Speakers’ Corner Hyde Park
Located in the North-East of the park (Marble Arch Tube) is Speakers’ Corner, a well-known location for many a Londoner. This is where people, from many different walks of life, and cultural backgrounds stand up and rant about whatever they believe in. If you’re visiting London, you can’t miss a visit to Speakers’ Corner to see all the different characters it attracts. It’s a myth that people can say whatever they want here, but if the police receive a complaint they will intervene.
In 1855 there were a series of large protests in the UK over the Sunday Trading Bill. The Bill sought to bring a halt to Sunday trading, which at the time, was the only day people had off during the week. A series of further incidents, including mass demonstrations in Hyde Park itself, saw the Parks Regulation Act of 1872 passed. Accordingly the granting of permits for public meetings was delegated to the Park authorities.
Speakers Corner has been frequented by: Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, George Orwell, C.L.R. James, Ben Tillet, Marcus Garvey, Kwame Nkrumah and William Morris
Visitor Information
Suitability: All the family.
Opening Times: Open all year round.
Nearest Tube: Marble Arch (Central Line)
