Cycle London Series - Hyde Park

Hyde Park is one of London's most beautiful parks and also one of the biggest, covering 350 acres of land in the middle of the Capital. The park extends East to West from Marble Arch to Bayswater and North to South from Marble Arch to Hyde Park Corner. If you can try and visualise, there are around 4000 trees in the park, a lake, a meadow, horse riding lanes and an art gallery. Pretty diverse isn't it? And that's counting without all the squirrels, ducks, geese and swans who inhabit this oasis of greenery in the Big Smoke.

Map of Hyde Park highlighting different points of interest - as you can see, our flagship store is just South of the park (5 Sloane Street)

You can hire bikes in the park

When you cycle in London, there are several reasons why you'd end up in Hyde Park. It is a bit like Rome for cyclists... Everything seems to lead there. The most obvious reason I'd find myself cycling in the park is if I need to go from my flat in Portobello to the MCM Flagship store on Sloane Street. I pick up a bike in Westbourne Grove and cycle all the way down Portobello market to Notting Hill Gate, then I can zoom across the park all the way to Knightsbridge. Perfect in case of bag emergencies, or when I need to go and see what's new in store to let you guys know.

Our London flagship store, at number 5 of the very prestigious and uber chic Sloane street. It is just across the road from Harvey Nichols.

I don't like the gym, and I hate running, but I don't mind cycling, especially in a beautiful green space. Hyde Park is pretty perfect for that: you can get lost in the woods without ever leaving the city, and you get a workout at the same time. Brilliant. My MCM Stark backpack in Black goes nicely with my "bike exercising" outfit too - sometimes I pretend I am Catwoman while I zoom around the park all in black on my bicycle. 

The Stark backpack in Cognac, Pink and Black. I like to wear the black one when I go cycling in the park.

Finally, cycling is the best way to get to the Serpentine Gallery located in the middle of the park, by the eponymous river. I have seen some great exhibitions there, including Jeff Koons or Anish Kapoor. During the Summer, you can also go and see the temporary Serpentine Pavillion, designed each year by a different architect. Make sure you pack a picnic in your MCM backpack! There is nothing quite like munching on fresh fruits in the shade of a large tree after having seen mind-blowing art. Sometimes I like to stay a while and think about what I've just seen... In that case, I put my jacket in my Stark backpack and use it as a pillow. 

One iteration of the Serpentine Pavillion

Deck chairs in the park on a Summer day.

If this made you want to grab an MCM backpack and run wild in your nearest park, you can see the full collection here 

Or if you are in London, you can visit our store 

5 Sloane street

SW1X 9LA London

If you are somewhere else in the world, have a look at our Store Locator to find your nearest MCM boutique.