter Pan Memorial. And pause to reflect at the heartbreaking 7 July Memorial, which pays tribute to each of the victims of the 2005 London Bombings.
The park attracts big musical events, and by big we mean Live 8 big. It’s only the musical deities that get their own special Hyde Park treatment—Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney and Blur, but summer means festival time and the annual Wireless Festival and Hard Rock Calling. Brass band concerts are held throughout the summer at The Bandstand. Speakers’ Corner is guaranteed to entertain. Since 1872 it’s been the site of a verbal free-for-all stemming from the activities of the Reform League who marched for manhood suffrage in 1866. These days the topics aren’t quite as revolutionary. Heather Mills sounded off here recently…ah, the injustice of having too much cash.
There are ample jogging paths, designated bike routes (see www.companioncycling.org.uk) and great paths for roller-blading and walking. Even more fun is boating on The Serpentine Lake from March to October. Informal games of rugby, football or cricket can be played on the ‘Sports Field’ while Hyde Park Tennis & Sports Centre does exactly what it says on the tin. There’s also a bowling green and horse riding at the Manege.
The 111 hectares west of the Western Carriage Drive are known as Kensington Gardens. Annexed from the main park in 1689, the area retains a slightly more formal air, with regular tree-lined avenues to stroll down and less spaces for rambunctious sporting displays. This makes the Gardens an ideal spot for a picnic or a quiet ponder. Kensington Gardens also boasts the Serpentine Gallery (in between the Diana Fountain and the Albert Memorial), a toy-sized venue for renowned modern and contemporary art exhibitions, and the rather stunning Kensington Palace. Still a royal residence, the palace majestically overlooks some of the most well ordered green spaces London has to offer.
