Queen Mary's Rose Garden
Queen Mary's Gardens in The Regent's Park hold London's largest collection of roses, about 8,000 plants in 85 single-variety beds. Free to wander, they are at their best in the first two weeks of June, when the scent and colour make this one of the city's loveliest summer walks.
Photos
Ebrahim Al Homoud
The roses
The gardens cover most rose types, from classic old roses to modern English varieties, each bed given over to a single variety so you can compare colour and fragrance as you go. One bed is planted with the 'Royal Parks' rose. Shrubberies are laid out to create quieter corners, and there are plenty of benches for a pause. Labels on the beds help if you are looking for ideas for your own garden.
A little history
The gardens are named after Queen Mary, wife of King George V. They opened to the public in 1932, and the rose garden was completed in 1934. Today they are cared for by The Royal Parks, which manages Regent's Park as a whole.
Planning a visit
Aim for early June for peak bloom, ideally on a weekday morning before the crowds. Out of season the beds are cut back, but the gardens still make a calm stroll. Combine a visit with a longer walk through Regent's Park, then head north to Camden Market for food, or south towards Marylebone and Mayfair, where Mercato Mayfair serves street food inside a former church.
Highlights
- Around 8,000 roses
- 85 single-variety rose beds
- London's largest rose collection
- Opened 1932, rose garden completed 1934
- Free to visit
Good to know
- Best blooms are in the first two weeks of June.
- The gardens are in the Inner Circle of The Regent's Park, managed by The Royal Parks.
- Benches are spread throughout the gardens.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: royalparks.org.uk