Camden to Regents Park

Camden Town is an area north of Euston Station and takes it’s name from the first Earl Camden who acquired the land in 1749. If you want to escape the noise and mayhem of the crowded weekend market at Camden Lock then use Regents Canal. The canal was opened in 1820 and links Paddington Basin to the Thames at Limehouse. Not used for industrial traffic since 1969 but most of the towpath still survives and provides walks to such places as Little Venice, but that’s another ‘walk’ altogether

Leave the towpath at Cumberland basin as the canal turns sharp right with Feng Shang floating restaurant to your left. Up the steps to Prince Albert Road and you are in Regents Park, close to London Zoo.

Regents Park covers 410 acres and is one of London’s major open spaces. A competition was held in 1811 to produce a plan for the area and avoid the encroachment of buildings onto the fields due to the rise in the local population. It was won by John Nash and with support from the Prince Regent, later George IV, work began in 1812. The work was never completed and only eight of the fifty six planned villas were built.

The park includes an open air theatre, London Zoo, cafes and restaurants.

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