Escape From City Life Amidst the Greenery of Hyde Park

Hyde Park is one of the largest open green spaces in London, offering 350 acres of wide open space in the form of several differing habitats, as well as a host of other attractions, some seasonal, some available all year round. The fact that the park is situated right in the centre of the city and can be accessed via several different Tube stations – Queensway, Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge – makes it the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and the millions it attracts each year still aren’t enough to make it feel overcrowded.

If you stay in one of the hotels near HydePark London, such as those listed at www.theshaftsbury.co.uk, then you’ll be in the perfect place to explore everything which the park has to offer, as well as being able to travel easily throughout the rest of the city. Hyde Park itself offers much more than simply an open green space. It boasts a large lake, a meadow area and over 4,000 trees, whilst also offering both leisure and cultural attractions. If you’re feeling energetic then you can play tennis, ride a horse, swim in the open air lido, go boating or take advantage of an open air gym in the form of the Senior Playground. Should that help you to work up an appetite then you can pick up snacks and a drink at any of the refreshment points scattered around the park, or sit down for a bigger meal at the Serpentine Bar and Kitchen. Fans of culture are also well catered for in the park, in the shape of the two Serpentine Galleries which offer exhibitions of design, architecture and art throughout the year and neither of which charge for admission. 

The park is also home to a stunning Royal residence in the form of Kensington Palace, the former home of Diana, Princess of Wales. Explore sumptuous state rooms, admire the display of dresses as worn by the likes of Diana and the Queen and enjoy the tranquillity of the secluded palace gardens, to name just three of the attractions of this iconic building.

The wider area around the park, most of it within easy walking distance, also contains several attractions which visitors will want to add to their ‘must see’ list. Amongst these is the Royal Albert Hall, a Grade One Listed Building which has been hosting events and concerts of all kinds since it was opened in 1871. Even if you haven’t been lucky enough to get hold of tickets for a concert or event, you can still book a place on a behind the scenes tour of the hall, looking at all parts of the building whilst discovering some of its’ secrets.

Many people, of course, are drawn to London by the shopping opportunities on offer, from vast out of town malls to world famous department stores and small scale independent boutique retailers. Hyde Park is just around the corner from Oxford Street, London’s main shopping thoroughfare and home to the flagship stores of many famous high street names, including Selfridges, House of Fraser and John Lewis.