Regent's Park

Regent’s Park is one of London’s Royal Parks, covering 170 hectares in the north-west of Inner London. It lies partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden. The park’s centre holds an ornamental lake and wide stretches of grassland. Around its edges stand grand terraces, London Zoo, and Regent’s University. A ring of roads, the Outer Circle and the Inner Circle, guides visitors through the grounds. The park’s design came from John Nash and the Burtons, father James and son Decimus. James Burton financed much of the work after the Crown Estate withdrew support. The terraces and villas were built in the 1810s and 1820s. Nash acted mainly as overseer while Decimus shaped the classical style of the terraces. The park opened to the public in 1835, two days a week at first. Inside the Inner Circle lies Queen Mary’s Gardens, planted in the 1930s. The lake holds waterfowl and a heronry, and boats can be hired. Sports pitches, playgrounds, and formal gardens such as the Italian and English Gardens offer variety. Regent’s Canal runs along the northern edge, linking to the Grand Union Canal. From Primrose Hill at the south-east corner, views stretch over central London, Belsize Park, and Hampstead.