Description
Kent Terrace was built as part of Regent's Park Crown Estate development, a unified terrace designed by John Nash. It was built by William Smith, one of the number of speculative builders working within Nash's overall design, one of the last terraces to be built. Nash recommended Smith's scheme to the Commissioners in 1827 on condition that Smith would 'lay out the ground in front in an ornamental manner'.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Kent Terrace & Passage |
|---|---|
| Site location | Kent Terrace/Park Road |
| Postcode | NW8 7RH |
| What3Words | ///enter.craft.fruit |
| Type of Site | Private Garden |
| Borough | Westminster |
| Open to Public | No |
| Opening Times | private |
| Public Transport | Tube: Baker Street (Bakerloo, Jubilee, Hammersmith & City, Circle, Metropolitan), Marylebone (Bakerloo). Bus: 13, 82, 113, 274 |
| Research Updated | 1 March 2003 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Kent Terrace is part of John Nash's Regent's Park Crown Estate development, and was one of the last terraces to be built. It is the only major terrace that faces away from the park, with forecourt gardens facing Park Road, and backing onto the mews of Hanover Terrace (q.v.). Kent Terrace was built by William Smith, one of the number of speculative builders working within Nash's overall design. Having been a Crown Estate since 1539, the area of Regent's Park was by the end of the C18th largely farmland. Schemes to develop the area as a public park (first names Marylebone Park) were considered from c.1809, and from 1812 until c.1830 John Nash's plan of 1811 (with modifications) was implemented, the public area being opened 1835 as The Regent's Park (q.v.). The site of Regent's Park is roughly circular, being bounded by Prince Albert Road from west to north-north-east, Albany Street to east, Park Square and Park Crescent (q.v.) to south-east, various terraces to south, and by Park Road to south-west. Nash recommended Smith's scheme for Kent Terrace to the commissioners in 1827 on condition that Smith would "lay out the ground in front in an ornamental manner". Peter Potter's survey of Marylebone of c1832 shows lawn with rectangular wilderness as central feature. Elegant railings, 2 notable Horse Chestnuts, shrubs.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ275825 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.158 |
| Site Ownership | The Crown Estate |
| Site Management | Crown Estate Paving Commission |
| Dates | 1827 |
| Designers | John Nash |
| Listed Structures | LBII*: Nos.1-18 Kent Terrace. LBII: 9 lamp standards to forecourt drive of Kent Terrace |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | Yes |
| Local Authority | Westminster |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Regent's Park |
| Tree Preservation Order | To be checked |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Hanover Terrace was designed by John Nash as part of his Regent's Park development for the Crown Estate. It consists of a terrace of 20 houses arranged as one group overlooking a long strip of front garden and Regent's Park. Each house also had a small private rear garden and mews. Today the garden has lawn into which are set 2 circular rose beds, shrubs along the railings, mature and semi-mature trees.
Dorset Square was built in 1815-1820 as the central feature of the planned urban layout of the Portman Estate. The square was built on land formerly occupied by Thomas Lord's first cricket ground established in 1787, which vacated the site in 1811. The garden enclosure, little altered since its original lay-out in 1814, was owned by Portman family, its maintenance vested in a private Trust by Act of Parliament in 1813. The Trust levied a rate for its upkeep on residents of Dorset Square, who had the right to use the garden. In 1952 death duties forced the Estate to sell the freeholds of the square and it is now owned and maintained by the Dorset Square Trust.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Regent's University London was formerly occupied by Bedford College, set up in the mid C19th for the higher education of women, which moved to South Villa in Regent's Park in 1908, when new buildings were erected. It continued as such until the 1990s when Regent's College took over the site and mainly ran business courses for foreign nationals. In 2013 the college was awarded university status and it is now Regent's University London. Bedford College had an interesting botany garden, which had included rare specimens, but it was landscaped over when Bedford College left the site. The former botanic garden has since been nurtured as a 'secret garden' as part of the landscape work undertaken in the grounds. The gardens include a sub-tropical rockery by the lake near what may be an old police 'lock-up'; a conservatory garden, open lawns, fine mature trees, and an oriental-themed garden 'room'. Two students from the US who died in the Lockerbie plane crash are commemorated with trees in the gardens.
Regent's University London was formerly occupied by Bedford College, set up in the mid C19th for the higher education of women, which moved to South Villa in Regent's Park in 1908, when new buildings were erected. It continued as such until the 1990s when Regent's College took over the site and mainly ran business courses for foreign nationals. In 2013 the college was awarded university status and it is now Regent's University London. Bedford College had an interesting botany garden, which had included rare specimens, but it was landscaped over when Bedford College left the site. The former botanic garden has since been nurtured as a 'secret garden' as part of the landscape work undertaken in the grounds. The gardens include a sub-tropical rockery by the lake near what may be an old police 'lock-up'; a conservatory garden, open lawns, fine mature trees, and an oriental-themed garden 'room'. Two students from the US who died in the Lockerbie plane crash are commemorated with trees in the gardens.
