Hyde Park, London (must see)
Hyde Park鈥攐ne of London鈥檚 most sprawling green lungs鈥攊s a royal playground with a rebellious streak. If these trees could talk, they鈥檇 probably start with Speakers鈥� Corner, nestled near Marble Arch on the park鈥檚 northeastern edge. Here, since the mid-1800s, the loud, the proud, and the opinionated have stood on soapboxes to air their views to anyone within earshot鈥攐n everything except Her Majesty. Even Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and George Orwell had a go. It鈥檚 pretty much like Twitter, but with pigeons and fewer hashtags.
But the roots of public outcry in this spot stretch further back, way back, to the nearby Tyburn Gallows, where from 1196 to 1783, over 50,000 souls were executed. Each was granted a final mic-drop moment: some begged forgiveness, others declared their innocence, and a few went full Yelp review on the authorities. Public hangings were such an event, they sold tickets. Macabre? Absolutely. But the spirit of bold speech lives on鈥攎inus the noose, thankfully.
Just trot west and you鈥檒l hit Rotten Row, once the height of royal commuting convenience and Britain鈥檚 first lit street. In the 1690s, William III had 300 gas lamps installed here to light his way and keep the muggers at bay. And no, "Rotten" doesn鈥檛 mean decayed鈥攊t鈥檚 a wonky take on the French 鈥淩oute du Roi,鈥� which means King鈥檚 Road. Tr猫s chic鈥� in a smoky, horsey sort of way.
Now, if you like your history with a side of drama, say hello to Apsley House, the proud home of the first Duke of Wellington after he gave Napoleon the ultimate time-out at Waterloo. Officially, it鈥檚 149 Piccadilly, but thanks to its prime location, it鈥檚 affectionately known as Number 1, London. And rumor has it, even if you scribble just that on an envelope, your letter will find its way there.
At the park鈥檚 heart is the Serpentine, a dreamy stretch of water perfect for swan-watching, selfies, or, if you鈥檙e feeling brave, a chilly Christmas swim. The Serpentine Swimming Club hosts the Peter Pan Cup each year鈥攁n event organized by the "Peter Pan" author, J.M. Barrie himself, in 1904.
Tip:
Grab a map or rent a bike if you're directionally challenged. And don鈥檛 forget your camera鈥擧yde Park is a living, leafy legend.
But the roots of public outcry in this spot stretch further back, way back, to the nearby Tyburn Gallows, where from 1196 to 1783, over 50,000 souls were executed. Each was granted a final mic-drop moment: some begged forgiveness, others declared their innocence, and a few went full Yelp review on the authorities. Public hangings were such an event, they sold tickets. Macabre? Absolutely. But the spirit of bold speech lives on鈥攎inus the noose, thankfully.
Just trot west and you鈥檒l hit Rotten Row, once the height of royal commuting convenience and Britain鈥檚 first lit street. In the 1690s, William III had 300 gas lamps installed here to light his way and keep the muggers at bay. And no, "Rotten" doesn鈥檛 mean decayed鈥攊t鈥檚 a wonky take on the French 鈥淩oute du Roi,鈥� which means King鈥檚 Road. Tr猫s chic鈥� in a smoky, horsey sort of way.
Now, if you like your history with a side of drama, say hello to Apsley House, the proud home of the first Duke of Wellington after he gave Napoleon the ultimate time-out at Waterloo. Officially, it鈥檚 149 Piccadilly, but thanks to its prime location, it鈥檚 affectionately known as Number 1, London. And rumor has it, even if you scribble just that on an envelope, your letter will find its way there.
At the park鈥檚 heart is the Serpentine, a dreamy stretch of water perfect for swan-watching, selfies, or, if you鈥檙e feeling brave, a chilly Christmas swim. The Serpentine Swimming Club hosts the Peter Pan Cup each year鈥攁n event organized by the "Peter Pan" author, J.M. Barrie himself, in 1904.
Tip:
Grab a map or rent a bike if you're directionally challenged. And don鈥檛 forget your camera鈥擧yde Park is a living, leafy legend.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Hyde Park on Map
Sight Name: Hyde Park
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in London, England
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