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Jamie W and I were determined to get our steps in London, and one surefire way of tackling that goal was walking from Kensington Gardens (review: https://yelp.to/xhSUKde5BB) through Hyde Park, the largest patch of greenery in central London. At 350 acres, it covers a whole lot of ground in Westminster, although we primarily walked along the banks of popular Serpentine Lake. Frolicsome swimmers and paddle boats were out and about. We also passed by notable memorials like the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, Britain's Holocaust Memorial, and the Animals in War Memorial. It was the middle of May, so there was plenty of arresting floral displays like the Rose Garden and the Italian Gardens which connects to Kensington Gardens. We managed to spend some time at the Serpentine Galleries, a contemporary art space on both sides of the lake, as well as take a Coke Zero break at the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen. Bird droppings were a common nuisance, pay toilets cost 20 pence, and it can get crowded, especially on the walkways next to the lake. However, it was to be expected on a sunny London afternoon. RELATED - Exploring London? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/CO97VU1U3k
Hyde Park is a lovely green space right in the city. We saw people relaxing on the grass, joggers everywhere, families with kids, and even people out on boats in the lake. It's not a "wow" attraction, but more of a peaceful community park -- an important escape for Londoners in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Nice to see, but not a must if you're short on time.
Just north of the Royal Albert Hall and northwest of Buckingham Palace sit Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens: a stretch of green bisected by West Carriage Drive. Hyde Park was once the recreational stomping grounds for King Henry VIII, but now this 350-acre swath of land is open to the public and a must-visit for travelers looking for a relaxing moment away from the city's hustle and bustle Among Hyde Park's meandering foot and bike paths and flourishing flora and fauna, you'll find a few standout attractions that are worth exploring. Watch the swans and boats glide over the serene Serpentine Lake (or rent a vessel yourself), visit the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain Covering 350 acres, Hyde Park is London's largest open space and has been a destination for sightseers since 1635. One of the park's highlights is the Serpentine, an 18th-century man-made lake popular for boating and swimming. Hyde Park is also where you'll find Speakers' Corner, a traditional forum for free speech--and heckling.
I love going to parks just to walk around. I didn't get to see the full view of Hyde park but I some of it. It's pretty small compared to Central Park in NYC which I visited last summer. It's a great place to walk, bike, and spend time with family/friends. They had an art exhibit set up but they were closed by the time I arrived. The landscape wasn't anything magnificent. There was a Stevie Winder concert going on when I passed by. There were lot of people going to that. I can't say I was too impressed by this place, but if I'm ever in London again, I'd like to go back and explore the park more. I'm sure there's more that I'm missing, but it was just okay.
Gorgeous and expansive park in the middle of London, however, there are parts that feel quite remote. We walked through Hyde Park on our way from Marylebone to Royal Albert Hall. There was so much to see! There were plenty of walking trails as well as waterfront views on the Serpentine where people were paddle boating. We traversed the park in the morning and then again in the afternoon. It was stunning no matter what time of day and being out in public just feeding off the great vibes. In addition to the walking trails, there were bike lanes as well as large flat fields where people were playing sports, picnicking and conversing. The people of London are really fortunate to have such a beautiful and bountiful place to kick back and relax. This is what third spaces is all about!
Beautiful park, loaded with biking and walking paths soccer fields, horticulture and bird filled Lake Serpentine. Gotta see the Swans!!! During the warm season, you can rent paddle boats. Wonderful history and rich $$$$ heritage in Knightsbridge area of London. There are several restaurants on the lake where you can catch a snack or beverage.
Hyde Park was founded in 1637 and is 350 acres large in Westminster, London. It is the largest of the park & forms a chain from Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens, Buckingham Palace to St James's Park. This park has a lot of history, but today we could visit the marble arch, go to the speakers corner, ride a horse on rotten row, tour Apsley House from 1871, stand under the Wellington Arch, admire the Queen Elizabeth Gate, ride a boat on Serpent Lake, visit both galleries, find the Diana Memorial Fountain, visit the holocaust memorial, find the reformers tree ... Many concerts have been held on the parade grounds. During the summer there is swimming in Serpent Lake & at Christmas time there's a Winter Wonderland here. It was a sunny day & I enjoyed a stroll.
Take a rejuvenating walk in the park. Re-energize! One of my favorite parks to walk and refresh my tired bones. Diving into the living green is healing in so many ways. Every city should require a park. It is the living soul of the concrete Jungle. For public transportation, many buses stop here as well as an Underground metro station. I like to arrive at Paddington Train Station and take a pleasant walk to the Serpentine in the park. Lovely!
8 years ago
It is Amazing place!! This beautiful park is ideal for walking and running. I really like this park. I love it! read more
Utterly gorgeous. I'm still dreaming of going on sunset walks through Hyde park. People say it is the Central Park of London, and while I love Central Park in NYC, there is something just magical about Hyde Park. The air is different.. It's just breathtaking. I'm someone who starts feeling depressed if I don't get outside enough... And Hyde park really makes me wish I lived in London so I could go on daily walks. There is so much beauty and a lot of different things to see... There is no way it would ever get old. It's such a peaceful place and the beauty cannot be matched. Everything is well maintained. The lake is beautiful though the goose population is crazy! Makes for some fun goose/swan watching. There is a cafe on the lake as well, and you can also rent paddle boats! It is so large that you could spend hours walking around. Hyde park is simply lovely. It is a must see in London! read more
Hyde Park reminds me of Central Park in New York as it is a great green space in the middle of a huge city. It throws the grey concrete jungle into a green relief and is a great place to visit when the weather is nice. This area is so big that you can visit many times and find completely new spots to marvel at. I last visited a couple of weeks ago with my friends when London had a weekend of heat, and it was the perfect place to sit and relax in the sun. There is a large lake in the park where you can feed the ducks, or take out a pedalo onto the water. A green space where it is needed, would recommend. read more
8 years ago
A great Park for strolling and having a nice and quiet time. This is a great Park for any time of day. If you walk down to the serpentine River in the middle of the park, you can go get some food at the park, you can go on a boat ride, or you can just sit in a deck chair (For 1. 25£ an hour) and enjoy the park! The serpentine bar and grill serves great food! If you do not like the serpentine, there is a small cafe down from the serpentine. Have a great time in Hyde Park! read more
10 years ago
My impression of Hyde Park, this park is like the central park in New York City, what a huge park. I wouldn't be surprised if someone could spend the whole day in this place. Time to time there some festival held in the park. My hubby and I also visited a garden inside the park, quite beautiful place, various flowers and birds around. I love the park, it so full of green and fresh air. this is great place just sit down and catch up with someone or just come for jogging after work. There were many locals around, sure, also tourist. You can meet up many interesting people here. Inside the park got three lakes, the long water, the Serpentime and round pound. Near the Serpentime, it got a really nice bar for people who like to have something to eat or drink. I saw many people also rent a little boat having some lovely time there. I didn't asked how much that cost though, just wanted to have a walk. We also saw the Hyde Park Bandstand, I saw it on the TV, sometime there will got some people perform music there. There was a summer music concert, when we were there. The area was block by the ticket area. We didn't walk thought the whole park though, the park just too big, besides, we didn't want to get to far away from where we wanted to go next. So we didn't check the Kensington Palace. But we did spend some time and check out the monument inside the park and also near the green park, Like the Wellington Arch. The near underground station between this two parks. The luxury shopping street is quite close to the park. It is a fancy place to walk around. read more
11 years ago
One of my favourite green spaces in central London. A great place to blow off the cobwebs & people watch. My usual go-to is Inn the Park but this time I was on the other side of the Serpentine so I wandered down to the Lido for a nosey & came across a lovely wee cafe which wasn't as crazy busy with tourists. Being on the other side meant I stumbled across the Iris & Peter Pan statutes. The memorial fountain was closed for maintenance but it was a lovely way to pass a couple of hours in the autumn sunshine away from the general hustle & bustle of city life. read more
IT'S OFFICAL, I'M GETTING OLD. The reason I say this is I have been to the BBC Radio 2 festival, which was hosted here at Hyde Park. What a setting, sun beaming down, beer flowing, and headbanging to 'Rocking All Over The World' by Status Quo, what more could a man want? So if you want to chill in the sun with a picnic, or find a bit of shade under a tree, book up gig, go for a scenic run (no chance) it's all here, a great setting for all, so take a look. read more
5 years ago
Ok, so all I knew about Hyde Park before I went, was the fact that the BFG used it to trap all the evil Giants at the end of the book. And that it's near Queenie's house too. I now know that it's got a cool statue of Peter Pan, which I took great delight in posing under, and a big lake in the middle you can hire a pedalo on. Which I also did. For two hours. Epic fun, but I had thighs like jelly afterwards! Thankfully, there's a little cafe by the lake where you can rest up & re-energise too. They also do the best fish finger sandwich I've ever had in my life. Bliss! There's also a section towards the end, which nests a heap load of parakeets. Stick a nut in your hand, hold it out, and all of a sudden masses of bright green birds flutter down and perch all up your arm. It was like being in my own Disney film! read more
Always refreshing! Always a perfect break from the rush of the city. It is such a large park with different offerings in all corners. Restaurants, ponds, horse back riding, monuments etc...one of the best spots in the city for a great mid day break away! read more
I love Hyde Park, whether enjoying Picnic with friends, enjoying a quick-fire public drinking session in the intermission of a performance at Royal Albert Hall, or following the clues to actually find Alex for the Old School Sports Day - http://www.yelp.co.uk/events/london-yelps-old-school-sports-day-with-beer - I remember it being a case Sherlock Holmes himself would have struggled with and absolutely worth making a joke about here. If this all seems a tenuous-as-hell ramble that barely relates to Hyde Park at all, remember that once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. P.S. See http://www.yelp.co.uk/events/london-sleeping-with-sherlock-at-the-museum-of-london for an explanation ;-) read more
7 years ago
Nice tranquil get away. Great place for a walk, run, or to chill. Lots of trees and a central lake with wildlife. read more
Visited March 2015: "Vast acres for an incredible stroll" We stopped at the Lodge Café (see that review - Lodge Cafe @ Hyde Park), and ate our lunch in the rose garden. The flowers weren't in bloom yet, but sitting there I can imagine how the different pops of color against the buildings in the background would make a perfect picture. After finishing our meal, we continued walking in Hyde Park looking for Princess Diane's Memorial Fountain. Due to there not being any signs in the park, at most of the junctions, we got lost a few times before locating the fountain. We located the equestrian trails, the playground, squirrel sanctuary, the lake, and the nearby restaurant. When we found the fountain, we sat down and enjoyed the view of the river, the Iris Statute, and the fountain we were sitting on commemorating such an amazing lady. It is such a peaceful place, so serene. read more
13 years ago
This park is so huge, I haven't managed to walk around the whole thing yet, but it's such a nice one to visit. It doesn't have a lot of flowers or decorative art compared to some other parks, but there is plenty of green space and many trees, squirrels, and birds. I checked out the rose garden in the spring, which would have been nice if it weren't for all the bees. But if you're not afraid of bees like I am, I recommend visiting that area. My favorite part is the Serpentine, the lake. It's so beautiful, even in winter without leaves on the trees. There's an abundance of geese to feed. And there are benches all over the park to sit on and picnic, read, or just chill. I love how much park space London has! read more
This is the best park ever! We walked through part of it one day, but wanted to see more. We rented bikes and rode through the park. It was such a fun and easy way to see the whole park! We rode along the paths and straight to the lake. So many people were enjoying the summer afternoon around and in the water. You can rent boats or just sit under the shade of the large trees. It does get crowded so if you are hungry, I would recommend going a little further from the water. There are a few places that you can get something small to eat. read more
4 years ago
Could not check in on Yelp for the VIP Screening of the Talented Mr Ripley at Hyde Park, so checked in at Hyde Park instead! This was a Nomad screening of The Talented Mr Ripley at the beautiful location of the Hyde Park Lido. It is so totally set inside a secret garden. This is a perfect setting for a lovely summer's evening screening, after a nice picnic beforehand. As we have VIP passes, we were given the Royal Parks' luxury chairs which are basically deck chairs with nice colourful material to sit on. It did get quite nippy during the evening, so be prepared to wear warm clothing and bring a blanket (well it is nearly end of September!). But if you did manage to book the Magic Carpet package, it looks like a very good deal as it includes these extra treats: - Priority entry - avoid the queue! (what queue? there were none last night!) - Goodie bag of edible extras - Waterproof 'magic carpet' to sit on - Inflatable back support to lean on - Blanket to wrap up warm in - Emergency poncho - just in case! - Fairy lights for a bit of magic.. The film was a very fascinating thriller. Great Italian scenery, great cast and acting, Matt Damon (so brilliant and creepy), Jude Law (oozes charisma and charm), Gwynneth Paltrow (intelligent and believable), Cate Blanchett (perfect in her small role), Philip Seymour Hoffman (steals his scenes) - all looking oh so young (film made in 1999). A very strong plot, sad and unsettling ending. Thank you Yelp for running this comp! For a film fanatic, this is as perfect as it can get! read more
First time in Hyde Park last week. Was on a nice sunny day and relatively warm - for the UK anyway. Was fairly busy with people walking, skating, relaxing, eating etc. Wasn't there for long though but saw nice waterfall garden feature, couple fountains and of course the main pond - the Serpentine (the Long Water). I reckon it would be a nice place to run around. read more
Hyde Park has a ton of hidden gems, and is worth exploring for an afternoon, a day, or even just walking through between destinations. Ponds, statutes, and gardens are scattered throughout the park, and lawn chairs are available to rent if you just want to lounge. read more
5 years ago
If I could use three works to describe London's Hyde park, it would be NYC's Central Park!! The Hyde Park is definitely more exciting than the Green Park because it's not only "green," there are also many landmarks and other worthwhile sightseeing spots, such as the colorful floral gardens, fountains, sculptures, restaurants, and lake house with the boats! It's a very beautiful and relaxing place to stroll around, picnic with friends/families/other half, take scenic pictures, relax, enjoy fine dining, and spend a casual afternoon. I came here with a few of my friends once. We brought cider from the market, and we drank and chatted around evening away while enjoying the colorful and vibrant sunset over the lake. Even the the layout of the park is not complex or difficult to find the lake in the center of the park, I wish there were a few more maps/signs guiding the way. read more
love love loveee Hyde Park. Perfect for walking through and just watching the scenery! love that there were people and their dogs just wandering, and the dogs were so well-behaved! interesting to see the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, but i really thought there would be more to it. definitely check out the park! read more
18 years ago
Walking through Hype Park on a cold fall day is an excellent way to pass the time. I love Hype Park, the whole thing! On Wednesday, my boyfriend and I grabbed a hot drink and entered the park near Kensington Palace. This section is always full of birds. The closer you get to the water the more swans and geese you see. Because it was a weekday and a bit cold, we had the part almost to ourselves. The leaves have changed and the trees are starting to become bare. I love parks in the fall! Just walking as the leaves crunch under your feet, you forget your cares and just live in the moment. I did notice that on this side of the park the squirrels are not as friendly. Closer to the Serpentine they will take all sorts of things out your hand and a few you might get to sit in your lap. But the squirrels on this side wouldn't even get close enough for a chocolate chip cookie! Oh well, their cold shoulder didn't ruin my day and I enjoyed the park in cold weather, almost as much I do in the warm weather! read more
I was here during Christmas and as someone who is not much of a park enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I visited the winter wonderland section of the park and it was your typical winter-themed fair. I rented a bike and rode throughout the park. There are so many walkable areas, places to sit and relax with a coffee, and historical sites to see. Best of all, it's clean and free. read more
Lovely park to walk through if you want to pretend you're not in the city. Walk out and there's loud buses and tons of traffic and exhaust fumes. Lots of open green space. There's the lovely Rose Garden, at least a couple of restaurants by the entrances, and lots of tree cover and bike paths. read more
18 years ago
When I was a child, my parents split and I began to do weekend trips to my dad. When I was 10 mum moved us out of london, and so the trips to dad (who still lived in london) became trips by coach. It was at this time that I first 'discovered' Hyde park. The London to MK coach picked us up at the speakers corner end of Hyde park, it was here that I first heard Lord Soper speak. Stood there on his soapbox at speakers corner he was an incredible speaker, the sort of powerful voice that carries without shouting, and enthuses you even when you're 12 years old and not wholely sure what he's talking about. I know that hyde park has a lot more to offer than this, but for me, this really is my biggest memories of hyde park. The park itself is pretty huge, I believe it may even be the largest of the royal parks in London. Along the North boundary of the park - quite near speakers corner actually ;) - is where all the artists decorate the railings with their pictures that they'd drawn and painted. There's some absolute tripe there (some people really shouldn't call themselves artists!), but dotted in amongst them, there's the odd absolute gem to be seen - and bought if you have the money. Deeper in the park there's various waterways, paths to explore, and a good number of monuments and statues as well. My favourite is the Peter Pan statue. - Actually, strictly speaking, this is in kensington gardens, and not hyde park, but as the two parks ajoin, it's kind of hard to tell the difference. read more
7 years ago
This was my first stop in my trip to London and I don't regret it at all. In the hustle and bustle of big London, is this equally big park. For as popular it is, it was so big that I didn't run into many other people. I was able to have a peaceful stroll in the park and enjoy nature before I made my way into the city. Plus, it had swans! I can't remember the last time I had seen a swan, so that was a nice surprise. Hyde Park is a great place to take a break and relax from touring the city, or just during a regular day. read more
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London W2 2UH
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Hyde Park
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0300 061 2000
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https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde-park
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Hyde Park - parks - Updated July 2026
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