Hyde Park is one of the famous landmarks in London. Once this park with an area of about 1, 4 square kilometers was located outside the city limits. Then he found himself on the western outskirts of London, and now, due to the sharp increase in the size of the capital of Great Britain, it is included in its central historical part.
Hyde Park originally belonged to the world famous Westminster Abbey. After King Henry VIII came into conflict with the Pope, persecution began against the Catholic Church in England. The property of many monasteries was confiscated. Westminster Abbey suffered the same fate; the king took this park from him, turning it into his hunting ground. The entrance for the ignorant classes was closed there. Only three quarters of a century later, under King James I, the public again received the right of access to Hyde Park. And during the reign of King Charles II, the grandson of this monarch, the park turned into a favorite vacation spot for residents of London and the surrounding area. He has retained this function to this day; only now many foreign tourists are joining the British citizens who want to see this attraction. Part of Hyde Park is the long and narrow Serpentine Lake, which gets its name from its snake-like shape. It is allowed to swim in it. Visitors to the park, coming to its southwestern part, see Espley House, which houses the museum of the famous 19th century military leader and statesman, the Duke of Wellington. The Wellington Arch is also on display. It was in Hyde Park that a parade was held dedicated to the victory of the Allied forces over Napoleon at the famous Battle of Waterloo in the summer of 1815. Hyde Park also hosted the first world exhibition. This happened in 1851. By order of Queen Victoria, the Crystal Palace was built specifically to house the exhibits. A huge building made of steel and glass at that time looked like a real miracle. The exhibition hall more than half a kilometer long could accommodate up to 14 thousand visitors. When the exhibition finished its work, the Crystal Palace was dismantled and moved to a new location outside London. Alas, it has not survived to this day, as it was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1936. Hyde Park has gained worldwide fame also because it houses the famous Speaker's Corner, where anyone can give a speech on almost any topic. It was in the Speaker's Corner that famous preachers and public figures perfected their skills. The acquired skills were very useful to them later, helping to capture the attention of the audience. The term "Hyde Park" has become a household name, meaning a place for the propagation of one's views and ideas.
