Parking near Hyde Park

Hyde Park is slap bang in the middle of London, just a short walk away from Big Ben and Buckingham Palace in the Westminster region. It should definitely be on your bucket list of amazing places to check out in central London. This peaceful haven is available to anyone who needs to escape from London’s manic rat race. It’s the perfect getaway for tourists, locals and commuters alike with plenty of space for everyone. 

Hyde Park was originally a manor owned by Westminster Abbey, since before the times of the Norman Conquest. Eventually, Henry VIII turned it into his own private deer hunting ground in 1536 and it was first made into a public park in 1637 by Charles I. In 1730, Serpentine Lake was created by damming the small river Westbourne, a tributary to the River Thames. Ever since, it’s been a popular lido during the summer months, including a sand beach with fresh water for swimming.  

Unsurprisingly, there are zero free parking spaces to be found in the immediate vicinity of Hyde Park; however, we’ve found all of the closest paid options to Hyde Park, listed below. The cheapest car parks involve some travel on public transport to get to Hyde Park, but there are also some local car parks available if you can afford the astronomically high fees!

Once you’re in Hyde Park it’s really easy to access the rest of London via the London Underground stations on the central and Piccadilly lines. There are 5 London Underground stations around the park including Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Lancaster Gate, Queensway and Marble Arch.  

If you want some quality entertainment, or you just want to witness some plain old angry debating, you should check out Speaker’s Corner in the northeast of Hyde Park near the Marble Arch. It starts on Sunday mornings and can get quite lively with speeches on any subject imaginable. The tradition of uncensored free speech dates back to the 1100s when convicts awaiting hanging were allowed to make one final speech, often proclaiming their innocence or confessing to their crimes. Today’s tradition (minus the hangings) dates back to the 1870s, when this section of the park was named Speaker’s Corner and dedicated to free public speaking.

Hyde Park has several football pitches, tennis courts and other sports facilities available, including ping pong tables. You can always find various ‘keep fit’ clubs to join in with and there are 3 kids playgrounds to choose from. There are loads of cycle lanes and even the occasional horse riders can be spotted! During the summer season you can expect to see all manner of group and solo sports taking place, but you’ll always be able to find a quiet spot on your own if you’re after some peace. 

Hyde Park is occasionally used for big outdoor concerts, with massive names like Paul McCartney and Pink Floyd absolutely rocking sold-out standing concerts, as well as newer acts.

Did you know about the ULEZ and Congestion Zone charges which are affected by the route you take? What about the discounted parking price you get by pre-booking your parking place? Have you weighed up the different public transport options that could save you money en route to Hyde Park?

In the following guide, you’ll find all manner of useful information about saving money and avoiding unneeded penalties. The savings you could make by parking smartly are extreme.