Is it a cliché favorite place? Perhaps. But I've only been here six months, so I get a freebie.
A tour through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens — the two are technically individual parks in their own right, though an untrained eye wouldn't know it — ticks four items off the list! KABOOOOM.
They are:
#23 — Take a jog around Hyde Park
Easy enough. Though I'm not much of a jogger, I actually did get out for a run a couple times last week. The sun was shining and I was stir crazy! And running through either park is a delight: a maze of paths criss-cross the parks, people are walking their dogs, and there are plenty of intimidating waterfowl to
I GOT THIS. (Original Instagram post here.)
This person is also running:
#24 — See the Peter Pan Statue in Kensington Gardens
I just wrote about this in my previous post, but it bears repeating: it's a surprisingly — and delightfully — interactive statue!
#33 — Diana Memorial Playground
There really is a pirate ship at the Diana Memorial Playground, and it looks super awesome. However, as I don't have small children to take with me as an excuse, and I don't intend to be put on a pedophile list anytime soon, I didn't take a photo.
#85 — Listen to whoever is at Speaker's Corner
I haven't seen a speaker at that exact spot any time I've been by, but there have been several rallies at nearby Marble Arch. Groups gather to show and demand support for Syrian refugees, to highlight low junior doctors' wages, and other issues. But the corner itself has a lengthy history, dating back to the late 1100s when people had the right to a last speech before they were hanged at the Tyburn Gallows. (There is now a Wetherspoon's pub named The Tyburn on that spot, which to me is super morbid. But they have a decent curry deal on Thursdays so...)
And, because I'm there a lot and I seem to think I need to take a photo every time I'm there (like it's going to be different this time?! It's like when you see seven photos of a stranger's baby and they insist each photo has a different expression. It's JUST a BABY...), here are more photos!
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| View of the Round Pond from Kensington Gardens. The British are so creative with how they name things. |
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| Physical Energy bronze statue, installed in 1907. (NINETEEN OH SEVEN. THE U.S. WAS JUST A WEE BABE.) |
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| I like to think there's a seagull hierarchy with who gets to sit on the posts each day. |
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| That's a parakeet! (And it lives in Hyde Park with its buddies — for realz!) |
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| Sunset over Kensington Gardens |
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| Palace gate at Kensington Palace |
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| Prince Albert Memorial at dusk |
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| Sun setting in Hyde Park |
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