Things to do in Regent's Park

London Zoo has been delighting visitors ever since it was opened to the public in 1847, and is the world’s oldest scientific zoo. Different coloured routes allow you to easily find your favourite animals.

Get up close to the world’s big cats at two of the zoo’s wonderfully designed exhibits, Land of the Lion and Tiger Territory. Conservation is at the heart of London zoo, with education opportunities to the fore.

There are hundreds of species of animals for the family to enjoy, from giraffes and gorillas to komodo dragons and meerkats. Feeding times are a great time to learn more about the animals from their keepers, with penguin beach always a popular location. The zoo has plenty of experiences available for visitors, including being a keeper to the animals for a day.

Admission prices vary, with an option available for a cheaper off peak ticket. A Flexi-ticket can also be bought which is open-ended and allows you to book anytime within the following 12 months. During your visit there are plenty of places to relax and have some refreshments. These include the Beach Hut, the Aquarium Kiosk and the Terrace restaurant, which offers a seasonal and sustainable menu.

Primrose Hill sits just to the north of Regent's Park, near to London Zoo. The hill is a prime spot from where you can enjoy panoramic views across London, with the top of the hill 63 meters above sea level.

Primrose Hill is one of the six protected viewpoints in London, and the surrounding trees are maintained to a level so they do not disturb these views.

The land became accessible to the public from 1842. There is plenty of space on Primrose hill where you can relax and enjoy a picnic. At the summit of the hill you will find a William Blake quotation engraved on a stone which reads ‘I have conversed with the spiritual sun. I saw him on Primrose Hill’.

Primrose Hill was once an area where people came to fight duals in days gone by. It is a lot more peaceful today, a lovely place to watch the sun set across the capital. The area is open throughout the day, generally only closing in the evenings for special events such as Bonfire night and New Year’s eve.

The Queen Mary Gardens are renowned across the world, famous for their iconic collection of roses. This is a beautiful oasis of colours and aromas towards the centre of Regent's Park. It is named after the wife of King George V and was opened to the public in 1932.

The garden houses the largest collection of roses in London, numbering around 12,000 across 85 single variety beds. The rose beds are a stunning sight as you enter the gardens, containing a mix of classic and modern rose varieties. There is a pergola within the garden trailing roses, beneath which is a bench where you can sit and admire the flowers.

Roses are not the sole attraction to The Queen Mary Gardens. There are further striking flower beds, including those which house over 9,000 Begonias. The Delphinium borders, Mediterranean borders and shrubs all combine to make the Queen Mary Gardens an important horticultural site not to be missed when visiting Regent's Park.

It is hard to beat spending those long, lazy summer afternoons messing about on the water. The boating lake in Regent's Park allows the whole family to do just that while in London.

Rowing boats and pedalos can be hired for adults and children from the boathouse, with a small deposit required for all bookings.

Boats and pedalos can be booked for thirty minutes or a whole hour. For the early birds prices are cheaper when hiring boats before noon, with adult prices starting from £5.50 for a half hour. There is also a family ticket available which covers two adults and three children.

There is also a special lake for the little ones, with their own pedal boats which they will love. The boating lakes are open from late March through to the end of October. You can hit the water from 10.30am, with the lakes closing at 6pm. The Boathouse cafe provides terrace seating where you can enjoy refreshments overlooking the water.

Regent’s Park Open Air theatre is a 1,240 seat auditorium that allows you to watch a variety of productions in a beautiful setting. The theatre was established in 1932 and is the oldest, professional outdoor theatre operating within the country.

The Open Air theatre stages plays, comedy and music, plus film events too. This is top quality entertainment in a stunning natural environment. Productions first seen in Regent’s Park have moved in to West End theatres, with seven Olivier Awards for their productions in recent times.

The theatre is located within the park’s inner circle and can be accessed via their box office in the Queen Mary Gardens. The theatre has three pricing bands for its main productions, with band C offering the cheaper seats. Senior citizens will find the best prices for the best seats are offered for mid-week matinee performances.

The Avenue Gardens are located on the South Eastern side of Regent’s Park, close to Broad Walk. Two distinctive formal gardens make up the design of the Avenue Gardens. One of these is an Italian garden, the other a more traditional English garden.

The Italian garden was restored to its former glory in the 1990s, and is designed with formal walkways where the seasonal bedding plants share the space with elaborately designed urns and fountains. The Lion Tazza, or Lion Vase, sits in the centre of the gardens. This is a large circular stone bowl supported by winged lions which was installed in 1863, accompanied by spectacular flower beds.

The English garden element of the Avenue Gardens are comprised of the lawns just to the east of the Italian gardens. Also restored in 1990, the English gardens are planted with the tree varieties you would have seen as a visitor in the 19th century. Here you can wander past the trees and shrubs along meandering paths, with the Cherry Blossom bloom in Spring a particular highlight.

The Regent’s canal runs along the northern edge of Regent’s Park and borders London Zoo. The canal is 8.6 miles long, extending from Little Venice in the west through to Camden Lock.

For visitors to Regent’s Park the canal tow-path is another excellent walking opportunity, a picturesque part of the capital.

However, for those who would rather be on the water the canal offers good water sport opportunities. There are a number of companies providing kayaking and paddle boarding services on the canal. For a more detailed introduction to the history of the canal, and to see all the major sites along the route, you can also take a kayak tour. The tours last around 90 minutes as you travel along this tranquil stretch of water.

This historic canal has gained in popularity as more people become aware of a once hidden gem of a waterway. However, it retains a serene charm, attracting walkers, runners, cyclists and water enthusiasts alike to explore its course.

Regent’s Park is an excellent location for wildlife. This short walk from Clarence Gate provides the opportunity to see many of the different bird species which make Regent’s Park their home during the year.

Many winter migrants pass through Regent’s Park too.

The grey heron is a common resident within the park and one of the first birds you are likely to see. Tufted ducks, cormorants, swallows, grey wagtails, sparrowhawks and spotted flycatchers are just some of the many species of birds you may encounter as you walk around Regent’s park.

If you are particularly lucky you may spot a peregrine falcon. A pair of these spectacular birds began nesting near the park in 2003 and there have been regular sightings over the park since.