Luggage storage near Hyde Park

Located in Central London, the beautiful Hyde Park is one of the spots that you should not miss while visiting London. Being registered as a Grade-1 listed park in Westminster, Hyde Park has many stories to tell! But before we go on a tour of the park's fascinating history, you might be wondering what Grade-1 listed park means. Well, it indicates that Hyde Park is considered to be a landmark. Understandably so: it is central London's largest park, with a surface of 350 acres (140 hectares) stretching from Kensington to Buckingham Palace!

In its early days, the park got its name from the Manor of Hyde, with Hyde (La Hyde, "the hide of land") meaning the areas considered to be enough to support a whole family. Later in the Middle Ages, the park was owned by the monks of Westminster Abbey. Throughout time, the monks used the land to grow trees and vegetables in addition to a place of worship. In those days, one could witness wildlife (deer, board, and wild bulls) running around the ground in Hyde Park. This all changed in 1536 when King Henry VII put his plan to dissolve the monasteries into action. Hyde Park was then seized from the monks of Westminster Abbey, forcing them to seek protection elsewhere. King Henry VII turned the land into a hunting ground to satisfy his passion for hunting. And from time to time, his Majesty organized royal hunts as part of entertainment for ambassadors. When James I came to the throne later, the hunting tradition stopped, and His Majesty hired a ranger to help patrol the area. As for the nobles, they were only provided with limited access. The park was finally opened to the public in 1637 when Charles I came into power. During his time, he also created the Ring (north of the present Serpentine boathouses) for members of the royal to be able to bring their carriages.

When the Great Plague attacked the city in 1665, many Londoners sought refuge in Hyde Park, hoping not to catch the deadly disease. And by the end of the 17th century, William III moved his residence to Kensington Palace, the farther side of Hyde Park. He also installed oil lamps around the area, making it the first road in the country to be lit at night.

Since its opening to the public, many major events have taken place in Hyde Park, which remains to this day London’s most popular park, with around 13 million travelers visiting the park every year.

For further information about Hyde park, visit: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde-park