Hyde Park
From LondonHotels.in
The largest park in London, Hyde Park stretches for over 350 acres. It is one of the finest landscapes in London, a Royal park, located next door to Kensington Gardens, in the London Borough of City of Westminster. In 1536, the monks of the Westminster Abbey gave the park to Henry VIII as a private, hunting ground. The park remained private property until James I became King and allowed some limited, public access. In 1637, Charles I opened the park to the public. In 1655, during the Great Plague, many London residents camped on the park in a bid to avoid catching the disease.
The largest park in London, Hyde Park stretches for over 350 acres. It is one of the finest landscapes in London, a Royal park, located next door to Kensington Gardens, in Westminster. In 1536, the monks of the Westminster Abbey gave the park to Henry VIII as a private, hunting ground. The park remained private property until James I became King and allowed some limited, public access. In 1637, Charles I opened the park to the public. In 1655, during the Great Plague, many London residents camped on the park in a bid to avoid catching the disease.
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Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain
This memorial was created, after the death of Princess Diana. Princess Diana died tragically in 1997. Diana loved children and so, this Memorial Fountain designed to commemorate her, was originally, intended to allow children and their families to get close to her. Visitors regularly, paddled in the fountains on sunny days but due to accidents occurring; within the first year of its opening, the area was fenced off and is now inaccessible. Embarrassingly, the fountain, made out of granite, is slippery when wet and is not a safe area for people to paddle in. Unlike so many other modern day creations, this monument is beautiful and unobtrusive and blends perfectly in its Hyde Park surroundings. For these reasons, the fountain is a fitting tribute to the 'People's Princess'
Hyde Park Corner
Situated at the south east, corner of Hyde Park, where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place, and Constitution Hill meet is Hyde Park Corner.
Rotten Row
Before the end of the 17th Century, William III had created Rotten Row in Hyde Park, when he installed over 300 oil lamps lighting the route to St James. This was England's first highway with artificial lighting. The name ‘Rotten Row’ derived from the French, 'Route de Roi', meaning King's Road.
Serpentine Lake
Originally, there were eleven ponds in Hyde Park, which formed naturally, out of the River Westbourne. In 1730, the wife of King George II, Queen Caroline, had the River Westbourne dammed and the area developed. This area become known as The Serpentine Lake, due to its snake-like, s-bends. The Serpentine Lake splits Hyde Park into two sections.
Speaker's Corner
A paved area of Hyde Park, opposite Marble Arch tube station, on the junction of Park Lane and Cumberland Gate. Speaker’s Corner is a designated area for public speaking. The tradition of public speaking began in 1872 when the right of free assembly was first recognised. Public speaking has remained a tradition in Hyde Park and is a symbol of 'freedom of speech'. People congregate to speak on any subject and crowds gather to listen and to heckle. Traditionally, Sunday morning was the chosen day for making speeches, however, nowadays, speakers attend daily. Other parks in London once had public speaking areas but these are no longer in use. Famous people who have spoken here include Karl Marx, George Orwell and Lenin.
Nearest Tube
The nearest underground (or tube) stations are: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Lancaster Gate, Paddington & Marble Arch.
