Welcome to The Regent's Park & Primrose Hill
Slow down and smell the roses. Or work up a sweat. Grab a slice of culture or a slice of cake. Watch the birds or take in that famous view from Primrose Hill. There’s something here for everyone.
Key information
The Regent’s Park gardens – where life flourishes
Avenues of cherry blossom in spring. 40,000 roses in full bloom in summer. Copper beeches in autumn. Brilliant scarlet berries in the depths of winter.
In The Regent’s Park, you’ll find gardens for all seasons.
Six stunning gardens within one Royal Park
A new variety of rose in one of the 85 rose beds in Queen Mary’s Gardens, a visiting winter redwing in St. John’s Lodge Garden or a marbled white butterfly in the Community Wildlife Garden.
Whatever time of year you visit, you’ll see something in one of our gardens that you didn’t spot before. And wherever you are, look up! There are some stunning and unusual trees to spot in the park too – download our Music for Trees app that puts sound to some of the canopies here.
Queen Mary’s Gardens are the mecca for rose lovers. But it doesn’t stop at roses. There are showstopping seasonal set piece borders, a Mediterranean border, hidden benches and hideaways amid the shrubbery, and an ornamental lake.
The Avenue Gardens, designed by architect John Nash, has a stately English feel, with tiered fountains, spectacular seasonal displays and formal avenues of lime, juniper and tulip trees. A walk here will transport you back to the 18th century when The Regent’s Park was the place to see and be seen.
Best time to see Queen Mary’s Gardens
In early June, with 40,000 roses in full bloom, Queen Mary’s Gardens rivals opening night at the nearby Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Stunning – and running all summer long.
Best time to see The Avenue Garden
What could be lovelier than the explosion of pink cherry blossom and thousands of brilliant scarlet and yellow tulips in springtime? The timing of the blossom varies so it's worth checking ahead if you want to catch the cherry trees.
Gardens that give back – The Community Wildlife Garden and the Allotment Garden
In a world of garden grand designs, and landscaping for looks, it’s inspiring to visit a wildlife garden that puts biodiversity first. The Regent’s Park Community Wildlife Garden, near the Tennis Centre, is packed with wild and ornamental flowers grown to attract as much wildlife as possible. And the Allotment Garden, run entirely by volunteers, will give you masses of ideas and tips for your own garden too.
The Winter Garden
The original Winter Garden in The Regent’s Park was the first of Europe's great glasshouses, filled with non-native palms and orchids. Today’s Winter Garden, at the Charlbert Gate entrance, is the complete opposite – embracing the cold British climate, with planting specifically designed to be at its best in winter and early spring.
St. John’s Lodge Garden – the best kept ‘secret garden’ in London
The brief for this magical, hidden gem was to create a garden ‘fit for meditation.’ Robert Weir Schultz’s beautifully intimate layout, with its mixed borders, muted tones, and ornamental sculpture, is one of London’s finest surviving Arts and Crafts gardens. Enter St. John’s Lodge Garden through the Arbour, covered with clematis and honeysuckle, and relax in one of the hidden recesses in the yew hedges.
Best time to see St. John’s Lodge Garden?
Late spring, or whenever you crave some time to yourself.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are very welcome in The Regent’s Park, but there are some parts of the gardens that they can’t go. You can’t bring them into Queen Mary’s Gardens, The Avenue Garden or St. John’s Lodge Garden, but they’re welcome on a lead in The Winter Garden and the Community Wildlife Garden.
Downloads
-
The Avenue gardens
These Victorian style gardens are located at the end of the Broad walk near Chester Gate and include the Bog Garden, English Gardens and Lion Vase.
-
Queen Mary's Gardens
Queen Mary’s Gardens are world-famous and home to London’s largest collection of roses, with 12,000 roses in bloom each year.
-
Allotment garden
A food garden that features a wide range of fruits and vegetables and information on growing techniques.
-
Community wildlife garden
The team have been busy this year with the design and construction of a wildlife friendly community garden in The Regent's Park.
-
St. John's Lodge garden
Built around 1818 by John Raffield, St. John’s Lodge is now a private residence, but the main garden has public access from the Inner Circle.
-
A garden to commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II
We are currently developing proposals for a new garden in The Regent’s Park to celebrate the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II.