Finishing Our Nordic Cruise In London
After 32 days cruising along the Nordic fjords and through the Nordic countries, we arrived in Southampton. A stay by Hyde Park in London was the perfect way to finish this luxury cruise experience.
We booked a great full day Salisbury, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle day trip for our transit from the cruise dock to London for 3 days.
Our stay at the Intercontinental London Park Lane put us in the heart of London. We enjoyed a lazy pampering stay to finish up our trip. But we could not miss a walk in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. And another glimpse into British Royalty and traditions. Just another of the great things to do in London.
A Salisbury, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle Day Trip Between Southampton And London
We did so many amazing excursions on our cruise through the Nordic countries. When we finally got off the ship after 32 days, we really did not look forward to yet one more tour. We must have been crazy to book it for during our transit day from Southampton to London. But boy were we glad we planned a great full day Salisbury, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle day trip.
We started our tour in the small town of Salisbury with a tour of the Salisbury Cathedral. It was great to see the beautiful and historic church. One copy of the original Magna Carta document is stored here.
Our second stop was at a very different place of worship. The ancient stones of Stonehenge set in the middle of a large grass field were something we had always wanted to see.
The final stop on our tour was at Windsor Castle. We enjoyed the chance to stroll around the grounds. And tour inside Windsor Castle and St. George’s Chapel. It was our first glimpse of the life of the Royal Family.
We loved our great full day Salisbury, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle day trip. The transit between Southampton and London was the perfect time to see these sights. Although it is also easy to do day trips during a stay in Hyde Park in London to visit these great spots.
A Luxury Stay At Intercontinental Park Lane
After our busy tour, we were dropped at the Intercontinental Park Lane in the heart of London. We booked our stay by Hyde Park in London using IHG Rewards points. Luxury stays were always the perfect way to benefit from our focus on building loyalty status. We never did figure out how the doorman Panny was able to welcome us by name. But this kind of personalized service was always a hallmark of customer service excellence.
We got settled into our upgraded room with a view out over Hyde Park. And then went down to the Arch Bar. I had enjoyed my first gin and tonic when we stopped in the Horse & Groom Pub after our tour of Windsor Castle. There were 50 different gins on the Arch Bar menu. After much deliberation I chose the Edgerton Pink flavoured with pomegranate and lemon.
David was delighted to find the great Trois Rivieres rum from Martinique made with cane sugar and not molasses.
It was great to enjoy a moment of quiet and indulgence as we settled into our stay by Hyde Park in London.
Relaxing At the Concierge Lounge At Intercontinental Park Lane
We sometimes had mixed experiences when we booked Concierge Lounge access. Â But it was not a hard choice to upgrade for Concierge Lounge access at the Intercontinental London Park Lane. And boy were we glad we did. The lounge was a relaxing oasis at the end of a long trip.
Staff were attentive, the food and drink delicious and we had the best view out over Hyde Park. It was not hard to start each day with a champagne drink.
Afternoon Tea was even served in the lounge every day. You know we do enjoy our Afternoon Tea treats!
We love to finish our trips with a luxury stay to unwind and be pampered just a bit. The Intercontinental Park Lane was a great choice for our stay by Hyde Park in London.
We Walked In Hyde Park
Hyde Park was directly across the roundabout from our hotel. To cross we walked through an underpass. Depictions of local attractions and history decorated the walls of the underground walkway.
Our stay by Hyde Park in London was over the bank holiday in August. We found the gates to Hyde Park closed to vehicles. But we made sure we watched out for the stream of bicycles in the park.
We moved through the park from statue to statue. We started at the Arthur Duke of Wellington statue. As we walked through the Rose Garden, we admired the statue of the Boy and Dolphin. When we found the Diana statue, we were a little surprised to find the mythical Diana. And the Diana Princess of Wales monument turned out to be a concrete ring filled with water the people walked through. The crane statue shone in green stone.
There was so much to see when we walked through Hyde Park.
Enjoying The Gardens In Hyde Park
It was unusually hot (32℃ or 90℉) for our 3 days in London. So as we walked along the Diana Princess of Whales Memorial Walk in Hyde Park, we moved from tree to tree for shade. Even in August we found the park in bloom with flower beds along the paths we walked.
In the centre of Hyde Park was a large body of water. Several busy cafes sat around the water. A large shop offered canoes and paddle boats for rent. Ducks entertained the crowds. And if you were a bird watcher, there were a number of birds that could be spotted in the park.
A walk through Hyde Park was definitely one of the things we couldn’t miss on a stay by Hyde Park in London.
Continuing Through Kensington Gardens
We walked through Hyde Park and into Kensington Gardens. Only a sign showed that we moved from one to the next. We walked until we found the Peter Pan statue. There was much detail on the statue.
As we walked through Kensington Gardens, we saw such an eclectic variety of statues. There was the statue to Cavalry of the Empire and statue of Jenner as he pondered. The aesthetics of Henry Moore was immediately recognized in The Arch.
Taking A Break In The Italian Gardens
At the end of the waterway we found the Italian Gardens. A pagoda offered some respite from the sun. And a spot to enjoy our ice cream.
Fountains sprayed in the centre of waters filled with lily pads. Statues adorned the fountain at one end.
Once we hit this point, we turned around and headed back through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. By the time we finally crawled back to the Intercontinental Park Lane, we were hot and tired. But it had been a great walk through the parks. And something we didn’t want to miss on our stay by Hyde Park in London.
Royal Traditions In London
Close to the hotel we found the Wellington Arch. We were fascinated by the intricate statue on top. Especially as the sun made them glow. The horse guards marched through the Wellington Arch towards the palace near 10 am, in preparation for the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. We saw the horse guards as they glittered in the heat.
When we arrived in London, we planned to visit Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards. We felt it would be fitting after we visited Windsor Castle. Close to home we have enjoyed the changing of the guards on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. On other trips, we enjoyed the precision of the changing of the guards in Athens. And the colourful guard ceremony in Seoul, South Korea. But the heat defeated and long weekend crowds deterred us from a day time visit to Buckingham Palace. It would have to wait for another London visit.
But a short walk at dusk provided a view of Buckingham Palace as the sun went down. The heat was down and the crowds were smaller.
As David wandered back to the hotel, he was drawn into the area where several war memorials stood.
Our stay by Hyde Park in London was the perfect spot to catch a little more Royal tradition.
We Saw A Lot On Our Stay By Hyde Park In London
There is so much to see and do in London. When we used London as a gateway for other trips, we saw many of the tourist spots. The London Eye was a great spot for views of London day and night. We made the best of our London Pass with visits to Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Tower Bridge. When we stayed out of town by Little Venice, it was a great spot to explore the waterways and Camden Market.
On this stay by Hyde Park in London, we enjoyed some new sights outside of London. Salisbury, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle are all great day trips from London. Or on a transit day from Southampton to London as we did.
It was great to be pampered at the Intercontinental London Park Lane for on our stay by Hyde Park. Being in central London, it was easy to explore the green space in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. And to see a little more of the British Royalty pageantry. But we still left so many things to see and do in London for a return trip.
Have you done a stay by Hyde Park in London? What was your favourite spot to explore?
PIN To Pinterest:
The Hyde Park looks very interesting! The statues there reminds me of the ones in Italy, they both look very intriguing! Other than that, the hotel’s dessert looks very tasty as well as the beverages!
Shreya, We did love exploring the park to find the different statues! Linda
Fantastic tips here and the hotel looks amazing. I am a local to London and work around the corner from Hyde Park. Did you see the pet cemetery there? Its not open to the public but you can see it through some fencing on the north side of the park. The last dog to be buried in there was in 1912 I think. Another hidden part of London there. 🙂
Danik, We missed the pet cemetery! But I am sure we missed other things in the local area. At the end of a long trip. And really hot in London! Next trip for sure. Linda
It sounds like you stayed in style near Hyde Park. I’m not sure I can personally afford a stay at the Intercontinental Park Lane but maybe with IHG points (like you did), I just might! I’d like to get pampered too!
Adonis, We do love spending our points on luxury retreats. Linda
Sounds like an amazing time. Growing up, I was a huge Monopoly player and Hyde Park on the game board was always somewhere I wanted to visit. Strolling around the gardens and taking in the Royal traditions would be high on my list. Would have loved to see your pictures of the changing of the guards, though I totally get avoiding the heat and crowds. Amazing details in your photography and an inspiring post. Fab stay at the Intercontinental 🙂
Rosemary, I had to smile at your reference to Monopoly. It felt like such an interesting part of town with so much history. It was great to plan a splurge at the end. Linda
It sounds like you made an excellent decision to finish up your cruise vacation with a stay at Intercontinental Park Lane. The place looks gorgeous, and that concierge lounge would definitely get my vote (and that was before I saw all the dessert options!). I also love how close you were to everything. A day out in Hyde Park sounds pretty inviting. It’s been ages since I spent time in London, but your trip has inspired me to return!
Patricia, We were so happy with our choice of the Intercontinental Park Lane. A little splurge was great to unwind. We loved the chance to see this part of London. Linda
Darcee & I really enjoyed walking around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens like you guys did too even in April. Did you know that some of those statues “Talk”? They have an app for the Park and the Gardens we found that you scan the statues and they either talk on your phone or just give you info.
Love that you guys took a side trip to Salisbury. Of course Stonehenge is rocking (sorry for the dad joke) but the Cathedral and to see the Magna Carta was just too cool for me.
Eric, I did not know that there was an app for the gardens. Nor did I know the statues talked. Next time for sure! Linda
I love Hyde Park, I love how close it is to many of the tourist attractions in central London. There is so much to see and do, I can’t wait to go back! xo – Kam
Kamree, We loved this first taste of this part of London. Definitely need to go back to see more! Linda
We were just in London for the first time last month. I’m so sorry we didn’t have time to see Hyde Park. I didn’t realize it had so much to offer. It reminds me of Central Park in NYC. But London really is a place you should visit more than once. So maybe next time…
Tami, Hyde Park did remind me of Central Park too. I did now realize that Hyde Park ran right into Kensington Gardens. London is definitely one of those places that require more than one visit. Linda
First, your photos are so very gorgeous! 🙂
You were lucky to get perfect sunny days to roam around and to click these photos.
The hotel looks amazing. Good that you didn’t miss Hyde park. The statues are worth stopping for a minute or two. Love strolling in the parks.
Nisha, Thank for your feedback on our photos. It is part of why it takes us so long to get a blog post out! We were so glad we got to Hyde Park on this visit. Linda
Fantastic post! This looks like a wonderful place to go! Your photos are amazing!
Lori, I am glad you like the post and the photos. We loved our brief stay in London. And enjoyed a pampering finish to our trip. Linda
There is a lot to do around Hyde Park. The Salisbury Cathedral and Winsdsor Castle looks amazing. Personalized welcome by the Hotel doorman – Wow! That is a next level of service. Gardens near the Hyde Park looks quite beautiful and relaxing. Statue on the Wellington arch is really intricate and at evening Buckingham Palace looks really nice.
Suruchi, We were so glad we stayed in the Hyde Park area on this visit. So much to see and do. Linda
Wow 50 different gins on the menu, that’s luxury alright!? Intercontinental Park Lane knows how to please their guest!
Hyde park seems to be a great area to be staying when visiting London because of its location being close to everything and especially to beautiful gardens! Kensington Gardens looks particularly lovely! Althought I might night have afford to stay in the luxury Intercontinental Park Lane, I will certainly look for a cheaper option in or around Hyde park!
Dada, We definitely were pleased we finished our trip with a bit of a splurge. It was wonderful to have so many great places close by. Even if we were a bit exhausted from our long trip. Hope you get to explore this part of London. Linda
I have never been to Stonehenge and Windsor Castle. It seems that I should go and visit it on my next time in the UK because in your pics it looks fantastic. It is good to know that you can get to Park Lane with IHG points (must check how many do I have now), although I prefer off-grid living than luxury places 😉 However, the view and drink looks intriguing. Hyde Park is one of my favorite places in London, so I always love to see excellent pictures from the site. I love to take pictures of birds there – it’s kind of wildlife in the center of a big city — good article for a top-rated destination. Thanks for sharing.
I am so glad I have tempted you to visit Stonehenge and Windsor Castle. We did love our time in Hyde Park. Linda
Thank you for such a great post. Your stay at the Intercontinental Park Lane sounds absolutely amazing and the perfect way to end an extended cruise through Europe. I adore Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. They are both so, so beautiful. I always stay in Earl’s Court when I’m in London and walk through Hyde Park every day on my way into the City. It is the best way to start my day. I particularly love the Albert statue near Kensington Palace. I’m a nerd for Victorian history, and I love thinking about all the history between Albert and Victoria whilst gazing at the statue.
Erica, I am glad this post was faithful to someone who obviously loves this part of London. It was our first visit but not our last. Linda
Hyde park in London is one of the iconic places to be visited. The boon is when you get stay so near and up close to such beauty. I am sure you must have had a gala time spending moments in luxury. great read indeed
Debjani, It was indeed great to stay so close. So many great things to see and do. Linda
London and afternoon tea? Does it get much better! London is on my bucket list. Your information was very helpful and will help me to make decisions for my adventure! Walking the gardens and enjoying art work would be a great way to spend an afternoon.
Laura, I am glad this blog post will help you with your planning to visit London. There are so many great things to see and do. Linda
What a beautiful article. You’ve covered some heavy-weights of British history here, Sailsbury, Stonehenge, Windsor – must have been a great trip. I live right across the park from where you were staying, had I known, I would definitely have joined you for that afternoon tea!
Paul, We loved the chance on this visit to see some things outside of London. It was also a new part of London for us to stay in. The Afternoon Tea was a great way to relax after a busy day walking in London. Linda
Amazing post!! I have been to the stonehenge yet but it always been a spot I always wanted to visit. Your stay seems luxurious and amazing, however, I am more pf a budget-friendly stay when it comes to my vacation. I have been to London few winters ago but for some reasons I have been to the Hyde Park and it looks like a perfect thing to do in London.
Daniel, We do love our luxury splurges at the end of a long trip. Being able to do it on points was a bonus. Hope you get to visit Hyde Park. It was a great oasis in the city. Linda
How did it feel getting down from the ship after 32 days? I have never been on a ship more than a day! Well staying near Hyde Park was definitely a perfect ending to this trip.
The ancient stones of Stonehenge looks so beautiful. This is one place that I have always wanted to visit. Hyde Park seems to be an oasis in the middle of the city. I am sure this was a perfect end to your trip.
Amrita, It did take me a few days to get my land legs back after 32 days at sea! But we had a nice relaxing break by Hyde Park before we headed back to real life. Linda
That’s so nice that you were welcomed by name at the Intercontinental Park Lane. Those little gestures always mean a lot. Oooh those afternoon tea treats looks so good! There sure are a lot of statues in Hyde Park. It’s a beautiful park, I bet it was really busy if you visited on a bank holiday. I would like to go back to see more of it.
Elizabeth, We do love when the staff makes the effort to personalize the stay. And Afternoon Tea was lovely. A great way to enjoy our stay by Hyde Park in London. Linda
Thank you so much for this comprehensive pots. You have listed so many great places to visit from Hyde Park in London. Now, of course, my favorite one is the Stonehenge even though I have never been there. But maybe next time I’ll stay where you recommend and then visit all these places.
Iuliana, There are so many great areas to stay around London. We were glad to use the Hyde Park area for this stay. We loved all the things to do that were just a short walk away. Linda
Since I stayed with a couple of guest families in London as a teenager, the city has always had a special place in my traveller’s heart. This city has so much to offer – and I particularly appreciate that all the public museums are free of charge – helps so much when travelling on a budget. Funny enough, I’ve never made it to Stonehenge, but it’s high on my list for my next visit 🙂
London is a gateway city to Europe for us so we have visited a few times. Every time we pick a different spot to stay and local things to do. So far we have not had the weather to drive us indoors!
Hyde Park is one of my favourite places to walk around in London. I have been visiting since I was a girl and it always fills me with joy. In summer the gardens are beautiful and of course it is packed full of British history. A nice roundup for people wondering where to stay and what to do in the area.
We like to stay in different areas when we visit London. So we were glad we picked the Hyde Park area for this trip. It was wonderful to have so much green space so close by.
It seems you had a very British stay at Hyde Park in London. The Afternoon Tea looks so delicious! Great that you enjoyed Winchester Castle. I think it is an underrated tourist attraction in Britain!
We like to stay in different spots when we visit London. So this stop near Hyde Park gave us a different experience.
So very timely as I am headed to London in just a couple of weeks. My hotel is near Hyde Park so I was intrigued to know what were some of the highlights. What stood out to me is definitely seeking out the Italian Gardens. It looks to be very pretty and hopefully, it’s a nice day and I can enjoy ice cream too! I also look forward to having Afternoon Tea. Great tips for my trip!
We were amazed at how much green space we found in the area around Hyde Park. And how much there was to see and do nearby. I am sure you will have a great stay.