Hyde Park is one of London's great green spaces, an oasis of trees and lawns in the heart of the city. It's one of the Royal Parks of London and is contiguous with another, Kensington Gardens, creating a very relaxed space when the city's hustle and bustle becomes too much.
Hyde Park is free to visit and is a popular site for Londoners to hang out when the sun is shining. Serpentine Lake divides the park in two and it's possible to go swimming or hire a small boat to traverse the water. Immediately south of the Serpentine is the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. Also located in Hyde Park are the Serpentine and Serpentine Sackler art galleries, the 7 July Memorial, Italian Gardens, and the Flower Walk.
Hyde Park is open daily from 5am until midnight. Note that the adjacent Kensington Gardens closes daily at dusk. The park is situated next to Mayfair, Knightsbridge, and the Royal Albert Hall. On one corner of the park lies Marble Arch, built in the 19th century from shimmering solid marble. On another is Speakers Corner, a world-famous bastion of free speech that attracts thousands of daily visitors.
The following London Underground stations are situated at different entrances to Hyde Park: Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, and Lancaster Gate. Queensway London Underground station is situated at the Kensington Gardens entrance.
Hyde Park was originally a private hunting ground for King Henry VIII in the 16th century. When James I became king he opened Hyde Park to affluent gentlefolk, essentially anyone who could show a bit of money to the guards on the gate.