Acres of greenery, well-pruned shrubs, gurgling rivers, trees overflowing with blossoms and fluttering butterflies; the Hyde Park in Central London has all the ingredients for tranquility. Its origin dates back to the 1600s and has been modified over the years. Today it’s a key attraction and is popular throughout England.
Hyde Park rose to fame in the year 1851 when it hosted the Great Exhibition, which was the first in a line of international fairs of culture and industry. Ever since then, it has gradually metamorphosed into a spectacular park, where people laze, lounge and feast. There are designated spots in the large grounds for different activities. The North Eastern end is adorned by the glitzy white marble arch, and just opposite it is the Speakers’ Corner, where mass demonstrations are held and political activists deliver speeches. People pile into solar powered ferries and pedal boats that cruise through the Serpentine River, which ripples in from the West, while some choose to sun bathe, or plunge into the river for a refreshing swim. There are fields where one can engage in an informal game of tap rugger, football, rounders or soft ball cricket. The specially allotted cycle tracks draw heavy numbers to cycle, skateboard and roller blade. The tennis enthusiasts have an entire centre to themselves, where they can even get professional assistance.
Tucked away in the South East of the park is the rose garden, where many varieties of roses, herbaceous plants, bulbs and hellebores are in full bloom. Don’t forget to grab a bite to eat from the modern ‘Bar and Kitchen’ on the shores of Serpentine or stroll down to the ‘Meadow Wildlife’, where you will find birds, butterflies and moths dancing on the flowers.
One of the most recent additions to the park is the Diana Memorial Fountain, completed in 2004 in memory of the late Princess of Wales. Sculptured with Cornish granite in the shape of an oval, the fountain is unique in design. Water surges in two directions and meets again in a serene pool and is meant to reflect Princess Diana’s spirited openness and love for children.
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