Regents Park, originally a hunting ground in days gone by is located in North West London between the Borough of Westminster and Borough of Camden. The Regents Park as it’s officially known is one of eight royal parks dotted around London. What hit me first about this tranquil park is the effort that’s been put into the landscape and buildings throughout.
This beautiful 410 acre royal park combines large open spaces with tree-lined pathways, formal gardens, ponds and a large lake. It boasts excellent sports facilities containing central London’s largest outdoor sports area. Sports played range from cycling, netball, athletics, cricket, softball, rounders, football, hockey, rugby, ultimate frisbee and running.
The Boating Lake
This scenic lake is home to a number of species of water birds including the mute swan, Egyptian goose, manderin duck, hobby, common sandpiper, pied wagtail, water rail, herring gull, red crested pochard, little grebe, great crested grebe, tuffed duck, lesser black-backed gull, gadwall, common pochard, canadian goose, moorhen, northern shoveler, heron, black headed gull and more.
In the summer months there’s facilities to hire small boats to row around the lake exploring its hidden beauty.
Queen Mary’s Gardens
Located within the park is ‘Queen’s Mary’s Gardens’ boasting over 12,000 planted roses of many different varieties throughout. Home to a peaceful man made waterfall, smaller lake and beautiful garden arrangements throughout. One thing you can say about this part of the park it’s exceptionally maintained and well cared for.
The Avenue Gardens
The Avenue Gardens is located to the south of Regents Park with formal displays of spring bulbs and summer bedding. Here you can see excellent thought out tiered fountains and ornamental bowls bustling to the brim with flowers and shrubs. These displays were a delight to photograph and take in.
Statues and sculptures of the park
As I wondered around the park taking in the hidden beauty this park has to offer I came across some statues and wooden sculptures. These can be found randomly throughout the park.
Facilities of Regents Park
Apart from the array of sports you can take part in, Regent Park have their very own open air theatre currently showing Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. As well as cafe’s dotted throughout the park including the boathouse cafe, the espresso bar, broadwalk cafe, the hub cafe and Regents park bar and kitchen.
Alex Bloodfire 