Hyde Park is 350 acres of royal parkland in the middle of London, and it earns that size. This walk crosses it east to west along the Serpentine's northern bank, taking in Speakers' Corner, the lido (if the season is right), the Serpentine Gallery, and the Kensington Gardens extension.
The walk is best done in the afternoon: the light comes from the west and falls directly on the water, and the Serpentine Gallery is usually empty enough to be enjoyed properly. The Sunken Garden outside Kensington Palace — formal beds enclosed by lime trees — is the surprise ending.
