Autumn is always a special time of year. The leaves begin to turn, and there’s a creeping awareness that Halloween and Christmas are just around the corner.
And there are few better ways to see the changing seasons and feel the onset of autumn than taking a long stroll through a leafy park. When it comes to London, the best place to do just this – and much more – is Hyde Park. It’s only a stone’s throw from the Montcalm Hotel Marble Arch, and there’s a reason Hyde Park receives plaudits as one of the most beautiful green spaces in the world.
Go Boating
The large Serpentine Lake almost bisects Hyde Park, and this makes for a great place to grab a seat, a warm drink or some food and watch the swans and ducks at play.
And if you want to do more than watch, you can hire a rowboat – or peddle boat, if you prefer – and trace a lazy route across the water. This is particularly enjoyable in autumn, as the lake is ringed with oaks, ash and myriad other trees, providing a canopy of colour as you enjoy the fresh, crisp air.
The on-site facilities make renting your boat a quick and hassle-free affair, and there are few better ways to enjoy autumn in London than with a classic rowboat experience. And, if you tire yourself out on the lake, you’re only a short walk from Montcalm’s many 5 star luxury hotels London.
Go for a Horse Ride
Many people don’t know it, but Hyde Park has stables on-site catering to expert and novice riders alike. Carrying the no-nonsense moniker of ‘Hyde Park Stables’, Londoners have enjoyed relaxing rides about the verdant surroundings of Hyde Park for decades – and you can too.
Following a quick safety run-through and after pairing up with your horse – or pony, if you’re not so confident in your riding skills – you’ll be off and trotting through the many riding paths that cover the entirety of Hyde Park.
While a horse ride around Hyde Park is a fantastic experience at any time of year, an autumn ride offers a range of gorgeous vistas of different areas of the park. There’s nothing quite like trotting at a leisurely pace and taking in the open spaces, and the tree-lined slopes of the park as the greenery of summer gives way to the shades of autumn. And then, when you’re all done, you’re right next door to the Montcalm Hotel Marble Arch.
Take a Stroll to the Albert Memorial
The Albert Memorial – erected by Queen Victoria to honour her departed husband – sits at the southern end of Hyde Park, in the area that belongs to Kensington Palace and its attendant gardens.
But tracing a route there will make sure you take in the full splendour of Hyde Park and, with it, the dramatic autumnal changes underway. No other park in London offers the same stunning views – and feel – of autumn that Hyde Park provides.
