Hyde Park

There are more than 350 acres in Hyde Park that are filled up with playgrounds, trees, meadows, and a beautiful lake for everyone to enjoy year round. During the months of April through September there are quite a few eateries, tennis and sports centre, the Lookout education centre, paddling pool, and deckchairs for hire.

 

There are a lot of guided walks in the park all year long and this is a great way for tourists to get a good view of everything in the park from the perspective of a tour guide. Taking one of these guided walks is a surefire way to make sure you see all the high points of the park. There are band concert that take place throughout the year as well and they are certainly worth checking out if you are in the area. A wonderful place to visit is the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. Here you can celebrate the life of the people’s princess and remember her for all the good she did.

 

If you like sports then Hyde Park is the place for you. This is one of London’s most popular places to ride horses, rollerblade, watch wildlife, and row. There is even a bowling green with six rinks that may be hired out with putters and balls. Lots of people enjoy going to the park during the spring and summer to picnic and just relax and enjoy the beauty.

 

If you are hungry but haven’t taken your own picnic then you can find good food at the Dell or the Lido Café. During the winter months these restaurants are open form 10 am until 4 pm and during the summer they are open 9 am until 8 pm. If you are a tennis player or simply like to watch the sport then you may be interested in visiting the Hyde Park Tennis Centre Café. If you just need a drink or some ice cream then search out one of the many refreshment points in the park.

 

The Park’s History

It’s interesting to learn a little bit about Hyde Park and know how it came to be. Of course, back in the 1500s when King Henry VIII and his court used the grounds for hunting wild boar and deer it would have been difficult at best to imagine that today Hyde Park serves as a concert location for Pavarotti or that yoga and tai chi are practiced beneath the towering trees. However, that is how history is. It is impossible to imagine what will become, but once it has it is interesting to look back and see how far something like Hyde Park has changed.

  

In 1536 Hyde Park was purchased by Henry VIII from the monks at Westminster Abbey. Frequently the King would hunt in the park area and it remained an area for hunting until James I became king and he then allowed some access to the area. It was James I that appointed a park ranger to handle the area. He was responsible for creating the Ring, which is currently north of the Serpentine boathouses. And he was also the king responsible for allowing the park to become open to the public, which occurred in 1637. Many fled to Hyde Park in 1665 when the Great Plague was occurring in order to try and escape the disease. People literally camped out in the park. In the 17^th century William III decided that he wanted his court to be at Kensington Palace and his walk to St. James was dangerous. As a result, the first artificially lit road was created thanks to 300 oil lamps that lined the road to make the route safer for the King. Rotten Row was the name that was given to the route later on. Other royalty played a role in the changes at Hyde Park, including Queen Caroline. She was the wife of George II and she was responsible for the Serpentine, which is a lake that still exists today as well as many other renovations.

 

 With all the changes taking place Hyde Park became the place for celebrations and fireworks were held in the park in 1814 to celebrate the end of the Napoleonic Wars. During Queen Victoria’s reign the Great Exhibition was held in 1851 and a Silver Jubilee Exhibition was held in 1977 to honour 25 years on the throne by Queen Elizabeth II.