Exploring London's Royal Parks - Capital green spaces with a royal seal of approval

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Hyde Park -

Established by Henry VIII in 1536 ostensibly as a hunting ground, Hyde Park was officially opened to the public in 1637. Set right in the heart of the capital, the park is the largest of the Royal Parks in central London.

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Leisure space -

The park is one of London's most famous green spaces and provides millions of visitors a year with an opportunity to enjoy a pleasant stroll, indulge in a picnic, or partake of some city-center sightseeing.

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Speakers' Corner -

Hyde Park has a long history as a site of protest, and still hosts rallies and marches today. Speakers' Corner is where open-air public speaking, debate, and discussion are allowed. People have been voicing their opinion here since the mid-1800s. Visit on a Sunday morning to hear people from all walks of life share their views. Pictured is the scene in the 1930s.

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Wellington Arch -

Designed by architect Decimus Burton (1800–1881), this landmark triumphal arch, which forms the centerpiece of Hype Park Corner, was named for a colossal equestrian statue of the 1st Duke of Wellington. In 1912, however, it was replaced by a bronze quadriga (an ancient four-horse chariot). The arch is hollow inside and until 1992 housed the smallest police station in London. Inside, three floors of exhibits detail the history of the structure. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Rotten Row -

Hyde Park's Rotten Row was established by William III at the end of the 17th century as a broad track which the monarch used to travel from Kensington Palace to St. James's Palace. The broad avenue was called Route du Roi, French for King's Road, which was eventually corrupted into "Rotten Row." Today it's maintained as a bridleway for riding horses. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Concert venue -

In 1968 the first rock concert took place in Hyde Park, beginning a tradition of world-class events and live music acts hosted in the park. Topping the bill on that occasion was Pink Floyd. The following year the Rolling Stones played a concert (pictured), which became known as 'The Stones in the Park.' Another famous gig was the Live 8 concert in 2005.

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Marble Arch -

Marble Arch stands as a ceremonial entrance to the northeast corner of Hyde Park. Designed by John Nash (1752–1835), the arch originally stood at Buckingham Palace but was moved to its current site in 1851. Only members of the Royal Family and the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery are said to be permitted to pass through the arch; this happens in ceremonial procession.

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Kensington Gardens -

Located immediately west of Hyde Park is Kensington Gardens. Once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, this is another one of London's historic Royal Parks. Pictured at the top of the photograph are the gardens, with Kensington Palace (left) and The Serpentine (right). The Royal Albert Hall and The Albert Memorial are seen in the center of the image, while the Natural History Museum (front center), and Victoria and Albert Museum (front right) distinguish the foreground. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Kensington Palace -

A residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century, Kensington Palace was once the home of Charles, Prince of Wales and his wife, Diana. The couple's sons, William and Harry, were raised at the palace. Today, the State Rooms are open to the public.

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Peter Pan -

The park is the setting of Scottish playwright and novelist J. M. Barrie's book 'Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.' Both the book and the character are honored with a bronze statue, erected in 1912.

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Serpentine Galleries -

Kensington Gardens' cultural draw is the world-class Serpentine Galleries, two contemporary art galleries located near Serpentine Lake, from which they get their names. Notable artists whose works has been exhibited here include Andy Warhol, Paula Rego, Damien Hirst, and Jeff Koons.

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Albert Memorial -

Standing needle-like in the park opposite the Royal Albert Hall is the Albert Memorial. Commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband Prince Albert, who died in 1861, the ornate pavilion was inaugurated by the widowed monarch in 1872. Decorating the base of the memorial is the extraordinary Frieze of Parnassus—169 life-size full-length sculptures, a mixture of low-relief and high-relief, of individual composers, architects, poets, painters, and sculptors from history. Public afternoon tours are held on the first Sunday of each month allowing visitors a closer look at this remarkable work of art.

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Regent's Park -

Named for the Prince Regent George IV, Regent's Park occupies high ground north-west of central London and is mainly open parkland with a wide range of facilities and amenities. Flanking the northern side of the park is Primrose Hill (pictured), which affords visitors romantic views of the capital. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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London Zoo -

Regent's Park is perhaps best known for containing London Zoo. Opened in 1828, this is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It houses a collection of over 670 species of animals, with more than 19,250 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom.

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Wildlife sanctuary -

Throughout its history, the zoo has been home to many well-known residents. This poignant image is one of just a few photographs taken between 1864 and 1870 of a living quagga, a zebra-like species that became extinct in the wild due to hunting in southern Africa in the latter half of the 1800s.

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Architectural excellence -

Regent's Park is flanked by fine examples of 19th-century townhouses, most of them designed by the aforementioned John Nash and Decimus Burton, and built by Decimus' property developer father, James. A typical example is Gloucester Gate (pictured), a terrace of 11 houses designed by Nash, though built by Richard Mott in 1827. They number some of the most exclusive—and expensive—private residences in the United Kingdom. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Regent's Canal -

Running through the northern end of the park is Regent's Canal, which connects the Grand Union Canal to London's historic docks. Pictured are narrow boats moored alongside the old towpath.

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Richmond Park -

Created by Charles I in the 17th century as a deer park, Richmond Park is the largest of London's Royal Parks. It's located south-west of the city center and measures 955 hectares or 2,360 acres (3.69 square miles). That's around three times the size of New York's Central Park!

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Majestic wildlife -

Currently the park has around 630 red and fallow deer that roam freely within much of its boundaries. The park is also a refuge for other wildlife and is listed as a National Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and a Special Area of Conservation.

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Isabella Plantation -

This woodland garden set within Richmond Park was established in the early 19th century. Today organically run, resulting in a rich variety of flora and fauna, the plantation is a visitor attraction in its own right.

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White Lodge -

Besides its national and international renown as a wildlife haven, Richmond Park is also celebrated for its collection of historic and listed buildings. Among these is White Lodge (pictured), a hunting lodge built for George II. It now houses the Royal Ballet Lower School. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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St James's Park -

Named after a leper hospital dedicated to St James the Less, a figure of early Christianity, St James's Park dates back to James I's accession to the throne in 1603. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Pelican Park -

The park is bounded by Buckingham Palace to the west, the Mall to the north, Horse Guards to the east, and Birdcage Walk to the south. A resident colony of pelicans (pictured) has been a feature of the park since a Russian ambassador donated the first birds to Charles II in 1664. They are fed at regular intervals by park wardens.

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Duck Island Cottage -

Look out for Duck Island Cottage during your walk through St James's Park. Currently the headquarters of the London Gardens Trust, the cottage was originally built as a tea house by William III. The Trust organizes lectures, walks, guided visits, and study days for anyone interested in London's parks, squares, community gardens, cemeteries, and churchyards. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Greenwich Park -

Greenwich Park in south-east London is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site. It commands fine views over the River Thames, the Isle of Dogs, and the City of London.

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Spending time in Greenwich -

In the 15th century, the park was mostly wild heathland. Both Henry VIII and James I had a hand in creating the park. In 1675, Charles II commissioned the building of the Royal Observatory. It played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and, because the prime meridian passes through it, it gave its name to Greenwich Mean Time.

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Royal Observatory Greenwich -

The Royal Observatory is now maintained almost exclusively as a museum. The exhibits of astronomical and navigational tools include rare horological artifacts, documenting the history of precision timekeeping.

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National Maritime Museum -

Also set within Greenwich Park is the National Maritime Museum. Items on display include cartography, manuscripts, ship models and plans, and maritime art, including paintings relating to Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson and Captain James Cook.

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Green Park -

Green Park is set between Hyde Park and St James's Park and consists almost entirely of mature trees. It's notable among central London parks for having no lakes or buildings. But it does afford majestic near-views of Buckingham Palace (pictured). (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Canada Gate -

The ornate Canada Gate is an entrance to Green Park, dedicated by Canada as part of a vast memorial scheme honoring Queen Victoria.

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Verdant environment -

Together with Hyde and St. James's parks, Green Park forms an almost unbroken stretch of well-manicured green space. In the late 18th century, this semi-rural environment became notorious as a haunt for highway men and thieves. Throughout the 19th century, it served as a popular place for ballooning attempts and public firework displays.

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Bushy Park -

The second largest Royal Park is found immediately north of Hampton Court Palace (pictured), the favorite residence of Henry VIII. It was the monarch who gave the park its name and who used it as a deer-hunting ground. It later served as a venue for royal sports (the rules of the modern game of hockey were largely devised at Bushy).

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Diana Fountain -

A focal point of the park is the Diana Fountain. Designed by Sir Christoper Wren (1632–1723), the statue ensemble and water feature honor the Roman Goddess Diana.

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Royal Park experience -

Exploring Bushy Park is all about discovering its wildlife conservation areas and the formal plantations of trees and other plants that embroider the landscape. Most visitors combine a day out at Bushy with a guided tour of the palace—the perfect royal park experience. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.5)

Sources: (Speakers' Corner Trust) (London Gardens Trust)

See also: A walk through Hampton Court Palace.

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