Hyde Park

What is it?

At 1.5 miles long and about a mile wide, Hyde Park is one of the largest of London's Royal Parks. The land was appropriated in 1536 from the monks of Westminster Abbey by Henry VIII. But, despite opening to the public in the early 1600s, was only frequented by the upper echelons of society. Nowadays, it is a favourite of Londoners in the summer months, particuarly as it is home to the city's oldest boating lake, The Serpentine. Hyde Park is a place of great historic interest too: it was a hotspot for mass demonstrations in the nineteenth century and remains so today. The legalisation of public assembly in the park led to the establishment of Speakers' Corner in 1872 (close to Marble Arch tube), where political and religious ranters – sane and otherwise – still have the floor.

Why go?

To enjoy a day in London's fresh air and soak up the greenery.

Don't miss:

If you're exploring on foot and the vast expanses defeat you, look out for the Liberty Drives (May-Oct). Driven by volunteers (there's no fare, but offer a donation if you can), these electric buggies pick up groups of sightseers and ferry them around. The Joy of Life fountain, next to Aldford Street North Gate, alongside Park Lane, is a popular spot for splashing around in when the weather heats up.

The divisive Winter Wonderland takes place in the park each year, so if you're a fan of festivities, grab a mulled wine and head on down.

When to visit:

The pedestrian gate opens at 5am daily and closes at 12pm.

Ticket info:

Tickets for Winter Wonderland are available from their website 

Time Out tip: 

In the summer check out the programme for BST Hyde Park. Previous headliners have included Adele, Take That and Lana Del Rey.