
Central London's largest green area can tire out any walker. It takes about an hour and a half to walk around, but there are plenty of diversions, from the Serpentine Gallery, to cafes, fountains and flower gardens.
There has been a park here since the 1530s when Henry VIII established a Royal Park on the site so that he could pursue his great love of hunting. The park has been owned and protected by Royalty ever since, and at 360 acres it is the largest of London's parks.
The park is right next to Kensington Gardens, and together they form 620 acres of greenery in the heart of the city. They are separated by the Serpentine that flows through the centre of the park with Hyde Park below and to the right of it and Kensington Gardens to the left.
In Hyde Park you can rent a boat on the Serpentine, ride horses along Rotten Row, listen to music played in the bandstand or people speaking at Speakers Corner. And you can feed the ducks, take the dog for a walk, eat lunch or stop for tea, or simply promenade around - all very civilized.
Nearby, in Kensington Gardens are the Serpentine Gallery and the Albert Memorial. Hyde Park is open 5am to midnight, but as with most city parks it is probably best to avoid it during the night-time.
HYDE PARK RESTAURANTS
BOMBAY PALACE - 50 Connaught Street, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7723 8855 - Cuisine: Indian
CHEPSTOW, THE - 39 Chepstow Place, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7229 0323 - Cuisine: Gastropub
GOURMET BURGER KITCHEN - 50 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7243 4344 - Cuisine: American/International
HALEPI - 18 Leinster Terrace, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7262 1070 - Cuisine: Greek
MANDARIN KITCHEN - 14-16 Queensway, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7727 9012 - Cuisine: Chinese
MAROUSH - 21 Edgware Road, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7723 0773 - Cuisine: Lebanese
NIPA THAI - First Floor, Royal Lancaster Hotel, Lancaster Terrace, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7262 6737 - Cuisine: Thai
ROYAL CHINA - 13 Queensway, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7221 2535 - Cuisine: Chinese
TIGER LIL’S - 75 Bishop Bridge Road, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7221 2622 - Cuisine: Asian/Mongolian
VERONICA’S - 3 Hereford Road, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7229 5079 - Cuisine: British
YO! SUSHI - Whiteleys Shopping Centre , Queensway, London, W2 - Tel: (0)20 7727 9392 - Cuisine: Japanese
NEARBY SIGHTS & PLACES OF INTEREST
Cleveland Square and Gardens -- This prestigious block and its gardens are the location of yearly fireworks night, summer parties, movie shoots and a stately ambiance. .
Lancaster Gate and Spire House -- One of the most grandest housing schemes in the area which still maintains an air of grandeur, once home to the Football Association and Christ Church, worth a walk through on the way to Hyde Park.
The Lancasters (Hyde Park) -- Previously a hotel, this fabulous new luxurious residential development is set to lift the profile of the area, in style, value and occupancy.
The Italian Garden and The Fountains -- The spectacular fountains, sculptures and the overall general arrangement make this a pleasant and well visited area of Kensington Gardens at the entrance opposite Lancaster Gate Underground.
Bayswater Road and the Art Market -- For nearly 50 years this transport artery opens up every Sunday to over 250 artists and craftsmen with their original works of art. Start at Queensway and head down to Lancaster Gate and beyond.
Paddington Station -- Isambard Kingdom Brunel's great creation of the mid 1800s, now one of London's key transport hubs for services to the west and Heathrow.
St Mary's Hospital (and Fleming Museum) -- Visitors can see Fleming's laboratory restored to its 1928 condition, and otherwise walk around one of the countries leading academic research centres, and birthplace to many over the years, including the Royals.
Queensway -- Eclectic, yet increasingly gentrified, shopping street home to some of London's best Chinese Restaurants, and a variety of retail and dining.
Whiteleys -- William Whiteley's famous shopping centre, now brought into the modern age and increasingly moving up market. Pleasant shopping and dining experience.
Craven Road, Hill and Terrace -- Nearby clustering of retail, restaurants and assortments of services at your disposal. Craven Hill has many fine villas, alas mostly infilled to the sides to make use of valuable real estate.
Leinster Terrace, Queens Gardens, Chillworth Street and nearby Mews -- The local streets reveal the historic nature of the area, many buildings once home to stately characters, businesses or institutions, but largely now either housing or hotels.
Westbourne Grove -- One of London's most well known and visited shopping streets, stretching from the northern end of Queensway down through Chepstow Corner, Notting Hill and ultimately finishing at Portobello Road. Take the time on foot to stroll, shop and dine.
Portobello Road -- Home to the famously weekly markets, full of antiques, works of art and bric-a-brac, leading down to fruit, veg and daily essentials. Also lined with funky restaurants and shops, this is certainly one of the most heavily visited areas within London. Walk down via Westbourne Grove.
Connaught Village -- A quaint and pleasant "village" in the heart of the city reminiscent of an older age with its boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Be sure to walk there via. Westbourne Terrace, Bathurst Street and Hyde Park Square to nose around expensive yet obscure inner city living.
Paddington Basin -- This large redevelopment to the rear of Paddington Station has revitalised the area, and is worth a stroll, shop and dine, particularly on the way through to Little Venice. Walk down Eastbourne Terrace, and turn in to the left on Bishops Bridge.
Little Venice -- The intersection of the canals at Warwick Crescent is one of inner London's most pleasant areas. From here, take a boat to Regents Park and Camden, head down to the Formosa Dining Room at Warwick Avenue, and admire the grand properties. Walk through via. Paddington Basin.
Edgware Road -- Colourful, rough, and Middle Eastern in flavour, another of London's most well known and trafficed streets. Not really worth a stroll along, but certainly worth a drive through to understand the flavour of West London.
Marble Arch -- Home to Speakers' Corner, a marble monument, and once the location of the notorious Tyburn gallows, but now a notorious traffic intersection. Worth a view when approached from Hyde Park.
Hyde Park -- To the east of West Carriage drive, this park is certainly worth a day to stroll and dine, and if the weather is great, try taking out a boat onto the Serpentine. Don't miss the Diana Fountain, Speakers' Corner and Rotten Row. Just a short walk.
Kensington Gardens -- To the west of West Carriage drive, start from Lancaster Gate with the Italian Gardens, The Fountains, then the Round Pond, Diana's Playground, Kensington Palace, The Albert Memorial and the Serpentine Gallery. Just a short walk.