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If there's one park in London that really surprised us, it was Hyde Park.

Because yes, before you go you think:
"Well, it will be just another nice park."

But when you arrive you understand perfectly why it is one of the most beloved places in the city.

Hyde Park is not just a huge park in the middle of London.

It is a place where:

• People are having picnics
• They go for a run
• They walk their dogs.
• They row on the lake
• They rest after work
• they ride a horse
• and where we tourists end up stopping for much longer than planned

And honestly, when traveling with children, it's so nice to have a place like this right in the heart of London to slow down a bit between so many monuments, museums and walks.

So here we tell you what to see in Hyde Park London, our favorite route through the park and some corners that are well worth discovering.

And if you're planning your entire trip, here you can also see our actual route through:
👉London in 3 days with children

Where is Hyde Park in London?

Hyde Park is located in the heart of London and occupies a huge area next to:

• Kensington
• Mayfair
• Buckingham Palace
• Notting Hill

In fact, it is one of the largest and most famous urban parks in Europe.

And although on the map it simply looks like "a big park", when you start walking you quickly realize that you could easily spend half a day here.

Also, if it's your first time in London, one of the best ideas is to stay relatively close to Hyde Park because it will allow you to walk to many important places in the city.

👉 Here you can also read our guide on:
How to get around London by tube and public transport

Is Hyde Park worth visiting?

Very much.

And even if you don't plan on making a "formal" visit, you'll honestly end up passing through here sooner or later because it connects many important areas of London.

It also has something we loved:
It perfectly blends local and tourist atmosphere.

Here you see:

• Londoners doing sports
• families
• tourists resting
• squirrels everywhere
• street musicians
• People reading peacefully on the grass

And all with a surprisingly calm feeling, considering how huge the city is.

What to see in Hyde Park, London

The Serpentine

The large lake in Hyde Park and probably one of the most beautiful areas of the park.

Here you can:

• walk along the water
• see swans and ducks
• rent boats
• sit down quietly and rest

In summer there is also a great atmosphere and people sunbathing around the lake.

And honestly, it's hard to believe you're still in the heart of London.

Hyde Park Lido: swimming in London in summer

Yes, although it may seem strange, you can also swim in Hyde Park.

Part of The Serpentine is the famous Serpentine Lido, an area designated for swimming during the warmer months.

And honestly, seeing people bathing outdoors in the middle of London surprised us quite a bit.

In summer the atmosphere here is very lively:

• people swimming
• sunbathing
• families resting
• cafes around
• great local atmosphere

It's one of those places that makes you see London in a completely different way.

People riding horses in the middle of London

Another of the most striking and curious things about Hyde Park is finding horses strolling peacefully among paths and green areas.

There are still equestrian routes and designated areas for horse riding here, which is quite surreal when you think you're in one of the largest cities in Europe.

Watching riders pass by among trees and gardens gives the park a very elegant and very British feel.

Kensington Palace and who lives there

In the western part of the park appears Kensington Palace, one of the most important royal palaces in London.

And yes, part of the British royal family lives here.

It has currently been the residence of:

• The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate
• Diana, Princess of Wales, at the time
• other important members of the British royal family

Although part of the palace can be visited by paying an entrance fee, honestly, even seeing it from the outside while strolling through Kensington Gardens is well worth it.

Furthermore, the whole surrounding area is beautiful and much quieter than Buckingham Palace.

Round Pond in front of Kensington Palace

Just in front of Kensington Palace is the Round Pond, a large circular lake that adds a lot of charm to this whole part of the park.

Here you will see:

• children playing
• families resting
• acuatic birds
• people sitting quietly around

And it also has a very typical London look:
Many children sailing small toy boats on the water.

Honestly, it's one of the most pleasant and relaxed areas in all of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.

The statue of Peter Pan

One of the most magical corners of the park, especially if you are traveling with children.

Very close to the lake you will find the famous Peter Pan statue, inspired by the character created by JM Barrie.

The sculpture is full of details:

• fairy
• from?
• small reliefs
• hidden figures

And it has quite a charm to discover it almost by surprise among trees and paths.

Furthermore, Peter Pan is historically very closely linked to Kensington Gardens, so it fits perfectly into the somewhat magical and peaceful atmosphere of this area.

👉 And if you're traveling with children, here are more ideas:
What to see in London with children

The children's playground with Peter Pan's pirate ship

Very close to Kensington Palace is the Diana Memorial Playground, one of London's most famous children's playgrounds.

And honestly, we completely understand why.

The main attraction is a huge pirate ship inspired by Peter Pan where children can:

• climb
• correr
• play
• explore for hours

But also, the whole park is very well themed with:

• cabins
• arena
• swings
• adventure zones
• sensory games

If you're traveling with young children, this will probably be one of their favorite areas of London.

Albert Memorial: one of London's most spectacular monuments

Very close to the Royal Albert Hall stands one of London's most extravagantly decorated and surprising monuments:
the Albert Memorial.

It was built by Queen Victoria in honor of her husband, Prince Albert, after his death.

And honestly:
Queen Victoria clearly managed the mourning by sparing no expense.

The monument is full of:

• golden sculptures
• columns
• allegorical figures
• incredible details

And it's much more impressive in person than it looks in photos.

The rose gardens of Hyde Park

If you visit Hyde Park in spring or summer, it is well worth taking a look at the rose gardens and flower gardens.

Especially near Hyde Park Corner and Kensington Gardens you will find:

• roses of many colors
• gardens maintained with meticulous attention to detail
• quiet banks
• perfect areas to relax

It's one of those corners where London seems almost like a completely different city.

The sculpture of Isis

One of the curious details of Hyde Park is finding small sculptures and monuments scattered throughout different areas of the park.

Among them stands out the figure of Isis, related to the Egyptian goddess and water, very integrated within the tranquil atmosphere of the gardens and lakes.

It's not one of London's most famous monuments, which is precisely why it's so charming to discover it while strolling almost by chance.

The squirrels of Hyde Park

Okay, it might sound silly.

But if you travel with children, they will probably end up fascinated.

The squirrels in Hyde Park are completely used to people and constantly appear among trees, paths and gardens.

Anna and Arnau could have spent half the afternoon just watching them run around.

Speaker's Corner

One of the most curious and historic corners of Hyde Park.

Here, traditionally, anyone can literally get up and speak publicly about any topic.

Politics, religion, philosophy, or whatever you like.

It's one of those very British places that still retain a lot of character.

The fountain in memory of Lady Di

The Diana Memorial Fountain is one of the most peaceful and pleasant spots in the park.

It is not a typical monumental fountain.

It looks more like a small circular stream where many people sit around to rest.

And it conveys a great deal of peace within the chaos of London.

Our favorite route through Hyde Park

The route we liked the most was:

• enter from Marble Arch
• walk calmly towards The Serpentine
• stop by the lake
• cross into Kensington Gardens
• Visit the Peter Pan statue
• pass through Round Pond
• approach Kensington Palace
• end at the Diana Memorial Playground
• and end up next to the Albert Memorial and the Royal Albert Hall

It's a very easy, very pleasant route and perfect to combine with other nearby spots.

Furthermore, if you like the less typical and quieter corners of London, Hyde Park fits perfectly with many of the places we mention here:
👉Original plans in London that surprised us a lot

Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens: are they the same?

Technically no.

But in practice they almost look like a single giant connected park.

Many times you walk from one to the other without even realizing it.

Kensington Gardens has a somewhat more elegant and refined atmosphere, while Hyde Park is a bit more open and wild.

But honestly, it's absolutely worth visiting both together.

How much time to spend in Hyde Park

It depends a lot on the trip and the pace you keep.

But honestly:
minimum 2-3 hours.

And if the weather is nice, you'll probably end up staying much longer.

Especially when traveling with children.

Tips for visiting Hyde Park London

• Bring something for a picnic if the weather is nice.
• If you can, visit it at sunset.
• Combine Hyde Park with Kensington Gardens
• Perfect for relaxing after museums or long walks
• Highly recommended for traveling with children
• Spring and summer are especially beautiful

What to see near Hyde Park

One of the best things about Hyde Park is everything that surrounds it.

Nearby you can visit:

• Kensington Palace
• Royal Albert Hall
• Notting Hill
• Harrods
• Natural History Museum
• Science Museum

And if you'd like to continue exploring free places in London, here's our complete guide:
👉What to see in London for free: museums, viewpoints and must-do activities

Our opinion about Hyde Park

Honestly, Hyde Park ended up being one of our favorite places in London.

Because after several days of city life, noise, museums and miles of walking, finding such a huge, green and peaceful place right in the center is greatly appreciated.

And it also has something very beautiful:
There's no need to "do" anything special here to enjoy it.

Simply strolling around, sitting by the lake, or watching Londoners go about their daily lives is completely worthwhile.