Henry VIII first claimed Hyde Park as a royal hunting ground in 1536. It’s hard to comprehend that where there now stands everything from leading hotels, restaurants and miles of paved road and sidewalks, the area was once completely overrun with dense forest. Although much reduced in size, such is the stature of Hyde Park that it remains to this day, London’s most prominent green space. 350 acres of rolling lawns, shaded walks, and ornamental lakes cement Hyde Park as a cornerstone of life in this city, straddling the boundaries of Knightsbridge, Mayfair, and Bayswater.
Where it was once the sight for bloody duels, races and jousts, today, Hyde Park offers a much more tranquil setting for people to congregate. Jogging along Rotten Row at sunrise or sunset, picnic by the Serpentine, gathering at Speaker’s Corner to witness one of London’s oldest spots for open debate, the park has a raft of options within its vicinity and the surrounding area. From the grand museums of South Kensington to some of the city’s most refined restaurants and hotels on Park Lane, Kensington Highstreet and the area around Knightsbridge, Hyde Park offers days of discovery for visitors, no matter the mood.
Stroll along the Serpentine
At the heart of Hyde Park lies the Serpentine, a picturesque 40-acre lake designed in the 1730s to bring the growing fad of pleasure boating to the capital’s inner parks. Boating is still one of London’s greatest pastimes, with both pedal and row boats available from spring through autumn, offering a leisurely way to appreciate the immaculate lawns and fine greenery of the surrounding park.
The bridge over the lake dividing Hyde Park from Kensington Gardens provides one of London’s most romantic views, but for the more adventurous, the Serpentine Lido on the lake’s southern edge offers open-water swimming from May to September. Managed by the Serpentine Swimming Club, it’s a London institution that famously holds a Christmas Day race, with swimmers braving the chill to cross the water on a cold Christmas morning. If one is not taken by the chance to swim, the adjoining Lido Café & Bar provides an excellent perch for coffee or wine beside the water to better appreciate the view without getting wet.
Join the Debate at Speaker’s Corner
Located at the northeast edge of Hyde Park near Marble Arch, Speaker’s Corner has been London’s open forum for debate since the 19th century. Once the site of the Tyburn gallows, it evolved into a platform for free speech where everyone from acclaimed intellectuals and authors such as Karl Marx and George Orwell have addressed packed crowds over the last few centuries. Today, Sunday mornings still bring a mixture of both budding and established orators and onlookers willing to engage with them, serving as an unbroken reminder of London’s tradition of public dialogue.
Even for those uninterested or adverse to politics, Speaker’s Corner also functions as a form of live performance. Rarely now is there much opportunity to see discourse happen live in a public space, without a ticket or an invitation, and in an age dominated by social media and online platforms, the sheer novelty of watching ordinary people engage in open debate, borders on the theatrical.
Uncover the Past in Kensington Gardens
Strolling west beyond the Serpentine Bridge sees Hyde Park seamlessly shift into Kensington Gardens, once the private domain of Queen Caroline and now counted amongst the most beautiful green spaces in London. Formal avenues, ornate fountains and the grandeur of Kensington Palace reinforce that this was once a private living space fit for a Queen. Arguably the most imposing of its landmarks is the Albert Memorial, a towering Gothic monument commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her eponymous husband.
The memorial’s golden spire and sculpted friezes capture the age of Victorian enlightenment and progress, a time when art and science flourished alongside the fortunes of the British Empire. Nearby, the symmetrical cascade of stone basins and fountains that comprise the Italian Gardens is a prime destination for photography. Ideal for a late afternoon stroll before drifting towards the café at the Serpentine or crossing the road to the Albert Hall for a spectacular evening concert, Kensington Gardens are an open-air time capsule begging for the past to be revisited.
Admire the Works of The Serpentine Galleries
Art lovers will find a striking expression just from the exterior of the twinned Serpentine Galleries. The original 1934 tea pavilion is a beloved local landmark, whilst the contemporary extension, the Serpentine North Gallery, is housed in the converted Magazine Building across the bridge and is no less resplendent itself. Known for their seasonal exhibitions of leading international artists, from Anish Kapoor to Marina Abramović, the Serpentine Galleries continue to attract a strong crowd throughout the year for those with an appreciation for both fine and modern art.
With an open admissions policy, it is a no-brainer to pop in if one is strolling nearby, especially for a tour around the fabled summer pavilion, an annual highlight of the London design calendar. Nestled among trees near the Serpentine Bridge, the galleries perfectly complement the park’s calm and charm, offering a more creative sidebar to strolling along Hyde Park’s well-trodden footpaths.
Witness the Marvel that is The Royal Albert Hall
As previously mentioned, just across from Kensington Gardens lies the Royal Albert Hall, one of London’s most magnificent performance venues. Opened in 1871 and renowned for its beautiful domed roof and circular formation, the hall’s acoustics have carried everything from classical symphonies to modern rock and R&B concerts, showcasing nearly every form of performance the world knows. The highly regarded BBC Proms season is held here each summer and remains the world’s longest-running music festival – a must-attend highlight of London’s already stuffed artistic calendar.
Outside of performances, visitors can take guided tours through the building throughout the year, offering a peek behind the curtain everywhere from the royal box to the grand organ. Dining at the in-house Italian restaurant, Verdi, remains a popular choice even when not attending a performance. The Royal Albert Hall lives up to its reputation in every sense. It is one of those rare venues that effortlessly blends its charm as a historical building into any performance. Nestled right on the edges of Hyde Park, it is a focal point for the area’s unique appeal and charm, remaining a cultural icon in its own right.
Explore the finest Hotels and Dining Options in London
Perhaps unusually for a green space, Hyde Park is a name now synonymous with some of London’s most distinguished dining and hotel experiences. From Marble Arch winding round to Hyde Park Corner, some of the city’s finest hotels and eateries are dotted along the very edges of the park. The Dorchester, The Peninsula, The Connaught, and The Mandarin Oriental are all just a few of the most celebrated hotels and shining examples of world-class hospitality that grace the edges of Hyde Park.
Amidst such exemplary accommodations in which to stay, it should only be fair that one should also find the workplace of some of the most celebrated, exciting and gifted chefs in the world in proximity. From Elliot Grover’s CUT at 45 Park Lane, to Alan Ducasse at The Dorchester and Yannick Alléno at Pavilion – Hyde Park has never been a stranger to Michelin Stars, nor is it now. As a location, it is recognisable for nothing less than undiluted culinary excellence, blending the beauty of the park’s natural surroundings with the brilliance of some of the world’s finest hoteliers and chefs.
