Where: London SW1

What: Hyde Park is probably the best-known and most popular park in London. One of London's Royal Parks, Henry VIII 'acquired' it in 1536 for hunting grounds (it had been owned by the monks of Westminster Abbey before that). Now it forms a large area of open space in the city centre, some 350 acres with a perimeter of around 4 miles.

On the south side from Hyde Park Corner westwards is Rotten Row, the fashionable riding track through the park, popular for an early morning horse ride.

The Serpentine, a large lake in the centre of the park, provides boating, and is one of London's Lidos (open from the last Saturday in April until the second Sunday in October).

And at Speaker's Corner, near Marble Arch, you can hear many a mad Briton exercise his or her right to free speech. There is usually a dozen or more 'speakers', each standing on a soap box or a small step ladder and spouting (shouting) controversial views on any topic you can think of - religion, politics, war, peace, trade unions, Europe, tourists......

A bandstand and various statues add interest. During the summer the park hosts regular music festivals and concerts, and, on a hot day, it can get quite busy.

Nearest underground station: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Lancaster Gate or Marble Arch (depending on where you want to be)

Website: royalparks.gov.uk