What is Speakers' Corner?
Speakers' Corner is an area in the northeast corner of Hyde Park in London where people gather to speak publicly on any subject. It has become a famous symbol of free speech since the 1800s.
Speakers' Corner developed after the Parks Regulation Act of 1872, which allowed public speaking in parks. Crowds had already gathered in the area for protests and meetings.
Anyone can turn up and speak, often standing on a box or ladder. Speakers discuss politics, religion, philosophy and other topics, and the audience often heckles and debates.
Famous speakers
Over the years, figures such as Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, George Orwell and Marcus Garvey are said to have attended or spoken at Speakers' Corner.
Sunday mornings are the busiest time, when regular speakers gather crowds.
Although speakers can discuss almost any topic, they must still follow the law, including rules against threats and hate speech. Similar speakers' corners exist in other cities around the world, inspired by the London tradition. The nearby Marble Arch was once the site of the Tyburn gallows, where public executions took place.