Hyde Park is one of the most well-known landmarks in London and it is visited by millions of tourists and locals every year. This enormous park covers 350 acres and it is home to several famous attractions, including the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, Speakers Corner and the Serpentine Lake. With over four thousand trees, a meadow, a recreational pond and ornamental flower gardens it will make you forget that you are right in the middle of London.
There is something for everyone in this park, whether you are in the mood for swimming, cycling or boating or whether you want to go horseback riding or play a game of tennis. The park also has two restaurants overlooking the lake and ice skating in the winter months.
There are enough things to see and do in Hyde Park that you could spend days exploring it! To make the most of your visit to Hyde Park, here are some tips:
Wear Good Shoes
Hyde Park is huge and the attractions are dispersed throughout the park, so it will take a considerable amount of walking to visit them all. Make sure that you are wearing comfortable shoes that you can walk long distances in, or you might have to cut your visit short.
Check Out Speakers Corner on a Weekend Afternoon
Speaker’s Corner is an opportunity for anyone with something to say to speak their mind. This traditional forum opposite Marble Arch is particularly busy on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, so this is the best time to come down and listen to what the speakers have to say. Usually they are political or religious messages, which generate plenty of entertaining heckling from the crowd.
Paddle around the Serpentine
The Serpentine is a 40 acre recreational lake in Hyde Park that was created in 1730 for Queen Caroline. It get its name from the curving snakelike shape. On your explorations of Hyde Park you can rent a paddle boat and take it on a ride around the lake. Don’t forget to bring some food for the ducks!
Ride on Horseback
One of the best ways to explore Hyde Park is on horseback. You can gently canter through these quiet green spaces and cover more of the park than you would be able to on foot. Hyde Park Riding Stables has been the most famous Equestrian centre in England for over 300 years, so it’s a great place to start when you want to go horseback riding. They offer riding lessons and five mile guided rides through the bridleways of the park and along the Serpentine.
Keep an Eye Out for Wildlife
Hyde Park provides a habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna in London, so look out for wildlife when you are exploring the park. Small groups of Long Tailed Tits can be spotted hopping through the treetops looking for nesting materials and other birds such as robins and dunnocks can also be seen. Head to Dell Bridge after dark for a chance to see the bats that flock to the area to feed on insects.
Admire the Art at the Serpentine Galleries
These superb galleries are located on either side of the Serpentine Lake and they are a very popular attraction, receiving more than a million visits every year. They have a very important collection of contemporary art from some notable artists including Andy Warhol, Henry Moore and Man Ray.
Rent a Chair and Lounge for a While
Rent one of the striped folding chairs that you can find scattered throughout the Park. For only a couple of pounds you will have a comfortable place to sit where you can read a book, admire the view and just chill out for a few hours.
Grab a Bite to Eat
Hyde Park also has a number of refreshment points where you can grab a coffee or a sandwich, as well as some restaurants where you can enjoy a sit down meal. The Lido Bar and Café offers fresh and tasty food with stunning views along the Serpentine. The Serpentine Bar and Kitchen also has a stunning setting on the eastern edge of the Serpentine and it offers hot meals, cakes, puddings and snacks.
These are just a few of the ways that you can make the most of your visit to Hyde Park. Take your time and explore this enormous green expanse in London – there is a lot to see and discover here!
Image credit: Courtesy of Rankeelaw Creative Commons