Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

Hyde Park and its western neighbour Kensington Gardens together form one continuous green space of over 350 acres in central London — free to enter, open year-round, and one of the easiest ways to get a break from the city without actually leaving it.

What's Inside

The Serpentine, a long recreational lake, splits the park and hosts pedalos and swimming (at the Serpentine Lido in summer). Speakers' Corner, near Marble Arch, has hosted public open-air speeches since the 1870s and is still active on Sunday mornings. In Kensington Gardens, the Princess Diana Memorial Playground is a popular stop for families, and the Serpentine Galleries put on free contemporary art exhibitions.

Kensington Palace

Sitting inside Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace is a working royal residence with paid State Apartments open to visitors — a smaller, calmer alternative to Buckingham Palace if you want to see inside a royal building without the crowds.

Getting There

Multiple stations border the park: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Lancaster Gate, Queensway and High Street Kensington all sit at different edges, so pick based on which part of the park you want to reach.

Tips for Visiting

• The park and gardens are free to enter and open daily from 5am to midnight.
• Speakers' Corner is most active on Sunday mornings.
• The Serpentine Galleries' exhibitions are free — worth a stop if you're already in the park.
• Rent a deckchair or a rowing boat on the Serpentine in good weather for a slower afternoon.