Hyde Park

You might not know this, but the large patch of greenery in central London (that you might know solely as Hyde Park) are, in fact, two different parks entirely. Hyde Park is to the east of the intersecting road, and holds the Speaker’s Corner and the Rose Garden (and is also the venue for many fun events).

Speakers Corner

The history behind the Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park is rather gruesome. Over 250 years ago the Tyburn Gallows still stood, near where Speaker’s Corner is today. It is estimated that more than 50,000 people were executed there before it was dismantled, and each one of these condemned prisoners were entitled to one, final speech. These speeches included confessions, protests, and also pleads of innocence. These executions became a massive social affair – you could even buy tickets for seats. Speaker’s Corner has since held a long history of protests and demonstrations, but it wasn’t until 1866 and riots occurred that Speaker’s Corner officiated itself and by 1872 the Parks Regulation Act was established, enabling everyone the right to congregate and speak freely in the entirety of Hyde Park, though Speaker’s Corner is used most often. Speaker’s Corner is where the suffragettes marched and most recently it is where anywhere between 750,000 and two million people rallied against military action in Iraq.

The Rose Garden

A quiet and beautiful garden to be sure. It’s been around since 1994 and holds beautiful flowers that are planted twice a year for optimal viewing, a grand pergola, the Boy and Dolphin Fountain, and the statue of Diana the Huntress. This garden is so beautiful that we don’t have much to say about it, but we do have quite a few pictures!

Apsley Gate & Queen Elizabeth Gate

The grand entrance to Hyde Park corner that is comprised of its iconic columns and three arches has many names. Hyde Park Screen, Decimus Burton Screen, Hyde Park Gate, and, according to the Royal Parks website, the Apsley Gate (the most official record we could find). It was completed in 1829 by Decimus Burton, and acts as a grand entrance to the park. The other Gate that Hyde Park Corner holds is the Queen Elizabeth Gate, which was built to commemorate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Both are beautiful to behold and make Hyde Park Corner a highlight of Hyde Park.

Activities

Other than the ability to play outdoor games among you and your friends, Hyde Park offers some fun activities to keep busy and perhaps even try something new. You can rent either a rowboat or a pedal boat and head out onto the Serpentine. You can ride in the UK’s first Solarshuttle. From June until September you can enjoy a swim in the river, although the Serpentine Swimming club goes out every day – there’s even a race on December 25th! If the weather isn’t warm enough to even think about going near the water, there’s also Horse Back Riding, and of course the Hyde Park Tennis and Sports Centre, where you can play and even dine. If you’re just looking for a stroll, a run, or a bike ride, Hyde Park holds many beautiful memorials and statues to entice your senses along the way.

Events

Hyde Park, with its wide, open spaces, is where a lot of incredible, annual events take place, all throughout the year!

Winter Wonderland

One of the true staples of any London Christmas is probably to stop by Winter Wonderland. It’s free to enter, so there’s no excuse not to wander around this elaborate set up. There’s something for everyone! You can skate on the UK’s largest outdoor ice rink, see stunning views from their observation wheel, meander through London’s largest German-styled Christmas village, enjoy the food, the drinks, the music, and the lights, and even go on a few winter-themed rides.

Royal Gun Salutes

Though not an annual event in the sense that this occurs every such and such month of the year, the Royal Gun Salutes commonly occur in Hyde Park and are done by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The event dictates how many rounds are fired, with the basic salute incurring 21 rounds, however in Hyde Park this number is increased by another 20. They usually occur at midday; however, events vary so you’ll have to check when the next one is! It’s something different and something grand to do, that’s for sure.

Hyde Park Summer Music Festival

Every summer Hyde Park holds a summer music festival. These festivals offer live music, comedy acts, film, cafés, bistros, food and beverage galore (for both kids and adults.) Tickets are well-priced and the event is sure to be fun! Last year the music lineups and ticketed events occurred on the weekends, and it was free to enter (and enjoy) for the week in-between. Here’s hoping we get a repeat!

BBC Proms in the Park

Yet another music event in Hyde Park is the BBC Proms in the Park event. It occurs on the closing night of the two-month classical music festival, and promises great music and revelries.

With so much to do, there’s no reason not to spend a day away at one of London’s royal parks!