Regent’s Park is great for families. It’s a large, diverse space with lots to see and do, with big open spaces as well as shady trees. Some ideas for you to think about include:
There are four, spread between Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill. See our photos and writeups for what each of these contains.
There are six cafés and a kiosk where you can get a bite to eat, get a refreshing drink, and rest your legs.
There are so many lovely corners to stretch out a blanket and chill out with an open air picnic (don’t forget to tidy up afterwards). Bring balls, sandwiches, frisbees, cards, and remember the sun cream when the sun is out.
Yes we have ice-cream. There’s a stand near the bandstand as well as at the cafés dotted around the Park.
There are dozens of colourful ducks, herons and swans to admire on the lake or at the Wildlife and Waterfowl centre. There are signboards to use as a checklist of sightings.
Why not cast off on a pedalo or rowing boat at Regent’s Park’s famous boating lake? (needs an adult to accompany). There’s also a children’s boating lake near Hanover Gate.
There are lions, a tiger, lowland gorillas and penguins to admire. You can even catch a good glimpse of camels, monkeys and giraffes from the road and the pathways inside the Park. When the lion is in good voice, you can hear him from all over the Park. https://www.zsl.org/london/
There are always one or two children-friendly shows in the summer programme (check the website https://openairtheatre.com/). It’s an unforgettable place to enjoy a performance
Every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday in the summer. Hire a deckchair and soak up the music, ranging from concert bands to jazz, big bands, choirs, acapella and more.
And roll down. Or check the skyline with the skyline guide map, ticking off all the famous buildings you can see, from St Paul’s to the Shard, westwards to the Houses of Parliament and London Eye, and eastwards to the Gherkin, the Walkie Talkie all the way to Canary Wharf beyond. Did you know there were 3 anti-aircraft guns on Primrose Hill in WW2? See if you can locate evidence of where they were.
If you have one. Or borrow someone else’s. But to be sure to follow signs showing where dogs cannot go (the Avenue and Queen Mary’s Gardens) and where they must be kept on leads to protect the wildlife (around the boating lake).
On Marylebone, Cumberland and Gloucester Greens.
From Chester Road to the Outer Circle, with its wide shady walkways and gentle slopes. Pass the Ready Money fountain at the mid-point of the ride. There is a drinking fountain there if you are thirsty.
Boats on the Regent’s Canal run from Little Venice to Camden Market or vice versa. It takes about 50 minutes. All aboard for some gorgeous views. Book here.
Come and learn to fly at the Gorilla Circus! Start with a warm up then move on to practise a simple trick on a low bar, before attempting the trick on the Flying Trapeze. Classes take place on the north-west corner of Regent’s Park, north of the Outer Circle and west of Avenue Road. To find out more and book click here.
