Hyde Park was originally land acquired by Henry VIII from the monks of Westminster Abbey in 1536, and was enclosed as a deer park for Royal Hunts, a purpose it served until Charles I opened the park to the public in 1637.
The park covers an area of 142 hectares (350 acres), and with over 4,000 trees, a lake, a meadow, horse rides and more it is easy to forget you're in the middle of London. The park has five miles of bridle paths, as well as cycle and roller-blading routes.
Places of interest in the park include the Serpentine - a lake of 11 Hectares created by Queen Caroline in the 1730's - which is popular for boating, swimming, or simply sitting in a deck chair and watching the world go by. Speakers Corner, located at the Marble Park entrance, is where people gather on a Sunday afternoon to listen to speakers stand on soap box's and share their views on religion, politics, and occasionally other subjects. The crowds who gather to listen are far from passive, and usually heckle. 'Rotten Row is a bridle path still used for horse riding, the path's name is a curruption of the French 'Route de Roi' the King's Road,' and was used by William III. Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, opened in July 2004, as a memorial to the princess.
The park is used for hosting public events, such as concerts, both classical and pop, as well as other cultural events. It is also a place of protest, and mass political demonstrations usually rally in the park - the biggest demontration in British history (up to 2 million) rallied here in 2003 in opposition to the war in Iraq.
The main entrance to Hyde Park is through the Queen Elizabeth (mother) Gates at Hyde Park Corner (not to be confused with Speaker's Corner), which were opened in 1993. Here you will find a number of war memorials, including the impressive Wellington Arch built in 1825 by order of George IV to commemorate Britain's victories in the Napoleonic Wars.
Opening Times
5am until midnight all year round.
Nearest Tube Stations
Lancaster Gate & Marble Arch
Hyde Park Corner & Knightsbridge
External links
Official Hyde Park Web Site
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