Acquired as a hunting ground by Henry VIII in 1536, Hyde Park now covers 350 acres and has become one of London's finest landscapes.
Opened to the public by Charles I in 1637, Hyde Park has witnessed historic events throughout the centuries ranging from the 1814 Great Exhibition to the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.
Popular as a hangout for summer picnics and rowing trips on the Serpentine Lido, the park also offers a range of facilities including rollerblading tracks, wildlife watching, sports pitches, The Lookout (an education centre for children) and the historic Rotten Row horse-riding trail. There are a selection of cafes and eating outlets.
More recently the park became the site for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain.