Although I was brought up in London, I’m constantly reminded when I return of the many great places to visit that are new to me. One of these is Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, and ever hopeful that spring is just around the corner, I thought I’d share some Europe travel tips on what to do there.
Serpentine Lake in Hyde ParkHyde Park was once a hunting ground for Royalty, but these days it’s one of the green lungs of central London with plenty of amenities for visitors. The best way to approach the park is on foot or by tube from wherever you’re staying – the nearest tubes are too many to mention, so I suggest that you download the map from the excellent Royal Parks website and approach from whichever direction is most convenient for the things you want to see. The western half of Hyde Park merges into Kensington Gardens where there also many things to enjoy.
Hyde park for sports
If you’re staying near the park and like to keep fit, it’s an excellent place to run and jog, perhaps doing a circuit or two around the Serpentine Lake that runs through the centre of the park. Cycling is permitted on roads and some cycle paths and you can even swim in the lake at the Serpentine Lido and paddling pool between Easter and October. Near the Lido, you’ll find the tennis centre where you can turn up and play and there’s even horse riding in the park available from the Hyde Park Stable if you ring to book in advance.
Hyde park for families
Princess Diana Memorial PlaygroundThe park is a mecca for kids to enjoy a bit of space away from the noise and London traffic and you can enjoy a picnic in summer or a walk beside the Serpentine Lake to feed the ducks. There are several playgrounds around the park but the most popular is the Diana Memorial Playground on the edge of Kensington Gardens, which is often packed with kids swarming over the pirate ship at the centre. Near the Lido is the Princess Diana Memorial fountain, a loop of shallow water that children love to paddle and dabble in when the weather’s warm. If you have older children, they may also enjoy some of the other sporting activities I’ve already mentioned.
History and Culture in Kensington Gardens
On the western edge of Kensington Gardens is Kensington Palace, home of the late Princess Diana and other members of the Royal Family, where you can visit many of the Palace rooms and see the Royal Ceremonial dress collection as well as an exhibition of some of the clothes Princess Diana wore. If you’re an art buff you can visit the Serpentine Gallery for free when there is an exhibition being held – visit the website to see what’s on.
Afternoon tea in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Kensington Palace in LondonThere are many places to eat in the parks including the Serpentine Bar and restaurant and the Lido cafe, but one that is ideal for afternoon tea is the Orangery at Kensington Palace where you can have the Debutante’s afternoon tea in the elegant surroundings of the former Orangery. If you’re approaching from the Knightsbridge side, you could push the boat out in elegant luxury on the Park Terrace of the Mandarin Oriental hotel, where they serve lunches and afternoon tea from May to September, overlooking the park.
I’d like to thank Miko Selcuk, Senior Concierge at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park for passing on many of these great tips to me – Do say Hi to Miko for me if you visit the Mandarin Oriental for afternoon tea this summer.
For more information on Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, visit the Royal Parks website.
Photo Credits: Starrgazr, UGArdener, UGArdener
