Speakers' Corner Events
Speakers' Corner
Speaker's Corner, Victoria, SW1X 7LY
The great strength of free speech is that everybody has the right to voice their opinion. The great weakness of free speech is that everybody has the right to voice their opinion.
Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park (the first of many across London and the world) encapsulates this dichotomy. Whilst it is often interesting to visit and hear speeches by informed, impassioned and articulate people, the whole thing is often marred by ill-thought through diatribes and didactic ranting.
It's definitely somewhere that everybody should go to at least once, but it can be quite a frustrating place too. "You're talkin' a lot, but you're not saying anything" is a line that springs to mind.
Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park (the first of many across London and the world) encapsulates this dichotomy. Whilst it is often interesting to visit and hear speeches by informed, impassioned and articulate people, the whole thing is often marred by ill-thought through diatribes and didactic ranting.
It's definitely somewhere that everybody should go to at least once, but it can be quite a frustrating place too. "You're talkin' a lot, but you're not saying anything" is a line that springs to mind.
More Info
Nearest Tubes:
- Hyde Park Corner (0.1 m)
- Knightsbridge (0.5 m)
- Green Park (0.9 m)
Upcoming Events at Speakers' Corner
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Reviews
SpoonfedMeg
Monday, 27 April
There's Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey where national heroes of literature are buried and remembered and there's Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park where nutters go to rage against The Man and various other perceived evils. Before moving to London I was a bit unclear on local landmarks and believe I somehow combined these two points into a single corner where eloquent, improvised poets wax lyrical upon the evils of the world.
Since then I am, of course, corrected and have to say that my previous vision would certainly be more thought provoking than the cacophony of passionate ramblings that actually characterise Speaker's Corner. While I can't say I heard anything of note (or relative sanity for that matter) what I do appreciate about Speaker's Corner is the absolute freedom of speech allowed and, more importantly, tolerated by bystanders. Don't like what someone's saying? Just walk away and find someone else to listen to. Now if only the whole world could work like that.
Since then I am, of course, corrected and have to say that my previous vision would certainly be more thought provoking than the cacophony of passionate ramblings that actually characterise Speaker's Corner. While I can't say I heard anything of note (or relative sanity for that matter) what I do appreciate about Speaker's Corner is the absolute freedom of speech allowed and, more importantly, tolerated by bystanders. Don't like what someone's saying? Just walk away and find someone else to listen to. Now if only the whole world could work like that.
Speakers' Corner
Speaker's Corner
Victoria
SW1X 7LY
Speaker's Corner
Victoria
SW1X 7LY
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