Hyde Park is one of London’s eight Royal parks, covering an area of 350 acres, and Kensington Gardens, which lies next to and was once part of Hyde Park, covers an area of 265 acres. Both serve as a green refuge in the hustle and bustle of central London and are often in a tourist’s bucket list of places to visit. The nearest London Underground stations are Queensway, Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are great places to get in some activity; running, jogging or getting some steps in, it’s an ideal place for exercise and fresh air. Cycle lanes are in operation and there are many organised sporting and exercise activities taking place from bootcamp workouts to roller skating classes. You’ll often see people horse riding, playing football and smashing tennis balls in the various courts available to book. You can even hire a paddle boat and from time-to-time, participate in temporary workshops such as circus acrobatics classes.








Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are also ideal places to take dogs for a walk and there’s a diverse range of wildlife to see such as swans, squirrels and butterflies. A lot of the wildlife includes beetles and insects, which go unnoticed by many visitors, but form an integral part of the parks’ ecosystems.

















Although Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens can be a hive of activity, they’re also great places to unwind and relax. The Italian Gardens, along with being aesthetically pleasing, has the added benefit of soothing fountain water sounds to help one switch off for a while.







Throughout the parks are monuments of varying sizes, some subtle and others on a grander scale, conveying a story, message or interpretation.





If you’re in need of refreshments, there are numerous outlets to get food and drink such as The Italian Gardens Cafe, The Serpentine Lido Cafe and Serpentine North.


Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens have a diverse collection of flora. No filter required when taking photos of the colourful array of trees, plants, flowers and bushes.







And while the sun is appreciated by many, both parks can be enjoyed in colder weather.






The day doesn’t have to be bright and sunny to make the most of the parks. They have their charm both in the early mornings and evenings too.



Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens offer some of the most stunning views in London, some of which are dotted with other London landmarks in the background.




And of course, practicality isn’t forgotten. If you need to post a letter…

If your battery goes flat and you’re worried how you’ll ever find your way without Google Maps, never fear. Traditional maps never stopped working!








