Between bucolic North London and buzzy Marylebone you’ll find Regent’s Park. Once the hunting ground of Tudor kings, this broad green expanse was transformed by the future King George IV and his star architects, John Nash, James Burton and Decimus Burton, into a beautiful residential area with a pleasure garden at its heart.

Whether you’re moving to Regent’s Park or just checking it out for a future relocation, you’ll find lots to see and do. Here’s our guide to just a few of the highlights.

Go to the zoo!

Within Regent’s Park itself, near the Gloucester Gate, you’ll find ZSL London Zoo. This family attraction is also an environmental powerhouse, with a thriving Conservation Breeding and Reintroduction programme for rare and endangered animals, from leopards to land snails. The zoo has plenty to offer at any time of year, with family days, a busy events calendar and almost fifteen thousand different animals for you to admire.

If you’re going to be in London for a while, consider becoming a ZSL member. An annual pass will get you free entry to London Zoo and its sister Whipsnade Zoo in Dunstable, plus a host of other benefits.

Go wildlife-spotting

If wildlife is more your thing, Regent’s Park is a welcoming and sustainable home for a host of species. Tawny owls, green woodpeckers, peregrine falcons and grey herons are just some of the more spectacular inhabitants, but the park is rich in amphibian, fish and insect life too. It’s a paradise for wildlife photographers, as well as all those who want to appreciate the variety and wealth of British fauna.

Get fit(ter)

Regent’s Park is known for its unique landscaping and beautiful monuments, but did you know that it also has the biggest outdoor sports centre in the capital? The Hub has a range of pitches – lacrosse, cricket, rugby, football and softball – as well as areas for casual play. Whatever your age or skill level, if you love team sports then you’ll find a club to join here.

The park’s well-maintained and scenic paths also make it a great place to run, walk or jog. Bikes are restricted to the outer circle, but that’s still a great circuit to ride – and a favourite training route with local cycling clubs.

Go and play

For families with children, you’ll find three generously equipped playgrounds within Regent’s Park itself, at Hanover Gate, Gloucester Gate and Marylebone Green. Play in the Park currently hosts weekly Wednesday sessions at Gloucester Gate in the school holidays, with all kinds of fun activities run by their experienced team of playworkers.

Visit a museum

If you feel like entertaining yourself indoors for a change, why not visit one of the many museums in this part of London? Exit Regent’s Park via the York Gate and you’ll find Madame Tussauds. The world-famous waxwork museum has a range of spectacular displays featuring celebrities and historical figures as well as your favourite fictional characters.

Speaking of fictional characters, guess where the Sherlock Holmes museum is located? That’s right: 221B Baker Street, right next to the park and just a short walk from Madame Tussauds. Fans of Conan Doyle’s great detective can immerse themselves in an authentic Victorian setting enriched with a host of details from the Sherlock stories.

To the north-west of Regent’s Park, just by Gloucester Gate, is the Jewish Museum. Here you can discover the history of the UK’s Jewish communities and the diversity of Jewish life in Britain today. The museum has a fascinating collection of everyday items that will interest the whole family.

Eat and drink

Regent’s Park might not be known as a culinary hub, but you’ll still find plenty of great food and drink choices in the area. Fine dining is a speciality, with French, Indian, Chinese, Italian and Thai options within a stone’s throw of the park itself. And of course you’re only a few minutes’ walk from Marylebone, with its great range of international restaurants.

Go to a match

Just to the west of Regent’s Park is Lord’s Cricket Ground. This place of pilgrimage for cricket fans is the home of the Marylebone Cricket Club – the famous MCC. You’ll find local, regional and international matches to attend here, and it’s an experience like no other. You can also take a guided tour of the grounds or visit the on-site museum.

Join in the fun!

Budding cricketers can join Primrose Hill Cricket Club, which is based at the Hub in Regent’s Park itself. This friendly, inclusive club provides year-round expert coaching for boys and girls from age 5 and up. Rising England star Maia Bouchier is an alumna.

Take to the water

One of Regent’s Park’s many wonderful features is its expansive boating lake, which stretches around the south-western quarter of the park. You can hire a boat or pedalo to explore the lake yourself, or simply sit with a picnic and watch the boats go by. You’ll also see plenty of wildlife here.

Take in a show

By Queen Mary’s Garden in the heart of the park is Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, which was founded in 1932. New and classic plays, musicals and comedy are all on the programme. The spectacular setting and the barrier-free format break down the wall between performers and audience, making the theatre experience even more immediate and exciting. With 1,240 seats, it’s large-scale and intimate all at once.

For a more informal experience, wander past the Bandstand in the Rose Garden and you might just hear some terrific live music. The Green Note in nearby Parkway also has a packed evening programme of live folk, jazz and world music. This small, atmospheric venue also offers great local vegetarian and vegan food, with gluten-free options on request.

At Cadogan Tate, London  Regent’s Park removals are our speciality. We know and love the capital, and we’re always happy to share the expertise we’ve gathered over 40 years of professional activity. If you’re considering a move to Regent’s Park, just get in touch for more information and a free bespoke quote. In the meantime, why not check out our Regent’s Park suppliers guide?