Hyde Park

Enjoy some time away from the streets of London and head to Hyde Park.  Filled with 4,000 trees, a jumbo lake complete with the cutest quackers, and tons of historical monuments, Hyde Park is the perfect place for a stroll.

Stretching across 350 acres, Hyde Park is no small playground.  Equipped with a carousel, tennis courts, boat rentals, and tons of grassy fields to stretch your legs, Hyde Park is quite the public park.  If you get a chance to go, which you should if you’re ever in London, make sure to check out some of the historical sites, such as the Diana Fountain, a memorial for Princess Diana, or Kensington Palace, standing beautifully just at the edge of the park.

What I love most about Hyde Park is that despite being located in one of the most populated cities in the world, there are many spots in the park where it’s incredibly quiet.  As I lay in the grass enjoying my runner’s high, listening to the birds and staring at the tops of the trees, I feel like I’m the only person in the park.  Yet as I sit up and glance around, I notice a slightly entangled couple perched just a few trees away, a young woman propped up against a sycamore invested in a book, a man spread out in the grass just as I was, and a fairly sparse but continuous stream of walkers striding along the trail just a few feet away.  Surrounded by so many people, yet I feel as though the park is my own.  When I lay back down, my thoughts drift back to myself as I watch the swift London clouds flow quickly right on by.

It’s the perfect place for a picnic. Or a run, a hike, or a bike ride.  Jump in a pick-up soccer game or to read a book amidst greenery and gardens.  Whatever you decide to do, the space in Hyde Parks is yours to use. (Just remember to share and keep it clean!)