A Stone, a Rose, & a Nose: Regent’s Park & Paddington

Summer is here, and that has to mean roses, so we’ll be making our first trip for a couple of years to see the glorious blooms in Queen Mary’s Garden at Regent’s Park https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/the-regents-park/things-to-see-and-do/gardens-and-landscapes/queen-marys-gardens. Before we get there, we’ll be riding out to Paddington Old Cemetery in Kilburn to pay our respects at the grave of children’s author Michael Bond, the creator of the Paddington Bear books. Then we ride through St John’s Wood to reach Regent’s Park, where we will enjoy the roses and refreshments at the café, or bring your own food for a picnic (marmalade sandwiches are optional).

Riding on, we will make our way to Paddington Green, to visit the statue of 18th century actress Sarah Siddons, hear the strange story of her nose https://www.heritageoflondon.org/projects/statue-of-sarah-siddons, and also see the sculptures of former local residents Michael Bond, Mary Seacole, and Alan Turing next to St Mary’s Church https://thelondonphile.com/2013/05/29/new-paddington-sculptures/. We then reach Paddington Station where we can explore some of the new developments on Merchant Square, as well as seeing another memorial to Alan Turing https://londonist.com/2016/09/alan-turing-commemorated-with-new-paddington-installation.

Our homeward ride takes us through Bayswater, skirting around Shepherds Bush and Acton, then back to Ealing. It is also possible to shorten the ride by taking the train back from Paddington to Ealing.

Riding to Regent's Park & Paddington, to view the Rose Garden and several interesting memorials.

Quieter roads, cycle tracks, shared paths.

Several brief stops to view memorials and points of interest. Longer break for refreshments and time to visit the rose gardens.

Money/card for cafe. Locks for bikes.

First-timers welcome!