Hyde Park is one of the jewels in London’s crown of royal parks. A giant swathe of green space on the western edge of Central London, the park offers sanctuary for runners, dog walkers and workers searching for a break from city life. Read on for a brief guide to this historic London landmark, and tips on the best places to live nearby.
Best new build developments near Hyde Park
Before the brief history lesson, where are the best new build developments near Hyde Park? If you’re looking to buy or rent a new build home, there are several great options within easy reach of the park itself. Take a look below at the highest-rated new build developments in the area, according to the reviews of verified residents.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
Royal hunting ground to public park
Hyde Park’s origins date as far back as the time of Henry VIII. The king acquired the land in 1536, and he and his courtiers used it as a hunting ground for deer. The park was opened to limited public access by James I. Eventually, Charles I opened it for full public access in 1637.
Since that time, the park has been beloved of Londoners and visitors alike. The park has changed over the years, with the 11 hectare Serpentine lake created in the 1730s and several grand gates and entrances created.
The park was also the site of the 1851 Great Exhibition, and housed The Crystal Palace. This elaborate glass and iron structure of 990,000 square feet was removed after the exhibition. It was relocated to South East London, to the area now known as Crystal Palace.
Central London’s playground
Modern-day Hyde Park offers visitors full access to its 350 acres of rolling parkland. There’s boating and outdoor swimming on The Serpentine, a criss-cross of paths and trails to explore. There’s also a kids’ play area and several significant sites and monuments.
The park is a site for national celebration and revelry. It’s vast open spaces make it an ideal place for national occasions such as jubilee celebrations. The park also plays host to open-air concerts and events. The artists to play at the park down the years reads like a who’s-who list of world music. For July 2024, the musical highlight in Hyde Park was a phenomenal performance from K-Pop band Stray Kids with their upbeat UK festival debut for BST Hyde Park’s closing night
Where to live near Hyde Park
Hyde Park sits on the western edge of Central London and borders some of the capital’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. Knightsbridge and South Kensington lie to the south of the park. Their streets and garden squares are lined with handsome Georgian and Victorian mansions, with many divided into luxury apartments.
To the east of the park, Mayfair offers similar exclusivity. On its northern edge, Paddington, Queensway and Bayswater offer more varied options, with their mix of Regency-style architecture, modern developments and diverse, bustling local communities.
The average price of a property in Paddington comes in at £1,370,577, according to Rightmove. Meanwhile, Mayfair and Knightsbridge both have average prices that extend way into the millions.
A little further afield, the likes of Kensington, Notting Hill and Marylebone all provide further options close to the park’s wide open spaces. All three areas have property prices significantly higher than the London average. This, however, is the cost of living in such a reputable and popular part of the capital.
Would you like to explore more options around Hyde Park and this popular part of West and Central London? Take a look at our area guides below. They provide plenty more information on the best areas to live. They also include details of the most popular new build developments in this part of the capital.
HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.
