Sport in Marylebone

Regent’s Park is one of London’s Royal Parks. It was owned by the Crown until 1646. The London Royal Parks, which also include Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, are lucious green spaces within the urban landscape of London.

In his Youth, King Henry VIII was a keen sportsman. He enjoyed many sports, from hunting to jousting. To maintain his sporting habits, Henry needed land, meaning he had a connection to almost all the parks in London – even creating some of them. Henry VIII’s passion for hunting meant he always wanted more land and in 1538 he seized Marylebone Park from the Abbess of Barking, turning 554 acres into a hunting chase. A ditch and rampart kept the deer in and poachers out.

For the next 50 years it was one of the several Royal Parks in London where the king or queen entertained visitors. In fact, it wasn’t until 1835, during the reign of King William IV, that the general public were actually allowed into the sections of the park, and this was only for two days of the week.

Nowadays, the park is open to all and still plays a big part in the sporting world – Regent’s Park was scheduled to play a part in the 2012 Olympics. Although the sports were dropped from the programme, the Hub still remains and is home to the largest outdoor sports facility in London.

For more on the parks, their history and where to find them click on the links below!

Sources: Royal Parks and London Gardens Trust.