Regent’s Park and Marylebone

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Regent’s Park map

In May 2023 we spent a few days in London. As with our previous visit, in November 2022, it was a mixture of John working, meetings with friends, and family events, specifically John’s sister’s Silver Wedding party and an inspection of my niece’s new flat. This time, however, we had much better weather! It was a heat-wave.

I ended up with one day on my own in London and chose to explore Regent’s Park and Marylebone. On my way to the Park from our hotel near Euston I passed two interesting statues at SOAS and UCL, both University of London sites. I liked the quotes on each plaque.

You meet with joy ….
Thiruvalluvar information
My roots go down to the depths of the world …
Green Man info

Regent’s Park was originally part of Henry VIII’s hunting grounds, but began to take its current shape in 1811 when the Prince Regent, later George IV, appointed John Nash as his architect. I admired some of Nash’s beautiful terraces as well as the former Holy Trinity Church, built in 1828 and designed by John Soane, which is now a Wedding Gallery and events space.

The former Holy Trinity Church by John Soane (One Marylebone)
Park Crescent
St Andrew’s Place
Cambridge Gate
Chester Terrace
Chester Terrace

Then I had a walk round the park itself, and enjoyed lunch by the Boating Lake.

Park Gates
Queen Mary’s Gardens
Queen Mary’s Gardens
Queen Mary’s Gardens
Boating Lake
Boating Lake and The Holme
Boating Lake

After lunch, I left the Park and crossed Marylebone Road to visit St Marylebone Parish Church.

Tower
Interior

I found it full of interesting features, such as this window on the stairs with its inscription commemorating those whose stories have not been told.

Stair window
The last shall be first …

Downstairs, this theme continued with a lightbox installation called St Marylebone’s Changing Faces, people who had contributed to the area, both famous and unknown. I had only heard of five, how about you?

Changing Faces – Evelyn Dove
Changing Faces – Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Francis Bacon
Changing Faces – E. Ita Ekpenyon and Sake Dean Mahomed
Changing Faces – John Nash and Octavia Hill
Changing Faces – Olaudah Equiano
Changing Faces – key

As I turned down Marylebone High Street after visiting the church I stopped in the Memorial Garden. Amongst others buried here is Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.

Monument to Charles Wesley
Monument to Charles Wesley

My father was a Methodist minister, and I had already noticed Methodist Church House on Marylebone Road (now vacated, but a place with which I have had many dealings).

Methodist Church House
Foundation stone

As I came out of the Memorial Garden the vicar from the Parish Church caught up with me – he had noticed me photographing the light box installation and we discussed that, the reasons for my interest in Methodist memorials, and his own service in Scotland. He pointed out that I would soon pass Hinde Street Methodist Church, an 1880s replacement for an earlier chapel attended by some of Charles Wesley’s family. He also observed tartly that I would not be able to go in because, unlike his church, it was kept locked – and so it proved. It’s the second church below, the other is St James’s RC Church.

The only other photographs I took on Marylebone High Street were the elegant lady above Fischer’s Café and the glorious interior of Daunt Books. (Yes, I bought two, since you ask.)

I headed back to my hotel, but there was still quite a bit of afternoon left. I knew if I went in I would just slob about till John got back, so I kept walking and ended up in Coal Drops Yard, but that’s a tale for another day.

England, UK , ,

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  1. Pingback: London: a women’s history miscellany – The Glasgow Gallivanter
  2. Pingback: Coal Drops Yard and the London Canal Museum – The Glasgow Gallivanter

  3. Regent’s Park looks beautiful with the gardens and the blue skies. I’m sure it was lovely just to wander aimlessly around there. And you found so many great quotes to contemplate. I love that bookstore; I could have stayed in there for hours!

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  4. Also, as a Certified American Anglophile, I love both Regents Park and Marleybone. You have done them justice. And the bookstore is my fave. The canvas bag they give you with the purchase is worth about £20, and is so sturdy and useful. We are on a trip to Gumbo Cove in Mississippi right now where we attended Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and I have my canvas bag from Daunt bookstore in London with me. I couldn’t decide which shoes to bring for Jazz Fest, so just brought six pairs crammed into that bag, L O L!

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  5. This is an exquisite post, Annabelle. The learnings and the history you shared are awesome, and I particularly love your observation in this sentence. “He also observed tartly that I would not be able to go in because, unlike his church, it was kept locked – and so it proved.” I grew up Methodist with parents who were very involved in the church and didn’t realize that your father was a Methodist minister. Another thing we have in common! Also, I think you’ve said before that usually your husband takes the pictures, but you must’ve taken these since you were on your own, and they are awesome!

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  7. I really must have another ‘holiday’ in the Big Smoke! So much to see. I did have a wander around Regent’s Park – possibly the Queen Mary’s Garden – back in 2007 when I went for an interview nearby. That’s a long time ago! You do find some interesting things on your walks.

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  8. this looks like such a nice time to just walk and enjoy the scenery and love what you took. I only knew 2 of the people in that stained glass group. I so want to go to that book store. I miss a good book store

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  9. Great afternoon exploring Anabel, I haven’t been to Regents Park for years, maybe we will do that when we are in the UK soon. The old churches you visited look interesting too. We did explore Coal Drops Yard a few years ago.

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  10. That’s nice to have a memorial to the forgotten, exploited people. There’s been a lot of that going on over the centuries and millennia. I think many of us humans are more enlightened now (though there are still too many troglodytes).

    Is it even possible to walk into a bookstore and walk out again without a purchase?

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  11. i always enjoy a gallivant, Anabel. A chatty vicar too! I really like the window on the stair. Never been in any of the churches around there, and it seems years since I was in Marylebone.

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  12. Any time I went backpacking abroad I always left a day in London to explore the London Parks. A new park each trip usually. Ticking them off. A great delight in all seasons of the year. Bob. BSS.

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  14. Hi Anabel – what I should have mentioned is the Senate House library – I’ve been to a couple of exhibitions there … but well worth a look into … I wrote about them ‘Magic Exhibition’ in March 2019, and again in October 2019 ‘How to handle books …” to add to your list for your next London visit! Cheers H

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  15. Hi Anabel – SOAS is an amazing place – I’ve often visited them … wonderful museum/work spaces for exhibits … ‘Heads in the City’ was one of mine in Sept 2019 … there’s another on textiles across the Middle East, Asiatic countries, and journalistic papers from Namibia … a veritable mix. If you’re in town again – a place worth visiting. I used to live in Marylebone High Street – unfortunately Daunt books wasn’t there. You certainly did the rounds – the Coal Drops Yard – sounds so interesting … Hetherington is so creative. Cheers Hilary

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  20. I’ve not been to the Big Smoke since BC. A return trip overdue, I suppose. I’ve never been to Regents park or Marylebone despite many visits over the years, mind.

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  23. Hi, Anabel – My feet have been itching desperately for a walking adventure. Following your adventures (even virtually) feels wonderful. You are very lucky to live where you do and have so much history all around you!

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  25. I was born in Marylebone but have never been to church there. I like to walk in Regent’s Park if I have time when I visit my London sister. She still plays tennis there every week if she can.

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  28. I love Daunt Books! The interior of St James’ RC church is stunning too. It is very very upmarket. Only the ‘good and the great’ worship there. It is where Vera Brittain went daily to mourn her fiance, Roland, after he was killed in WWI.

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  29. I was only 12 when I went to Regent’s Park with my parents so I don’t remember much about it. It looks lovely but I suspect parts of it were quite crowded with tourists.

    I noticed in a comment you recently left on someone else’s blog that you will be in Manchester sometime in the near future – maybe we could possibly meet up if your time and schedule allow?

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