The Regent's Park

The park is on land that was originally taken over from the church to form a royal hunting estate (the Marylebone estate or Marylebone Park), in the 16th century. It eventually came into the hands of the Prince Regent, later King George IV, who in 1811 commissioned John Nash to design an urban development on it. Nash came up with a master plan, which included the terraces of fine houses on the east side, and the Grand Union Canal flows along the north of the park. The Crown Estates still own much of these surrounding estates and land.

The history of the area is a classic example of early 19th century town planning, and has been referred to in many works. Much of this can still be followed during a day out in the park. While the roads and avenues, including today's mature trees date from the 19th century, most of the gardens are 20th century developments.

The park itself was kept as an enclosed royal estate till 1835, though it was used by the Royal Zoological Society even then.

Today there are still major landscape features that were first laid out at this time. These include a number of tree lined walks, and the boating lake

The park includes some of the best display gardens of central London. Among these are the 'must see' rose gardens of Queen Mary's Garden, with over 400 rose varieties. This is within the Inner Circle, towards the south of the park, and it is the largest such rose garden in London. Within the Inner Circle, there is also a rockery, and other display gardens.

Outside the Inner Circle, there is also the spectacular bedding and herbaceous displays alongside Broad Walk, the principal north-south walk through the park.

The lake (to the south of the Inner Circle) is an important habitat for waterfowl. It also has an ornamental waterfowl collection. There is a breeding centre for waterfowl in the park.

Other wildlife habitats have been developed; including long grass areas, and the use of dead wood to encourage wood feeding insects.

Sports facilities are housed in 'The Hub', a specialised building in the north of the park, surrounded by football pitches.

London Zoo occupies a section of the north of the park. to the north.

Although not part of the park, there are a number of other important attractions nearby;

• Lords cricket ground to the north;
• London Central Mosque to the west;
• Madame Tussauds and the planetarium to the south.

Primrose Hill, which lies across a road to the north of the park, is also managed as part of the park.

The park is managed by the Royal Parks Agency. It is closed at night. Contact 020 7486 7905.

Features and facilities

• Cafes (several)
• Toilets (several)

• Gardens
• Historic landscape, ponds and lakes
• Monuments
• Wildlife

• Playgrounds
• Open air theater
• Field sports, athletics.

Getting there

• Tube; Regent's Park, Great Portland Street, and Baker Street stations are all less than 200m to the south. St. John's Wood station in the west, and Camden Town station are each about 500m to the north-west and north-east.
• Bus; routes 2, 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82 113, 139 189, 274, 453, C2, pass either alongside the park on on major routes under 200 meters from it.
• Car; paid car parking is available in the Inner Circle (a roadway within the park), and its approaches.