The Regency period is very much back in fashion thanks to a certain Netflix series. Last weekend my son Richard and I met up with our “walk in the past walking” group to explore part of Regency London. On Saturday We walked about six miles from Paddington Station along Regent’s canal and through Regent’s Park. Luckily the weather was sunny and west London is very flat.
So this week for Natalie’s coffee share I am going to invite you to have coffee with me in one of the eight Royal Parks in London. But as we are in England you might prefer tea. I expect you would be as shocked as I was that should you wish to use the toilets, you are expected to pay 20p by credit or debit card.
This was our third group weekend walking in London. Last year we visited Greenwich and Hampstead Heath
My son Richard lives in London and he kindly lets me stay with him and joins me on the walks. This weekend we were told to meet at Paddington railway station.
I think of Paddington as our London Railway station. It is the station you arrive at if you come from Bristol. Most visitors however don’t realise that tucked behind the station is the start of Regent’s canal, a nine mile stretch of water which links the Grand Union Canal at Paddington with the Thames at Limehouse in London.
We followed the first part of the canal as far as Regent’s Park. The canal was designed by John Nash and named for the Prince Regent the future George IV. It was opened in 1820.
We passed through Little Venice. Little Venice which is part of Maida Vale was named by the poet Robert Browning who settled nearby after the death of his wife Elizabeth in Italy. The canal was very busy with pleasure boats and there were lots of house boats moored along one side. As we got near Camden the path became busier. We paused for a quick lunch at Camden Lock and the women in the group resolved to come back for a better look at Camden market which is known to be a good place to buy antiques and unusual souvenirs.
Visitors to London are often surprised by the amount and variety of wildlife in the city but we had some rarer species to add to our list as the canal passes through London Zoo. Normally you can see a variety of birds in the Snowdon aviary which was designed by Princess Margaret’s husband from the canal tow path but it is being redeveloped to house a variety of African animals including Colobus monkeys and was empty. The zoo was opened to the public in 1847 and has been popular ever since.
If you would like to explore Regent’s canal by boat several companies offer short boat tours. Regent canal boat tours
The trip from Little Venice to Camden takes about 45 minutes. (affiliate Link)
Regent’s Park
We spent the afternoon exploring Regents Park. It was developed from a Royal hunting ground and is much loved by Londoners. I think it is one of the prettiest of the eight royal parks in London. In April when we visited we could see cherry blossom and beds of tulips. The 395 acre park also has a large boating lake and an open air theatre. It is great to see London returning to normal after Covid lockdowns and for the first time in my life I could imagine living there.
There were goslings on the boating lake and visitors were enjoying feeding the birds. I could hear a lot of squawking from the green parakeets which are a recent addition to the local fauna. We did not spot them but the park also boasts a breeding population of hedgehogs.
What to see
The Griffin Tazza often known as the lion vase. (featured image).
The Ready Money Drinking Fountain is a four-sided granite and marble gothic drinking fountain that gets its unusual name from Sir Cowasjee Jehangir, whose nickname was Ready Money. It is located in the centre of the Broad Walk.
Ready Money was a wealthy Parsee industrialist from Bombay who donated it to The Regent’s Park in 1869 as a thank-you for the protection that he and fellow Parsees received during British rule in India.
Queen Mary’s Rose garden
Queen Mary’s Rose garden has 12,000 species of roses and 9,000 begonias. They were not in flower when we visited but the garden must be lovely in late May or June.
part two, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park
5 responses to “Exploring more of West London, Regents Canal and Regents Park”
I was surprised to see a fee to use the bathroom when I was visiting a few European cities. But I have to say, they are very clean.
Those places look like great spots for a walk. When we were in Italy and Switzerland we did notice that many bathrooms required you to pay to use them.
We are used to paying but it is the first time I have had to use a debit card. They did not accept cash. On my statement it was listed as hygiene services.
Anne, Thank you for sharing this lovely tour with us at #Weekend coffee share. I hope to explore this area when I visit London again in the future. Have a great weekend!
I love the idea of a coffee share.