Serpentine Lake: London’s Hidden Waterway and Its Best Nearby Spots

When you think of London’s green spaces, you might picture Big Ben or Trafalgar Square, but Serpentine Lake, a natural lake in Hyde Park, London, formed by the River Westbourne and popular for swimming, rowing, and relaxation. Also known as the Serpentine, it’s one of the city’s most quietly beloved water features—not a tourist billboard, but a daily escape for runners, swimmers, and people just needing to sit still. This isn’t just a pretty pond. It’s a living part of London’s urban rhythm, shaped by centuries of history and now used by thousands every week.

What makes Serpentine Lake special isn’t just its location—it’s what surrounds it. Hyde Park, one of London’s largest Royal Parks, stretching over 350 acres and home to walking paths, open fields, and historic monuments wraps around the lake like a quiet hug. You’ll find locals jogging its perimeter, families picnicking under the trees, and even swimmers braving the open water year-round in the Serpentine Swimming Club. Then there’s Hyde Park Corner, the bustling junction at the park’s southwest edge, where the Wellington Arch and the Royal Mews sit just steps from busy traffic. It’s where the calm of the lake meets the pulse of the city. And if you walk east, you’ll hit Kensington Gardens, the quieter, more formal sibling to Hyde Park, with the Italian Gardens, Peter Pan statue, and the Serpentine’s eastern arm. Together, these spaces form a continuous green-and-water corridor that feels miles from Westminster.

People come here for different reasons. Some swim. The Serpentine is one of the few places in London where you can legally swim outdoors in the middle of the city—summer or winter. Others rent rowboats and paddle slowly, watching ducks glide past. Cyclists take the path along the water as a break from the road. And on weekends, you’ll see couples sitting on benches, reading, or just staring at the water like it’s therapy. The lake doesn’t shout. It doesn’t need tickets. It just is.

And that’s why the posts below focus on places like it—hidden, quiet, and deeply local. You won’t find a single article about crowded museums or overpriced tours here. Instead, you’ll find stories about the real London: the viewpoints where people go to breathe, the walking trails that connect neighborhoods without a single tourist sign, the spots where the city slows down just enough to let you remember you’re alive. Whether it’s a hidden bench with the best sunset view, a quiet café near the lake’s edge, or a local swimming group you didn’t know existed—this collection is full of places that don’t make the guidebooks, but make London feel like home.