Hyde Park hosts a wide variety of events year-round. Visitors can sign up for free guided walks to learn about different areas of the park and what happens to the flora and fauna as the seasons change. Sporting events such as marathons are held in the park. Hyde Park also is the host for the last night of the annual BBC Proms, a summer concert series.
Hyde Park has many areas for playing sports. An area known as the Sports Field is used informally for soccer, softball, cricket and other field sports. Miles of paths are perfect for cycling and jogging. In hot weather, the Serpentine Lido---the long lake that runs through the park---is open for swimming. Visitors also can rent rowboats or pedal boats for a leisurely spin on the lake. The park's Tennis & Sports Centre offers tennis facilities, a bowling green and a putting course, all available by reservation.
Children can enjoy a swim in the Serpentine Lido, and there also is a just-for-kids paddling pool. At the Tennis & Sports Center, children can take tennis lessons and be involved in local leagues. Children can enjoy the three playgrounds in the park, or keeping an eye out for small wildlife including a variety of song birds and waterfowl. Make a child's visit extra special with a treat from one of the refreshment carts scattered throughout the park.
After all the goings-on at Hyde Park, sometimes visitors will just want to relax. With the hundreds of acres the park covers, visitors can go on an enjoyable ramble to discover the place that's perfect for them. Enjoy the quiet within the park's 4,000 trees or enjoy a glass of wine or dessert while sitting waterside. Stroll around the park's borders and see famous London sites such as Buckingham Palace, Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace.
