Baker100 - Regent's Park station Station opened: Saturday 10th March 1906 Distance from previous station: 900m Surroundings: The station entrance is encircled by a large area of trees and gardens which you might expect would be part of Regent's Park, but you'd be wrong. This is Park Square Gardens, a privileged enclave for the exclusive use of (very) local residents. Iron railings and padlocks segregate several acres from public access, and there's even a caretaker's cottage in one corner to ensure that all undesirables are kept at arm's length. No doubt the lawns are covered by Raybans and Riviera-tanned skin in the summer, but give me the common ground to the north any day. Station building: One of relatively few tube stations with no building on the surface [photo]. Entrance is down some steps (past a tramp) through a pair of twin bore green-tiled subways [photo]. Ticket hall: gloomy, narrow and partly wood-panelled Thrilling fact: If you choose to take the stairs rather than the lift, there are 96 steps down to the platforms. Platforms: dark and melancholy with original Edwardian tiling, including the words 'Regent's Park' picked out in brown rectangles. Change here for: Great Portland Street station, which is only 100 metres up the road. Again, you'd never tell by looking at the tube map. Don't change here for: London Zoo (which may be in Regent's Park but it's almost a mile away, and Camden Town station is rather closer). Advance warning of closure: Regent's Park station is closing for a year, starting on June 5th, so that essential maintenance work can take place. Metronet are in charge, so I wouldn't hold out much hope of them leaving all the heritage features intact or even finishing on time. I've been here before: Walking the Regent's Canal(May 2005)
Station opened: Saturday 10th March 1906
Station opened: Saturday 10th March 1906