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Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens: A green refuge in the heart of London

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 in Autumn
Hyde Park in Autumn
Clear blue skies in Hyde Park, London
Clear blue skies in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
The calm of Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park on a sunny day
Paddle boating on The Serpentine River, Hyde Park, London
Paddle boating on The Serpentine River
Cycle tour in Hyde Park, London
A cycle tour in Hyde Park
Tennis courts in Hyde Park, London
Tennis courts in Hyde Park
People playing tennis in Hyde Park, London
Tennis in Hyde Park

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.

A sign depicting the wildlife found in Kensington Gardens, London
A ‘wealth of wildlife’ in Kensington Gardens
Swans in Hyde Park, London
Swans in The Serpentine
Swans in Hyde Park, London
Perhaps the swan thinks the pebble is a loaf of bread…
Wildlife in Hyde Park, London
Wildlife around The Serpentine River
A duck in Hyde Park, London
Quack quack!
A bird in Hyde Park, London
A bird taking in some sun on a sunny day in Hyde Park
A duck in Hyde Park, London
Looking out into The Serpentine River
A duck sleeping in Hyde Park, London
Taking a nap next to The Serpentine
A ladybug in Hyde Park, London
A ladybug in Hyde Park
A ladybug in Hyde Park
A ladybug; an important part of Hyde Park’s ecosystem
Ducks swimming in The Serpentine, Hyde Park, London
Swimming together…
A duck sleeping in Hyde Park, London
Another duck taking a nap!
A duck walking next to The Serpentine, Hyde Park
Walking alongside The Serpentine
A swan in The Serpentine, Hyde Park, London
Radiant in the sun
A swan in The Serpentine, Hyde Park, London
You don’t need a paddle boat!
Wildlife in The Serpentine, Hyde Park, London
Wildlife in The Serpentine
A duck in Hyde Park, London
A duck going for a stroll

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.

Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens, London
A fountain in the Italian Gardens
Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens, London
Soothing fountain water
Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens, London
Water droplets carried by the wind can be pleasantly refreshing on a hot day
Water fountain, Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens, London
A fountain on The Serpentine
Water fountain, Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens, London
Looking out onto The Serpentine
Bench tribute, Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens, London
A bench tribute at the Italian Gardens. Never tired of London.
Tiffany & Co. Foundation bench tribute, Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens, London
“For design, conservation and beauty” – The Tiffany & Co. Foundation

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

The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens
The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens
The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens
Commemorating the death of Prince Albert in 1861
A view of The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens, London
The Albert Memorial in the distance
Royal Albert Hall, London
A view of the Royal Albert Hall from Kensington Gardens
The Arch by Henry Moore, Kensington Gardens
The Arch by Henry Moore, with a view of Kensington Palace in the distance

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.

Serpentine North, Kensington Gardens, London
Serpentine North
Serpentine North, Kensington Gardens
Serpentine North – A gallery and restaurant

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.

Cherry blossom in Hyde Park, London
Cherry blossom
Kensington Gardens, London
Exquisite gardening at Kensington Gardens
Hyde Park, London
Autumnal leaves
Bright leaves at Hyde Park, London
Thriving in the sun
Cherry blossom, Hyde Park, London
More cherry blossom…
Hyde Park, London
Radiant colours
The Allotment in Kensington Gardens
Learn how to grow your own fruit and vegetables in an urban environment

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

Hyde Park during the winter
Hyde Park during winter
The Serpentine, Hyde Park, London
The Serpentine on a cold day
Round Pond, Kensington Gardens, London
Round Pond, Kensington Gardens during a cold winter’s day
Round Pond, Kensington Gardens, London
Water frozen solid at Round Pond, Kensington Gardens
Wildlife on The Serpentine, Hyde Park
Wildlife at The Serpentine
Wildlife at The Serpentine, Hyde Park
Lots of activity on The Serpentine

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.

Frozen lake at The Serpentine, Hyde Park, London
The sun breaking through the clouds onto a frozen Serpentine River
Hyde Park at sunrise. Winter Wonderland in the distance.
Hyde Park at sunrise, Winter Wonderland in the distance
The Serpentine, Hyde Park, London
The sun adding to The Serpentine’s charm

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.

Hyde Park, London
Clear blue skies in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Sunlight shining through
Hyde Park, London
A calm, relaxing landscape
Hyde Park, London. The Shard and London Eye in the background
A faint view of the Shard and London Eye in the distance

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

Postbox in Hyde Park, London
A Royal Mail postbox just when you need it…

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!

Map of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, London
Who needs Google Maps!?
Hyde Park, London
More clear blue skies
Hyde Park, London
And some more…
Hyde Park, London
Much needed shade on a hot day
The Serpentine, Hyde Park
No swimming, but you can hire a paddle boat
Kensington Gardens, London
The Italian Gardens in the distance
Hyde Park, London
Photosynthesis in progress…
View from the Serpentine Bridge, Hyde Park, London
View from the Serpentine Bridge
View from the Serpentine Bridge, Hyde Park, London
Looking into Kensington Gardens from the Serpentine Bridge

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