About Hyde Park Hyde Park has long been at the very heart of London life with its 350 grassy acres that adjoin Kensington Gardens' 275 acres. It is an obvious destination for people wishing to enjoy the sunshine by stretching out on deckchairs, perhaps, or by strolling around the meadowland and the Serpentine Lake. Hyde Park has plenty for the visitor, with sporting activities that range from tennis and bowling to boating and horse-riding. Henry VIII bought Hyde Park from the Westminster Abbey monks in 1536 and used it as a private hunting ground. A hundred years later, Charles 1 opened it to the public and, since then, while existing primarily as an area for relaxation, the park has been a natural venue for national celebrations, protests, rallies and rock concerts.