The BBC, Portland Place, Regent’s Park & Baker Street - 3.1 km Route
- Philip Carey
- Oct 13
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 10
This comprehensive set of guides for runners and striders provides all the necessary information to complete the self-guided route in one place, allowing you to explore at your own pace. This relaxing route up Portland Place and Regent’s Park has history, iconic sights, hotels, shopping, an open-air theatre, parks and gardens, boating lakes and lots of nature "flora and fauna".
The Familiarisation Guide provides all the core route information.
The Sightseeing Guide and Virtual tour guide add points of interest and 360-degree information.
The Connoisseur's Guide offers recommendations for places to eat, drink, and be entertained, as well as suggestions for exploring the surrounding areas and 'add-on' routes.
THE EXPERIENCE
This route takes you from the busy shopping streets around Oxford Circus, up past the BBC and the stunning Regency architecture of Portland Place, and into the beautifully landscaped Regent’s Park with its delightful gardens, peaceful ponds and fabulous walks. The route finishes at the top end of Marylebone by Baker Street Station, with the Sherlock Holmes Museum, Madame Tussauds and Marylebone High Street nearby.
THE ROUTE FAMILIARISATION GUIDE (Level 1)
This guide provides you with the essential information you need to become familiar with the route before you arrive.
An overview map, My Google Map, and Strava Map to help guide you along the route
A video showing you what the route looks like as if you were running it at over 40 km/h.
Information to bear in mind along the route.
MAP OF THE ROUTE
The links to My Google and Strava Maps are designed to help you keep on track and limit the chances of getting lost. They don't provide turn-by-turn directions, but they do show your location relative to the route. They will open in a new tab.
The Google map shows the main route in red
HIGH SPEED VIDEO OF THE ROUTE (5:12)
The high-speed video of the main red route is designed to get you visually familiar with the route ahead of your visit. It shows you a runner's view as if they were sprinting at over 40 km/h
THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND
The route is generally quiet; however, the best time to do this route is in the early morning, especially on weekends when there are no crowds, the light is at its best, and you have the rest of the day ahead of you.
West End Shop opening hours - There are set opening hours; however, most shops are generally open from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM on weekdays, with later hours on Thursdays and Saturdays, and shorter hours from around 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Sundays.
Park Opening Times – Pedestrian gates open from 5 am., as do most of the toilets. Closing times of the park vary seasonally – from 4 pm in the darkest months to 9:30 pm in the height of summer.
Route and Accessibility – Mix of pavements and paths. The route can be crowded at the start and end times, and there are often many cyclists racing around Regent's Park.
Route Blogs –Have the Blog and the Google, and the Strava Maps to hand for reference
THE ROUTE SIGHTSEEING GUIDE - (Level 2)
Once you are familiar with the route, the next time you take it, why not take the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the sights you can see along the way, take photos, and learn a bit about the area's history? The sights include:
Oxford and Regent Street shops
The BBC, The Langham Hotel
Great Portland Street
Regent’s Park (Avenue Gardens, Queen Mary’s Garden, and the boating lake),
The Sherlock Holmes Museum
Madame Tussauds London
For more information on these and other sights nearby, see the gallery and the supporting text below
Virtual Tour Guide
This virtual tour guide is designed to help you familiarise yourself with the route and enhance your memories of 'being there'. Clicking on the picture will take you to a new page showing a map of 360 locations in the area. Click on the location icons, and you will be transported to an interactive 360-degree view of that area - in a new tab.
THE ROUTE CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE - (Level 3)
Once you are familiar with the route and its sights, why not become a connoisseur of the area and explore the surrounding routes that will uncover new things to see, places to eat, drink, and be entertained?
FOOD AND DRINK LOCATIONS
The main area for food and drink is a little bit away from the route. On the eastern side, Charlotte Street, Goodge Street, and the streets running parallel and to the north of Oxford Street offer a wide selection of venues to suit most tastes. The areas southeast of Baker Street and along Marylebone High Street also offer a good selection of places to eat and drink as well as great shops. There is a smaller selection at the start and end of the route and along Warren Street. Regent’s Park has a couple of places along the route where you can find refreshments, and Regent's Bar & Kitchen on the western side by the Inner Circle has tasty hot breakfasts, lunch choices, ice cream sundaes, and sandwiches.
THINGS TO DO LOCATIONS
The start of the route takes you from the busy shopping areas around Oxford Street, past the BBC, The Langham Hotel, and All Souls Church, and the fabulous Georgian architecture along Portland Place, providing you with an insight into the style and elegance of those who lived here during the Regency period in the early 1800s.
The highlight of this route is Regent's Park and its diverse attractions, including Avenue Gardens, the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, Queen Mary's Gardens with its 40,000 roses, and the picturesque boating lake. The Regent’s Park route also offers opportunities for wildlife spotting, sports, leisurely walks, and London Zoo.
The end of the route has two attractions that are worth visiting: Madame Tussauds London and the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221b Baker Street. This is also an opportunity to explore the shops and eating and drinking places along and around Baker Street and Marylebone High Street.
ROUTE EXTENTION
The map below and the My Google map link provide three extensions to the main route, helping you explore the area and find places to eat and drink. These are:
The Oxford Circus Loop - 1.8 km
Boating Lake Loop - 1.9 km
Baker Street East Loop - 1.7 km
The Google map shows the main route in red and the additional extension routes in blue. A video and a more detailed explanation of these routes will be added shortly.
FOLLOW ON ROUTES
If you want a 'follow-on' route, try the 'Marylebone High Street and Oxford Street Shopping - 3.1 km.' This is part of a connected series of routes that will take you across London to Hyde Park.
