Regent’s Park | The London Zoo, Open-Air Theatre, Sculpture Exhibitions And More…
Regent’s Park.
It’s like a zoo in there…
That’s because there actually is a zoo in there – something you’ll be made aware of when minding your business around the northern edge of the park only for your thoughts to be interrupted by the cry of a gibbon, or, more unsettling, the roar of a lion. No need to be alarmed though… it’s just the ZSL London Zoo, one of the many attractions within this 410-acre royal park.
Situated in between Camden and Primrose Hill, which, it should be noted, are both also well worth spending a good amount of time in (Camden for the markets and pubs, Primrose Hill for the starry-eyed view at the top), Regent’s Park, or to use its posher, official name, The Regent’s Park, was at first Henry’s VIII hunting forest before it became a pleasure park, opening to the public in 1841. It was designed by John Nash (the architect who masterminded Buckingham Palace’s impressive look) and today it’s one of the most popular parks in London for its central location as well the fact that there’s about 1,000 things to do within and around its boundaries…
For one – There’s all the park mandatories; a boating lake, a 5km running track that circles the park and its outer canal, a better-than-it-needs-to-be café (right by the water and with al fresco dining), fairytale bridges draped in wisteria, ponds with swans, dogs galore (this must be one of the highest density dog areas in the city), sports fields and courts, and the Queen Mary’s rose garden, which draws the hordes for its collection of 12,000 roses (the largest planting you’ll find in London). It even has its hidden gems: a bandstand that plays host to live performances in the summer, and a Japanese-inspired garden island that’s actually located in Queen Mary’s Garden (enter via the park’s Jubilee Gate), home to mini waterfalls, serene trickling streams and a Grade-II listed eagle sculpture.
And for two – There’s the stuff that you don’t necessarily expect a park to have, but if it does. In summer, Regent’s Park takes some of the burden off Covent Garden as London’s theatre epicentre. The open air theatre programme that takes place from May to September (for obvious reasons) gives you drama, comedy and cabaret performances to a backdrop of verdant trees and the sounds of birdsong. For food fans, Taste of London is a yearly highlight on the Regent’s Park calendar, happening every July where, as the name suggests, you get to sample flavours from some of London’s best restaurants. And if you’re into art, the sculptures that suddenly, somewhat mysteriously appear every October haven’t just fallen from the sky, it’s the annual Frieze sculpture exhibition; a free show that turns the Regent’s Park into a ‘museum without walls’, courtesy of some of contemporary art’s most recognised faces.
Aaand for three – If you wanted to go for some fresh air – you know, ‘a simple stroll’ without all the bells and whistles – then as a large public green space…
Regent’s Park can tend to that one as well.
NOTE: Regent’s Park is open daily from 5am-6pm, with hours extended until 9pm over the summer. It’s free to enter and you can find out more information right here.
Regent’s Park | Chester Rd, London NW1 4NR
You know what else won’t cost you a penny? All these free things to do in London…