Hyde Park

The iconic Hyde Park is one of London's eight Royal Parks, with a total area of 142 hectares. This large expanse of wooded land in the west of London's historic city centre was first owned by the monks of Westminster, until Henry VIII confiscated it and transformed it into a royal hunting ground.

Subsequent British dynasties also continued to shape the park and its various sections. It was also used for public ceremonies and even for fighting during the English civil wars.

After the Glorious Revolution, Kings William and Mary added Kensington Palace and created a processional route through Hyde Park to Parliament at Westminster. But this is not to say that the public had little access to it: many Londoners camped in the park to protect themselves from the Great Fire of London in 1666; and the people also took part in great celebrations for the British victory at the famous naval battle of Trafalgar.

Few people know that most of the landscaping you will see in Hyde Park was designed by a woman, Queen Caroline - the wife of George II. Her greatest innovation was to create the watercourse that runs through the park, 'the Serpentine', by harnessing water from the Westbourne Brook beneath the park. Instead of the traditional straight, uniform ponds, Caroline opted for a more irregular, more natural silhouette.

In 1851, Hyde Park was the busiest place in the world, hosting the Great Exhibition and its famous Crystal Palace. More than six million visitors came from far and wide to see the British Empire's fair of innovations.

Over the last century, Hyde Park has become a recurring venue for outdoor walks and sporting activities for the people of the British capital. The most recent changes were in 2004 with the memorial to Princess Diana and the new, more accessible and sustainable designs that were implemented in the park.

As you can see, Hyde Park is part of the history of the city and the UK; it truly holds a special place in the hearts of Londoners. It is as essential a visit as it is beautiful any time of year you visit London.