Regent's Park and the adjacent Primrose Hill are among the most popular natural areas in the heart of London.

After Hyde Park, which is connected to Kensington Gardens, Regent's Park is the second largest green space in London.

The park was created during the 19th century at the instigation of the Prince Regent, later King George IV. It includes a magnificent rose garden, London Zoo and the popular Boating Lake, with its abundance of water birds and beautiful quiet corners.

Queen Mary's Rose Garden

Perhaps the most attention-grabbing part of the park is a section called Regent's Park Inner Circle, the most beautiful and well-tended area in the style of French gardens.

Its main landmark is undoubtedly the world-famous Queen Mary's Rose Garden, with more than 12,000 specimens of roses of many colours arranged in beds of beautiful patterns.

ZSL London Zoo

The northern 15 hectares of parkland are occupied by the main ZSL (Zoological Society of London) London Zoo.

Although it is one of the smallest zoos in Europe's major cities, the number of animals is one of the largest, with 20,000 animals. Even the number of 670 species is comparable to the world's largest zoos such as those in Prague, Berlin or San Diego.

Even with its small size, the zoo specialises in smaller species such as birds, reptiles, fish and marine animals. Large mammals are of course not absent, but the enclosures are not as spectacular as in other gardens.

Ticket prices range from about 27 gbp to 37 gbp depending on availability. Check the zoo's website for the current price list and calendar.

Giraffes at London Zoo

Aquarium at London Zoo

View of Primrose Hill

Although the northern end of Regent's Park is bounded by Prince Albert Road, another park, Primrose Hill, is directly adjacent to it. As the name suggests, this is an elevated grassy plain with meadows and trees, offering a beautiful view of central London.

And because London itself is not very rugged, there's no great elevation gain to enjoy the views.

The top of Primrose Hill is just 64 metres above sea level.

Primrose Hill

Open Air Theatre

A popular attraction at Regent's Park is the open-air summer theatre, which hosts performances almost every day during the season. Built in 1932, the theatre can seat over 1,200 spectators.

Expect ticket prices to range from 25 gbp to 65 gbp depending on the attractiveness of the venue.

For schedule and ticketing, visit: openairtheatre.com.

Accommodation near the park

In particular, the area around Baker Street tube station at the southwestern end of the park is a very strategic place to stay. There are 5 underground lines crossing here, and the major Marylebone station and all amenities are close by.

The cheapest hotels with prices around 147 eur per night in this area include Americana Hotel *** or Regency Hotel Westend ***.

How to get to Regent's Park?

The closest tube stations to the popular Rose Gardens and Open Air Theatre are Baker Street (Bakerloo, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines) or Regent's Park (Bakerloo line).

Conversely, Camden Town (Northern) Underground station is the closest to London Zoo and Primrose Hill. The 274 bus stops right at the entrance to the zoo.