Walks through London are some of the best ways to enjoy the city – skip the tube and the buses and enjoy the heart of the city by foot!

Hyde Park is one of the most beautiful parts of London. It’s a well preserved park with ancient trees. It has a rich history dating back to the 16th century when the land was acquired by Henry VIII. It has since served as a royal hunting ground and a site for great exhibitions. Today it remains a vital urban green space, providing recreation, culture, and a peaceful retreat in the heart of the city.

One of my resolutions this year is simply to get out and enjoy more of London. I’m hoping to make this a weekly or bi-weekly feature and am catching up from the last two weeks.. but welcome to my new segment:

This first walk was taken on the early May Bank Holiday weekend touring around Hyde Park in the sunshine on a cool spring morning.

A Stroll in Hyde Park

Spring in London is a beautiful season to take walks in the local parks – whether it be Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Green Park, St Jame’s Park, or any of the other beautiful green spaces in the city. And given a spring day, with rare sunshine in London, I had to escape the flat and take a stroll in the sunshine.

There are several different entrances to Hyde Park but I am particularly fond of the one located across the street from Lancaster Gate Station. While you might aim for Hyde Park Corner or even Marble Arch they do not give you the immediate beauty and charm of the Italian Fountains at the head of the Serpentine.

Around the Serpentine

One option is to head from the Italian Fountains and do a loop of the Serpentine – this will take you pass the Diana Memorial Fountains, Peter Pan Statue, and get a good glimpse of the wider area around the Park and lake.

The beauty of this walk as well is that it should take roughly an hour, given time for brief breaks to take photos or admire the sights. There’s also 3 coffee stops along the way (though in spring there is sometimes temporary vans along the way).

And if you want you can break off to the west in order to see Kensington Palace. Or the south to see the Albert Memorial. Or the South East of the park to see Hyde Park Corner. It’s the central location that allows you to visit any specific part of the park you had in mind.

Hyde Park in Spring

The blooms in the park are also a sight to see in springtime, and the general vibe is absolutely lovely.

If you get a rare day of sunshine I would recommend changing any plans you had for the city and opting to visit the park. My favorite was to take a packed lunch and make a small picnic out of the afternoon.