Although it is Britain's largest city, London is anything but a massive urban sprawl. As well as some magnificent private gardens the city also boasts many large and small public parks dotted about, punctuating the concrete and asphalt. Indeed, open a London A-Z and there are very few pages that do not contain a significant area of green.

The largest of the open spaces is Hyde Park, found in the heart of London, close to Buckingham Palace and on the edge of the West End. Over 350 acres in size, Hyde Park offers a beautiful green haven from the hustle and bustle of the city. A stroll by the famous Serpentine lido is definitely on the ‘to do' list of many who visit London, and the tranquillity offered in Hyde Park also makes it a popular respite spot for many residents of the city.

Never built upon, the Hyde Park area was where King Henry VIII and his companions used to hunt wild boar and deer in the early part of the 16th Century. It is now a dedicated public park that offers a range of facilities to both residents and visitors, and during the summer part of it is turned into a massive music arena that features top-name artistes such as Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton and The Police.

The southern section of Hyde Park between South Carriage Drive and Rotten Row is known as the ‘Sports Field' and at various times of the year it is used for informal games of touch rugby, football, softball and Frisbee. The Tennis and Sports Centre, found alongside the Sports Field, offers formal sports facilities including six bowling greens, six tennis courts and a putting green. There is also a specialist horse riding track, also known as a ‘Manege' that runs throughout the park.

London's open spaces and large public parks are definitely a major draw, especially in summer. Although Hyde Park is the largest there are many other parks in London and Green Park, which is adjacent to Hyde Park, offers a fabulous view of another major tourist draw, Buckingham Palace.

Just to the north of Hyde Park, another well-known open space, Regents Park, features a large boating lake and also contains London Zoo. It too offers informal sports facilities throughout the year, and is home to the London Softball League.

Outside the centre of London to the south west is the fabulous 2,500 acre Richmond Park contains 650 free roaming deer, golf courses and a plethora of other fabulous facilities. It is the largest of the Royal Parks and includes woodland, hills, ponds and manicured gardens.

For a break from the hustle and bustle of life in a modern city, London's many open spaces and parks are the perfect places for the city's residents and visitors to get away from it all.

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