A Park Fit For A King- Hyde Park

Hyde Park in London is one of the many Royal Gardens that are interconnected – yet separate. Spreading over an area of 350 acres, Hyde Park is joined to Kensington Gardens and together covers an area of 625 acres. Though Kensington Park closes at dusk, Hyde Park is open till midnight.

King Henry VIII acquired the Hyde Park property from the Westminster Abbey and it was used as a hunting ground. It was only in 1637, under Charles I that the park was opened to the general public.

When King William III moved his residence to Kensington Palace which is at one end of Hyde Park, he installed what is now known as Rotten Row – meaning the Kings Road. It was the first London Street to be lit up at night. It now serves as a horse back riding and jogging track. The park entrance is marked by a stunning grand entrance which is 33M in length.

As the park is used regularly by groups to protest and have public gatherings, a speaker’s corner was constructed. Other attractions in the park include the Holocaust Memorial and the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain which is more like a river than a traditional fountain. It was declared open by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004.

The park has also been the setting for many a rock concert, most memorable being that of Queen as well as the Red Hot Chillie Peppers. The artificial lake running through the park – The Serpentine – is used for boating and swimming activities.
A historic park that is ideal for a quiet picnic or a relaxing stroll in the evning, Hyde Park makes an enchanting tourist attraction. If travellers seek a hotel in London, then the Millennium Hotel London Knightsbridge, with its convenient location in the heart of the city is an ideal London hotel