Regent's Park

What to expect

Regent's Park was planned in the 1810s by the Prince Regent, later George IV, with the architect John Nash, and first opened to the public in 1835, at first just two days a week. It covers about 170 hectares and is ringed by the Outer Circle road, with a smaller Inner Circle in the middle. Most of the park is for pedestrians.

Inside are the Queen Mary's Gardens, created in the 1930s on the site of a plant nursery, an ornamental lake with a heronry, waterfowl and a boating area, three playgrounds, sports pitches and an Open Air Theatre. London Zoo lies on the northern side. It is a park for wandering and picnics, and a visit can be anything from forty-five minutes to half a day.

Don't miss

• Queen Mary's Gardens
• The boating lake and its birds
• The Open Air Theatre
• The Broad Walk
• John Nash's terraces around the Outer Circle

Tips for your visit

• Hire a rowing boat on the lake for a relaxed hour.
• Combine it with Primrose Hill's view and with London Zoo, which are both on the park's northern side.
• Regent's Park, Baker Street, Great Portland Street and Warren Street stations all serve it.
• Bring a picnic and a layer in cooler months.