Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The former London residence of the “Iron Duke”, Apsley House has housed the
Wellington
Museum
since 1952. However unless you're a keen fan of the Duke (or the building's ar-
chitect, Benjamin Wyatt), the highlight here is the
art collection
, much of which used to be-
long to the King of Spain. Among the best pieces, displayed in the Waterloo Gallery on the
first floor, are works by de Hooch, van Dyck, Velázquez, Goya, Rubens and Murillo. The
famous, more than twice life-size, nude statue of Napoleon by Antonio Canova stands at the
foot of the main staircase. It was disliked by the sitter, not least for the figure of Victory in
the emperor's hand, which appears to be trying to fly away.
HYDE PARK
www.royalparks.gov.uk
.Daily 5am-midnight.
MAP
Seized from the Church by Henry VIII to satisfy his desire for yet more hunting grounds,
Hyde Park was first opened to the public by James I, when refreshments available included
“milk from a red cow”. Hangings, muggings and duels, the
1851 Great Exhibition
and nu-
merous public events have all taken place here - and it's still a popular gathering point or
destination for political demonstrations. For the most part, however, Hyde Park is simply a
leisure ground - a wonderful open space that allows you to lose all sight of the city beyond
a few persistent tower blocks.
At the treeless northeastern corner is
Marble Arch
, erected in 1828 as a triumphal entry to
Buckingham Palace but now stranded on a ferociously busy traffic island at the west end of
Oxford Street. This is the most historically charged spot in Hyde Park, as it marks the site of
Tyburn gallows, the city's main location for public executions until 1783, when the action
moved to Newgate. It's also the location of
Speakers' Corner
, a peculiarly English Sunday
tradition, featuring an assembly of soap-box orators, religious extremists and hecklers.
At the centre of the park is the curvaceous lake of the
Serpentine
. Rowing boats and ped-
alos can be rented (Easter-Oct daily 10am until dusk; £12/hr) from the boathouse on the
north bank, while the lake's popular
Lido
(May Sat & Sun 10am-6pm; June till mid-Sept
daily 10am-6pm; £4.50) is situated on the south bank. Nearby is the
Diana Memorial
Fountain
(daily: March and Oct 10am-6pm; April-Aug 10am-8pm; Sept 10am-7pm;
Nov-Feb 10am-4pm; free), less of a fountain, and more of a giant oval-shaped mini-moat,
in which kids can dabble their feet.
