Regent's Park
About Regent's Park
An elegant Royal Park designed by John Nash, famous for Queen Mary's Gardens, the Open Air Theatre, London Zoo and beautifully manicured formal gardens.
History & Heritage
Regent's Park takes its name from the Prince Regent, later King George IV, for whom the architect John Nash designed the park in the early 19th century as part of a grand scheme linking it to St James's Park via Regent Street. Originally intended to feature a palace and dozens of grand villas, the plans were scaled back, but the surrounding cream-coloured Nash terraces remain among the finest examples of Regency architecture in London.
The park opened to the public in 1835 and has since become home to a number of celebrated institutions, including London Zoo, which opened in 1828, and the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, founded in 1932. Queen Mary's Gardens, created in the 1930s, contains London's largest collection of roses, with around 12,000 plants of over 400 varieties.
What to Expect
Expect immaculate formal gardens, the spectacular rose displays of Queen Mary's Gardens, and a large boating lake teeming with waterfowl. The park offers extensive sports facilities, a summer season at the Open Air Theatre, and easy access to London Zoo and the elegant sweep of Primrose Hill just to the north. Cafés and refreshment kiosks are dotted throughout.
Known For
Features & Facilities
- Rose gardens
- Boating lake
- Sports pitches
- Open Air Theatre
- Cafés
- Children's playgrounds
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Regent's Park free to visit?
- Yes, Regent's Park is free to enter. London Zoo and the Open Air Theatre within and beside the park charge separate admission.
- What are Queen Mary's Gardens known for?
- Queen Mary's Gardens are home to London's largest rose garden, with roughly 12,000 roses of more than 400 varieties, at their best in June.
- Can you go boating in Regent's Park?
- Yes, you can hire rowing boats and pedalos on the main boating lake during the warmer months, and there is a separate children's boating pond.
More London Parks
Hyde Park
One of London's largest and most famous Royal Parks, home to the Serpentine lake, Speakers' Corner and 350 acres of open parkland in the heart of the city.
St James's Park
The oldest Royal Park in London, set between Buckingham Palace and Whitehall, famous for its lake, resident pelicans and postcard views of the palace.
Green Park
A tranquil Royal Park of mature trees and open lawns linking Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly, known for its simplicity, spring daffodils and memorials.