‘Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford’. –Samuel Johnson
Friends, these are my thoughts exactly. January 2nd 2019 will represent 17 years since I rocked up in London, a few boxes under my arm, a few weeks before my 22nd birthday. All these years later I love this place more than ever. Last weekend we made yet another new discovery, the serenely tranquil Regents Park Open Air Theatre.
Ok so it wasn’t exactly a discovery per se because I knew of its existence but had never visited. When our niece and nephew come to stay we always try to find something different to do for both them and us. London is our home yet there’s so much still to explore. When Pete suggested tickets for Little Shop of Horrors which is currently showing at the theatre, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to pay a visit.
Hands up to confession time, I really don’t know North London at all. My first home was Earls Court so any sunny days were spent in Hyde Park and then 8 years later when we decamped to southeast London, well you can’t turn a corner here without finding another green space so Regents Park has always eluded us.
And my goodness what has eluded us is quite possibly my new very favouritest theatre space. It’s about a 10 minute walk from Baker Street station although if you can find a route that avoids the hordes of tourists waiting outside Madame Tussauds PLEASE let me know. I’ll never understand why waxworks are so popular, each to their own.
I’m not really sure what I was expecting, perhaps an open grassy space with a few canopies. Instead it’s the prettiest box office which, once through, you’re guided down the ramp into a theatre-reception-meets-botanical gardens. We didn’t manage to see all the different areas at Regents Park Open Air Theatre because I got sidetracked by the bar and its promise of buckets of gin but there is also a Summer Cafe and The Grill for any pre-theatre food requirements.
As for the stage itself, every seat has a fantastic view and surrounded by trees, you could be anywhere let alone one of London’s beautiful parks. I told Pete it was also the poshest theatre experience I’ve had, watching people carry in not just glasses of wine and Pimms but bottles and jugs. Patrons nibbled on strawberries and very British picnics. The perfect way to spend a few hours on a summer Saturday afternoon.
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