The Regents Park

Comprising 410 acres, Regents Park is the largest outdoor sports area in London and is renowned for its manicured gardens and spectacular flowers.

The park, then known as Marylebone Park, was appropriated by Henry VIII in 1538 for his personal use as a hunting ground, at this time the majority of the park was covered with a thick forest but lower parts of the park the woods were more open and home to many deer. The park remained mainly unchanged until Oliver Cromwell came into power, to raise money he authorised the chopping down and selling of many trees before leasing the land to farmers. Once the monarch was restored to the throne the land of the park was again restored to the crown. In 1811 John Nash, architect to the crown produced a plan that would seen the park renamed as Regents Park and developed as the Prince Regent's playground featuring a summer house.

Nash planned to not only build a palace for the Prince, but villas for his friends, terraces around the outskirts of the park and a processional route to St James Palace from the Park. Unfortunately for Nash the plan failed to take off as the Prince turned his attentions to improving Buckingham Palace, however, some aspects of Nash's grand plans do remain. He managed to build 9 villas, two of which remain; terraces of Nash's design remains at Park Crescent and the processional route to St James Palace is a well travelled road call Regents Street.

It was only in 1835 that members of the general public were admitted into certain sections of the park and later were able to enjoy the entire park and the nearby Primrose Hill opening the park to sporting activities which are still enjoyed there today. Today the park features a boating lake, open-air theatre and numerous cafes and eateries.

The biggest addition to the park since Nash's time was the opening of the London Zoo, the world's oldest scientific zoo, in 1828. The zoo stands on the northern edge of the park. The zoo opened the first public reptile house, aquarium, insect house and children's zoo. It is currently undergoing a renovation programme with the aim of recreating the natural habitat of the animals living there rather then the old cages; however, not all the animals are in the zoo as the park is home to humerous species of birds, waterfowl, insects and small mammals. Another popular addition has been the London Mosque built on the site of one of Nash's ill-fated villas.

Sports played in the park today include tennis, netball, cricket, softball, hockey and rugby. Athletics are also an active park of park life thanks to the athletics track. In addition to these activities regular walking groups and exercise classes take place in the park making the park a big part of community life for all who use and love it.

Regents Park is an oasis in North London and gives visitors to the capital a taste of what life would have been like in Regency London.

Find out more about The Regents Park.

How to get there

The closest tube stations to Regents Park at situated at Regent's Park, Great Portland Street, Baker Street, St John's Wood and Camden Town.

If travelling by bus the 2, 13, 28, 27, 30, 74, 82, 113, 139, 189, 274, 453 and C2 all serve the area.