Hyde Park, London

There are many Hyde Parks in the world, but the original one is in London City, England. This royal park is sometimes considered to be united with Kensington Gardens, and they are separate only in technical terms, divided by West Carriage Drive. Hyde Park has an area of 350 acres, and the royal park Kensington Gardens spreads over 275 acres. Together they form a green lung at the center of London. Hyde Park is divided in half by Serpentine Lake. The oldest area of the park was property of Ebury Manor in the past. This is how the park got its name - its oldest part had an area of one hide, a unit measuring anywhere from 60 to 120 acres, which has since become obsolete. Henry VIII bought the land in 1536 from Westminster Abbey. The primary landscaper of the park was Decimus Burton, who laid it out in the first half of the 19th century. Hyde Park has an uneven terrain, whereas Kensington Gardens is generally flat.
Joseph Paxton designed the Crystal Palace on the territory of Hyde Park in the 19th century. It was to serve the purpose of a large-scale exhibit. Hyde Park has hosted many public events in the past, such as concerts by Queen, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Beatles held a photo session for their album Beatles for Sale at Hyde Park in 1964. It has also been the site of some tragic events. One was the IRA-perpetrated bombing of 1982, which resulted in the death of eight Household Cavalry members.
The grand entrance to the park is its most famous feature. It is based on Burton's designs as well. Of special note are the spectacular Ionic columns, a screen which includes a lodge, two entries for pedestrians, three carriage entrances and more. The screen extends over 107 feet in total. The two side gateways feature two Ionic columns bordered by aerials. The sides of the central entrance are adorned with a fascinating mural, depicting a victorious military procession. The gates are made of bronze and iron, and their design incorporates honeysuckle ornaments based on famous Greek patterns. This aspect of the park is a true work of art. The attractions in the park include Rotten Row, Speakers' Corner and the memorial of Princess Diana. Rotten Row forms the border with Crystal Palace at the north of the park. Speakers' Corner is situated in the northeastern part of the park, close to Marble Arch. This was a very famous venue for speakers of all social classes in the past, and remains one today. It is a very convenient outlet for anyone who wants to bring attention to a topic of their choice. There have been famous speakers here, such as Lenin, Karl Marx and George Orwell. Sadly this place is used by the government as an excuse to ban public speaking in all other areas of London. Nevertheless, it is a shining example of the inalienable right of self-expression.
The Diana memorial, inaugurated on July 6, 2004, is located to the south of Serpentine Lake. It is an exquisitely crafted oval stone fountain.
It has been implied in popular culture that Hyde Park was named after Dr. Jekyll's heinous alter ego. It may actually be the other way round.
When in Hyde Park, one would do well to cross over into Kensington Gardens. There are many marvelous attractions here as well, such as Kensington Palace, the Serpentine Gallery, a sculpture of Peter Pan and Round Pond.