which kicks off with the UK premiere of Shucked In a room overlooking the tarpaulin-wrapped seats of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (OAT) — a space that has entertained audiences since the early 1930s — Drew McOnie is contemplating his first season as artistic director “I feel quite emotional about it,” he shares “Everything I am as an artist has been ignited and solidified by my work at Regent’s Park.” McOnie choreographed and/or directed some of OAT’s most memorable successes nominated for Best Theatre Choreography at the Oliviers (an accolade it missed out on to another show a then 31-year-old McOnie choreographed: In the Heights) But OAT can’t take full credit for McOnie’s making he reworked Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom into a musical he earned rave reviews for The Artist at Theatre Royal Plymouth OAT is about to re-emerge from winter hibernation, and it seems fitting that where outgoing artistic director Timothy Sheader’s final season closed on one field of crops (the wheat pastures of Fiddler on the Roof), McOnie’s first opens on another: the UK premiere of Shucked which earned nine Tony nominations on Broadway members of the US creative team are crossing the pond who turned up in Regent’s Park dressed head to toe in merch “This is how much he believes in it,” laughs McOnie who chose the musical because it “makes you feel deeply in a way that’s predominantly expressed through joy and humour” Next is Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill showcasing sweeping dance sequences from Allegro McOnie is confident it will be well-received in a space known for “reexamining and reintegrating old musicals” “I’ve wanted to do the triple bill since I was about 19… it’s sort of my dream job” he’s bringing in a trio of leading female choreographers – Julia Cheng (Allegro) Shelley Maxwell (Oklahoma!) and Kate Prince (Carousel) He envisages the medley as “a love letter to Agnes De Mille,” who choreographed the originals McOnie calls it “the adventurous element of the season” but it’s not the first time OAT has put dance centrestage: in 1934 it staged an al fresco ballet danced by Robert Helpmann He hopes the show will attract both dance and theatre fans “I would feel proud with either dance or theatre critics… hopefully make them realise they’re not two separate communities.” he hopes to “break down the boundaries between what is considered to be a play But all in good time: if his predecessor’s 17-year tenure is any guide Also joining the team is Tinuke Craig, who directed 2024’s A Raisin in the Sun at the Lyric Hammersmith, as Associate Artistic Director. She’ll direct Noughts & Crosses “We’re very lucky to have Craig,” says McOnie “It’s a great play for building empathy and learning about lived experiences.” A late summer thrill comes with the first London production of Brigadoon in 35 years McOnie will direct and choreograph a new adaptation by Scottish playwright Rona Munro air pilots crash in the Highlands and discover Brigadoon Having Munro on board lends it “a more authentically expressed love of being Scottish,” he says The theatre also welcomes back last summer’s hit, The Enormous Crocodile is about “giving ourselves time to deliver original young people’s work,” but also because “it’s something we feel very proud of.” Exploring programming outside the summer window is also on his list the theatre broke ground by opening in March with Bear Snores On he’s giving “serious consideration” to Halloween and Christmas “The venue has traditionally been used beautifully for romance and optimism and joy,” he says it’s “how we might start using it for terror and horror and Halloween.” Book tickets to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre shows on LondonTheatre.co.uk This article first appeared in the May 2025 issue of London Theatre Magazine. Photo credit: Drew McOnie, inset, rehearsals for Shucked. (Photos by David Jensen, Pamela Raith) Shucked10 May 2025 - 14 June 2025Maizy and Beau are getting hitched, when the corn that protects their small community starts to die. The town needs answers. But who will dare to venture beyond the borders of Cob County? Noughts & Crosses28 June 2025 - 26 July 2025Widely considered to be one of the 21st century’s greatest novels, Malorie Blackman’s best-selling Noughts & Crosses, a bittersweet love story with echoes of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, is revived for the London stage in this brand new production. Brigadoon2 August 2025 - 20 September 2025‘Brigadoon, Brigadoon, There my heart forever lies' From the writers of My Fair Lady, Camelot and Gigi, let the magical outdoor setting of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre transport you to the captivating Scottish Highlands for this major new production of Lerner & Loewe’s musical classic, Brigadoon. The Enormous Crocodile15 August 2025 - 7 September 2025‘For my lunch today I would like… a nice juicy little child!’ He’s greedy, he’s grumptious, he’s beastly, he’s…BACK! Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill 19 June 2025 - 22 June 2025This triple bill presents reimagined dream ballets for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre choreographed by award-winning dance makers Julia Cheng (Allegro) The performances feature extended new musical arrangements by Tony Award winner Simon Hale You can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced the cast for Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year – Live! Allie Esiri returns with an exciting new star-studded cast for what promises to be another hugely entertaining evening of Shakespeare scenes and speeches based on her bestselling anthology: Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year Continuing the celebrations marking over 90 years of Shakespeare at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Allie Esiri and friends will take you on a spellbinding adventure through the timeless works of Shakespeare performed by award-winning stage and screen actors with a notable connection to his plays and this unique open-air theatre An amazing night of great performances that will illuminate the life Shakespeare For Every Day of the Year by Allie Esiri is a yearlong collection of speeches and scenes from across Shakespeare's works; each day’s extract is introduced with an enlightening note Signed copies of the book will be available at the theatre For more info on Shakespeare For Every Day of the Year - Live!, please click here. Advertising Website design by: Tess Robinson was put on the market two years ago for £250m A 40-bedroom mansion inside Regent’s Park formerly owned by the Saudi royal family has been sold for about £139m in one of London’s biggest ever property sales The Holme, a 2,694 sq metre (29,000 sq ft) residence in 1.6 hectares (4 acres) of gardens, sits next to the park’s boating lake close to London zoo and the US ambassador’s residence, Winfield House. It was put on the market nearly two years ago with agents reportedly seeking offers as high as £250m The mansion has been sold to a UK subsidiary of Zedra a corporate services firm that advises and manages investments for wealthy people the identity of the buyer remains a mystery Previously owned by Prince Khaled bin Sultan al-Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family, the property has now reportedly been sold for £138.9m, significantly below sales estimates made when it went on the market in March 2023 The true identity of the Holme’s new owner is unknown, despite requirements for offshore companies with UK properties to declare their ultimate owners. Photograph: Greg Balfour Evans/AlamyBuilt in 1818 the Holme had been bought on behalf of Prince Khaled and his family in 1991 but was put up for sale when a loan secured against the property expired The company which is registered as the new owner of the Holme is controlled by a Zedra entity based in Luxembourg This means the true identity of the residence’s new owner is unknown, despite requirements for offshore companies with UK properties to declare their ultimate owners A register of overseas entities was brought in by the previous government to improve transparency about offshore property ownership although some companies with UK property obscure their beneficial ownership because they are controlled by trusts based offshore Free daily newsletterGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning The Holme – whose name derives from a Saxon word referring to a small island or elevated piece of land in water or a river – is ultimately owned by the crown estate, an ancient portfolio of land and property across England and Wales belonging to the monarch yet has been made available to buy on a long lease The property was called “the ultimate desirable residence” by the BBC when it went on the market for £30m in 1988 when it was described as “possibly the world’s most expensive home” Search More results... Check out the latest photos and videos of hit Broadway musical comedy Shucked at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London Shucked is playing the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre as part of its summer 2025 season Just in are behind-the-scenes rehearsal photos of Shucked Also watch a video of West End star Ben Joyce singing ‘Somebody Will’ from the show Ben Joyce in the studio with Jason Howland The Ensemble of Shucked features Taila Halford and Toyan Thomas-Browne; and the Swings are Jed Berry The country music musical has songs by Nashville-based composers Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally when the corn that protects their small community starts to die But who will dare to venture beyond the borders of Cob County Joining Jack O’Brien in the creative team of Shucked are: Lucy Adams (Associate Lighting Designer); Myles Brown (Associate Choreographer); Nathanael Campbell (Associate Director); Ben Davies (Associate Set Designer); Aundrea Fudge (Voice & Dialect Coach); Jill Green CDG (Casting Director); Tilly Grimes (Costume Designer); Carol Hancock (UK Wigs Hair & Makeup Designer & Supervisor); Jason Howland (Music Supervisor Shucked is playing at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 10 May to 14 June 2025 Book Shucked tickets at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London Comments and reviews are subject to our participation guidelines policy, which can be viewed here Our policy is for readers to use their REAL NAMES when commenting Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London Sign-up for Offers Shows | Offers | Musicals | News Please note: All tickets are subject to availability. Ticketing powered by members of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers [Read more] Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy DISCLAIMER: The currency conversion is provided for illustration purposes only It is meant only as an approximation based on the latest information available and should not be relied upon for any other purposes We are not responsible for any loss that you may incur as a result of relying on these currency conversions All property prices are as stated by the listing agent Amid yet more reports of violent bikejackings by balaclava-clad moped gangs targeting cyclists in Regent's Park the Metropolitan Police has faced calls for urgent action to tackle the crimes — the force facing questions after scared riders were told the police are "unable" to patrol before 8am The Times reported three cyclists were targeted on one day in January — robbers using sharp objects to puncture tyres threatening victims with hammers and forcing riders off their bikes in a string of terrifying bikejackings — the latest incidents adding to the numerous other similar robberies that have been reported in Regent's Park and its surrounding area in recent years > New figures reveal two bikejackings a day now taking place in London London cyclists who use the park's quiet roads for early morning training have reported feeling like "sitting ducks" the police's lack of action frustrating many One club who uses the park contacted the Regent's Park safer neighbourhood policing team to ask whether a car could patrol the area between 5.30am and 7am Adding to riders' disappointment in the police response they received the reply: "We understand your concern and frustration we are unable to change our working hours." The Met Police has this morning assured road.cc it is able to "direct uniform and plain clothes patrols to target criminals at peak offending times" and a spokesperson insisted that the comment from the safer neighbourhood policing team did not paint the full picture A spokesperson added: "We know bike thefts are a significant concern and we are mindful of the impact they have Officers from the Regent's Park Ward Safer Neighbourhood Team have been working with Westminster Council to tackle this issue including patrolling hotspot locations in and around the park "They also engage with groups that use the park and PCSOs from the team join rides run by local female cycling clubs Making it harder to sell on stolen bikes through the second-hand market is also crucial and we would encourage riders to register their bike with us for free so we can track them if they are stolen.” One of the latest riders to be targeted was Bethan Lloyd-Glass who was attacked at around 5.45am on January 14 her Trek Émonda stolen by moped muggers who shouted 'give me your f***ing bike' and pushed her to the ground "I was on my way to the park when two men drove past me," she recalled "I thought it was quite ­unusual to see pillion riders at that time of the morning We stopped at a red light and the passenger got off the bike In a similar incident Patrick Conneely reported being threatened with a hammer after he turned around to try and escape "I was meeting some friends in the park and was a bit early so did a lap by myself," he explained "A moped pulled up with two men on and one started looking at the brand I knew I was in trouble so turned around and so did they "They told me to 'get off the f***ing bike' and pulled out a hammer Someone called the police and they were there in about five ­minutes They said it was the third or fourth call that morning said he initially had "sympathy" for the police investigating the bikejackings that have since become an increasingly common occurrence "The first few times it happened because the robbers wore balaclavas "But it keeps ­happening and there's no plan to do anything about it." The high-value nature of bikes has made them a concerningly common target for criminals in recent years We've reported on numerous incidents involving professional riders club riders and businesses being targeted in increasingly organised break-ins as well as these frightening bikejacking incidents where riders have been robbed of their bikes during training rides a teenager later sentenced to 12 months for the attack Other incidents involving club riders have been reported across London high-value bikes seemingly now an attractive target for criminals something Cycling UK has speculated may be because of the perceived low probability of being caught by the police > Police force admits bike thefts "unlikely to ever be solved" However, the violent nature of the incidents targeting riders near Regent's Park has been particularly shocking, with victims threatened with knives and other weapons And as if to prove the point that these crimes are nothing new and have not been dealt with by the Metropolitan Police, it's a year this week since Regent's Park Cyclists, supported by British Cycling, Rapha, and Brompton, called on the Met to station more officers at the London crime hotspot in a bid to stem the seemingly constant flow of bikejackings Last year The Times compared the robberies to similar crimes committed by "Rolex ripper" gangs targeting high-value watches in London and reported that bikejacking victims had been told by the police that they believed the robberies are being carried out by an Albanian gang that is shipping the bikes to Russia where high-end bikes are difficult to obtain due to sanctions please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99 Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way When I ride in Regents park (most early mornings) I now carry bear spray which I bought when In the US recently - this would make fast work of anyone trying to take my bike May also land you in trouble for having an offensive weapon What're the rules on carrying a bear in public Obviously there would be some down-sides - you'd want a pocket / aero version But a thoughtful mugger (perhaps hoping too much?) would probably note someone toting around a bear might not make the best target UPDATE: actually - scratch that - Regents park probably have rules on animals you can bring into the park but in the US I'm sure the right to arm bears is enshrined in the constitution Not condoning it - but I'd say the risk of enforcement is low given that nobody currently seems to be catching the thieves who are carrying offensive weapons Since the police aren't likely to do anything maybe we (London clubs) should hire a few of our own wronguns on mopeds to patrol places like Regent's or the main routes out to the lanes on weekday mornings Pretty sure we could afford it if the cost was split enough ways didn't old Kipling have something to say about that idea (see "Dane-Geld") I'm already paying one group protection money (government / police) What happens if the police nick my bandits Or some other bandits see a business opportunity and want a cut We have the option of not paying our thugs if they aren't doing what we want And they'd probably have the stronger 'argument'.. Just try not paying for the police because they're not doing their job I suspect if you try stopping paying the local boys These days you see private security companies patrol some of the fancier streets in London There's a bike locked up to the railings on a particularly expensive looking street that I used to cycle past and wonder how it had lasted there so long without being stolen/stripped for parts Then I clocked the private security van nearby and the private bodyguards/watchmen hanging around some of the neighbouring houses Not a great trend for a city unfortunately Critical Mass will be heading there (probably) this Friday as a show of solidarity Best time to commit crime is always between 7 and 8 am Night shift police are headed back so they can clock off on time Day shift are having subsided breakfast in the staff canteen or doing their 1 hrs paid exercise in the gym Met police: "we're completely focussed on reducing violent crime" Robbers: "our new working hours are 04:00 to 07:45" These contradictory answers from the police are very instructive "We understand your concern and frustration we are unable to change our working hours." Then the Mets PR spin The first answer gives you a clear view of what the police think When someone says something and then backpedals you can usually trust that they meant every word of what they initially said When someone the police says something and then backpedals you can usually trust that they meant every word of what they initially said that was the case when Northumbria said cyclists shouldn't go out at busy periods/ Bank Holidays the police) said cyclists shouldn't go out in the dark British Cycling said that cyclists shouldn't go out during the Queen's funeral and Blackpool Police said that 'if cyclists didn't like conditions on the roads they should seek an alternative mode of transport' is able to direct uniform and plain clothes patrols to target criminals at peak offending times It's also operating a determined 'go-slow' on the wonderful new 'find out what actually happened to your 'traffic offence against cyclist' report after we said we were taking action' facility which was 'hopefully in December' The cure to these crimes isn't filling Regents Park with cops on overtime It's zero tolerance policiing of scumbags on scooters and illegal e-motorbikes with no helmets or plates The rozzers should do a bonus scheme for arrests and crush every bike caught if the bikes are being illegally shipped breaking sanctions against Russia then it's part of a much wider scheme and should be taken as such I saw two young men on electric motorbikes without helmets If someone is riding an electric motorbike or a petrol moped thing at speed and wearing a balaclava or similar which obscures their face then the police should stop them and "Have a Little Chat"™ I'd go further and just make it legal for the police to knock them off by whatever means they have available - with zero right of recourse for any injuries received by the scroates Wearing a balaclava and riding a suyron and got knocked off by the police Just as long as not too many people end up as collateral damage I don't go full "terrorist balaclava" but when it's cold I sometimes pull my neck gaiter up over by chin And while I don't own any kind of electric bike my town hack has a wide-ish down tube belt drive and front dynamo hub and several people have misidentified it as powered (I could only hope for my normal speeds to fool people I've got extra power but Edinburgh has hills so at least going downhill I can be nearer car speed) There's an exemption in the Dangerous Driving Legislation that allows the police to use tactical contact (ramming) Now THERE is someone who has not been on the recieving end of illegal police heavy-handedness I'm totally supportive of the idea of stopping people on illegal motorbikes or some sort of dicrimination and the police could be sued road.cc's audience Report an advert on road.cc Privacy policy Subscribe All material © Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. Tel 01225 588855. © 2008–present unless otherwise stated. Terms and conditions of use This summer sees the much-anticipated UK premiere of Tony Award-winning comedy musical Shucked at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre We spoke with ensemble member Ross Harmon to find out more about this a-maize-ing production and why you think UK audiences will love it there’s a whole lot of heart and a really important message about connection and understanding each other Even though the show is set in rural southern America (cornfields rather than castles) UK audiences will totally connect with the humour and the universal message that building bridges — not walls — is always the best way forward and maybe have a little happy cry into your programme What's your favourite part of the show to perform We’ve got a few big full-company numbers that are pure joy I absolutely love those moments when we’re all on stage together bringing the kooky Cob County community to life There’s something electric about feeling the whole cast moving as one slightly dysfunctional but very loveable family You've performed in an open-air theatre before at Kilworth House What are some of the challenges and highlights of outdoor theatre I think the secret is embracing the madness and seeing the challenges as the highlights and audience — we’re all battling the elements together: the sun the distant fire engine just as you hit the emotional moment and that makes each show feel genuinely one-of-a-kind It's not glamorous — can’t be a diva with soggy socks and windswept wigs — but it’s so special and creates a real sense of community which goes hand in hand with a show like Shucked every song is like a tiny three-minute story I love starting somewhere and ending somewhere completely different — taking people on a little journey they didn’t expect sometimes a melody comes first; I build on that until I have a full song in front of me and I understand what my subconscious is really thinking.. I have a degree in Linguistics - so words are very important to me; making lyrics feel real and accessible but keeping the stakes high is a balancing act getting everything balanced and mixed just right My Spotify library is wildly eclectic — everything from pop to country to Japanese jazz to neo-soul — so I love pulling inspiration from all sorts of places Music has been part of me for as long as I can remember It’s all about finding the right sonic landscape to match the emotion of the song I’m excited to dive back into gig life — singing in beautiful venues around the country — and to get cracking on a few new writing projects that have been rattling around in my brain musical theatre has a habit of sneaking up on you just when you think you’ve made plans.. Shucked plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 10 May-14 June, with further info here. using its outdoor setting to sublime effect stresses the musical’s comedy while resonating with the current plight of refugees Jordan Fein’s revival contrived that Sunrise Sunset – the musical’s devastating lament for the speed of spent life – was sung as darkness fell on Regent’s Park on Tuesday Only outdoor theatre could contrive such a sublime effect while Fein uses his venue to emphasise the community’s vulnerability – literally with no roof over their heads and surrounded by woods from which the Russian tsar’s pogrom police suddenly appear Broadway import Adam Dannheisser perfectly times the one-liners (“Am I gonna have another dream?” when another filial match unravels) but also conveys the character’s deep faith: in If I Were a Rich Man the true bonus of wealth is more time for synagogue Lara Pulver as his wife Golde radiates the brains and determination – a 60-year-old show about marrying off daughters is surprisingly feminist – that have made an arranged marriage in extreme poverty work Fein (who revolutionised Oklahoma! at the Young Vic) and musical supervisor Mark Aspinall subtly tweak the soundscape Some of their best songs come after the interval the work always soars in performance and this version demonstrates its depth the theatre has acknowledged employing extra security due to pro-Palestinian protests Beyond the horror of creatives and material being targeted for assumed affiliations and beliefs It was written in 1964 to reflect the Holocaust through an earlier persecution invite the audience to see the emigrating chorale Anatevka – which is spine-tinglingly sung here by two dozen cast members with the cohesion of a real community – as a broader reflection of displacement and refugee status At Regent’s Park Open Air theatre, London LondonThis magical production sets the drama against the backdrop of Indian partition allowing a deft exploration of dual heritage and cultural displacement a gardener tells the freshly orphaned girl who finds herself uprooted in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s children’s classic This adaptation by Holly Robinson and Anna Himali Howard reimagines it as a drama about dual heritage and cultural displacement It is set in a time of rising political unrest in the Indian Raj with partition as a backdrop to the story of Mary Lennox (Hannah Khalique-Brown) the contrarian 10-year-old who is now the daughter of an Indian mother and English father So she finds herself in the cold new climate of Yorkshire where she discovers a secret garden that brings beauty and magic into her bereft world it is an inspired transposition of a story that deals with dark themes around family and belonging with both children and adults trying to fend off loneliness and find their place in the world Every character is also a narrator and this collective authorial voice is infused with knowing wit – Yorkshire argot is variously rendered in Indian or RP accents – and wry asides Leslie Travers’ set design is made of boxes to gesture at migration and uprooting paper flora and the verdant surroundings of Regent’s Park are imaginatively drawn in as Misselthwaite’s secret garden It is all charmingly executed with shades of Emma Rice’s overt theatricality although it feels self-consciously poised for a while the slow pacing and woodenness of the first act giving way to more magic in the second and Jai Morjaria’s delightful lighting design adding to the effects The puppetry is instantly enchanting though a highlight) turns a black shawl into a crow A fur stole becomes the squirrel friend to free spirit and the garden’s other-worldly Robin manifests as a human palm with a red Indian tikka (played by Sharan Phull Childhood disability for Colin (Theo Angel) is presented without the miracle cure of the book’s ending and class difference is touched on through characters such as the maid (played with a twinkly eyed verve by Molly Hewitt-Richards) and Dickon Sometimes the life lessons are spelled out so that it ultimately seems more a story for children than a crossover show There are strained moments of joy too but the ingenuity of its ideas win you over even if you are not quite cast under its spell At Regent’s Park Open Air theatre, London An "open dialogue" between Strava and the Royal Parks charity that runs London green spaces Richmond Park and Regent's Park has seen the ride-sharing app ultimately reject calls to remove cycling segments in the parks It is the latest chapter in the long-running and ongoing story about cycling in the Royal Parks whose Richmond Park and Regent's Park green spaces are popular with the capital's cyclists and attract a large number of two-wheeled visitors throughout the year However, the Royal Parks has raised safety concerns following a May inquest into the death of a pedestrian who was hit by a cyclist riding laps of Regent's Park back in 2022 the charity has been outspoken about cyclists riding "at excessive speeds" and causing crashes subsequently reviewing its cycling policies and cancelling early-morning time trials and the London Duathlon — as well as more recently calling for government to pass new laws so cyclists can be prosecuted for exceeding 20mph speed limits in the parks It is to that context that the latest Royal Parks cycling story emerged in the Telegraph this weekend the newspaper having published multiple previous articles on this year's events > Press regulator rules Telegraph breached Editors' Code with inaccurate claim cyclists hit 52mph chasing London Strava segments The latest update is that Strava is not removing segments from Regent's Park and Richmond Park the ride-sharing app rejecting the Royal Parks' claim that they encourage cyclists to ride dangerously and as fast as possible a Strava spokesperson pointed out that there has been an "open dialogue" with the Royal Parks and "they have directly acknowledged that Strava is not the root cause of the issues" "We have also shared with them how to mark a segment as hazardous which remains the most effective tool for flagging safety concerns," the spokesperson added the Royal Parks reportedly asked Strava to prevent segments in the parks as it creates a "competitive element to those seeking to better their last lap or segment" Strava rejected this and said removing segments "would not accomplish" the Royal Parks' "intent to reduce cycling competition" "Strava does not remove segments created by the community as to do so would destroy their efforts and go against our goal to inspire the community to be active while remaining safe," the email response reportedly said Strava also explained how "hazardous" segments could be flagged to "warn users of risks" and "remove the element of competition" said: "Royal Parks themselves are owned by the sovereign in right of the Crown and none of the roads or footpaths is a public highway It is the considered view of the charity as land manager that the cycling segments on the Strava app are encouraging significant numbers of sports cyclists to compete with each other and is thus encouraging them to cycle at excessive speed which endangers other parks users The charity "instructs" Strava to remove all segments as it is "unreasonable" for them to "flag probably hundreds of segments on your app" Its lawyers are writing to Strava's chief executive Michael Martin Media and political discussion around cycling in the Royal Parks began back in May following the widely reported inquest into the death of elderly pedestrian Hilda Griffiths who died in hospital in 2022 from injuries sustained two months earlier in a collision involving a cyclist riding laps of Regent's Park as part of a group ride travelling at between 25 and 29mph commented that Strava had "shown contempt by ignoring to remove the parks from their app" He told the Telegraph: "I think the competitive nature Strava creates breeds an attitude of entitlement among some cyclists especially in Regent's Park where people compete for faster lap times The repetition of doing laps breeds a familiarity that then breeds contempt for anyone who dares to get in the way of some cyclists "Strava has shown similar contempt to Royal Parks by ignoring their requests to remove the parks from their app." In May, Strava was asked to remove the lap of Regent's Park segment from its app by the Royal Parks. The tech company urged users to "prioritise everyone's safety" and pointed out that "hazardous" segments can be flagged We are aware of the tragic cycling incident which occurred in London's Regent's Park in June 2022 and our condolences go to the victim's family safety of our active community and those around them is a priority and we have community standards that note that 'sports happen in dynamic environments that we share with motorists Strava expects those in our community to 'prioritise everyone's safety and enjoyment of our shared resources and respect the law' The behaviours related to this incident violate Strava's 'community standards' we received a request from Royal Parks to discuss the cycling route segment where the incident occurred The ability to flag a cycling route segment as hazardous already exists in Strava Anyone can report a segment that they would deem as hazardous achievements are not awarded for that segment and leaderboards are disabled Any Strava community member who cycles on that same route segment will receive a warning of the hazards on that segment At the end of that week Strava segments were further thrust into the spotlight when a bizarre piece made it onto the Telegraph's front page the reporters responsible told "check your research" after claiming cyclists are hitting 52mph chasing London Strava segments.. despite that being faster than Olympic track cyclists In August, the press regulator IPSO ruled that the Telegraph breached its Editors' Code with the inaccurate piece and that "further steps should have been taken to either verify the figure – for instance by contacting Strava – or to appropriately distinguish it as an unverified figure" > "Mums, dads, sons and daughters being labelled as killers. It’s just got to stop": Chris Boardman comments on Telegraph '52mph in a 20mph zone' article as it emerges co-author is former BBC fact-checker Last month, a column titled 'Let's get tough on the scourge of rogue cyclists' appeared in the newspaper, accompanied with a blurred picture of cyclists that attracted accusations of manipulating photos of "law-abiding people exercising" The Royal Parks' interest in cycling in its parks has continued throughout the second half of 2024, the charity recently asking the Labour government to pass new laws to "set speed limits for cyclists" in its parks and for riders above 20mph limit to be prosecuted Discussion around speed limits in the Royal Parks, notably Richmond Park, has been long running. Despite initially suggesting speed limits did apply to cyclists, in 2021 it was confirmed that the park's speed limits (which range from 5mph to 20mph) do not apply to cyclists Then, in the summer of 2022, The Royal Parks said that even if the speed limits do not apply to cyclists, riders would still have action taken if they ride "recklessly" In July, we reported that a group claiming to represent cyclists who use the park (Richmond Park Cyclists) had clashed with the charity over its speed limit advice for riders using the park This summer's Richmond Park Time Trials were also cancelled by The Royal Parks Organised by the London Dynamo cycling club and first run in 2009 they were due to take place on 23 June and 7 July this year – and had been praised for their inclusivity and for providing a gateway into the sport enabling beginners to compete on road bikes and on almost traffic-free roads due to their 6am starts However, the Royal Parks cancelled this summer's events over fears riders would break the park's 20mph speed limit a decision which left organisers "fuming" and arguing the decision had been clouded by "very irresponsible journalism" and that the alternative is "busy roads and fast-moving cars" "Following several cycling-related incidents, it is our duty to take action to minimise the risk of accidents and our priority to ensure the safety of all cyclists together with other visitors," Richmond Park's manager said. September's London Duathlon in the park was subsequently also cancelled > Telegraph publishes "dossier of collision data" involving "rogue cyclists" in London parks, as Royal Parks continues campaign for new laws to prosecute 'speeding' cyclists The Royal Parks has received plenty of criticism over the years for its approach to improving road safety in its parks including the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) have repeatedly asked why through-traffic is still allowed to use Richmond Park as a shortcut the campaign calling the cancellation of well-organised events "weak" while "daily rat-runs" continue While some of Richmond Park's roads are closed to motor traffic on weekends which the Royal Parks proudly calls an "extraordinary landscape" that is also London's largest Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve is used as a cut-through for motorists driving between Kingston upon Thames [Queue for parking on a sunny summer weekend in Richmond Park] The LCC has campaigned for the park to be closed to through-traffic for years arguing it would improve road safety and make them "far better for people walking Specialist cycling insurance provider ETA Services Ltd recently called it an "ongoing embarrassment" that the Royal Parks "allows this nature reserve to be used as a rat-run" the comments coming in response to the incident below The Met was stopping and warning/prosecuting speeding cyclists under the RP Regs but the RP insisted that (despite the opinions of the Met's legal counsels) that speed limits did not apply to cyclists So they had the law and the ability to enforce it that mainly being tax avoidance and big oil cyclists and protectors of values all get stick from them must be a lot of fun for cyclists in the parks Removing Strava segments won't impact on people trying to achieve a PB I know of one rider that was seriously injured trying for a lap PB on a TT bike He collided with another cyclist on a roundabout where the other cyclist had right of way You would hope common sense and self preservation would come into play TTs can be dangerous regardless of the location people are capable of behaving like dickheads regardless of their mode of transport The Royal Parks' behaviour towards cyclists suggests that their recreational use of these spaces is not welcome Just add a new bylaw limiting cyclists to 20 mph in the Royal Parks and use average speed cameras to more effectively regulate the speed of drivers and cyclists alike My experience crossing as a pedestrian from the park to the cafe/toilets is that motorists are more likely to slow to a stop and wave you across than 'serious' cyclists Arrogant cyclists are much less dangerous than arrogant drivers but they can be just as unwilling to share space with lesser mortals The issue you highlight is one with people a small % of the people will essentially be d1ckh3ads The issue is that cyclists tend to be an annoyance the ones in cars are the reason ham gate was obliterated earlier in the year and why half of regent's parks lamp posts have been knocked down and rebuilt bikes don't come with speedos or numberplates 20mph is about as fast as I get on the flat on my bike and about as slow as I go in the car on a clear road It's no effort for me to slow and stop for a pedestrian when I'm driving but a huge effort for me to do that on my bike That's leaving aside the desire to put in an effort to demonstrate to myself that my fitness is improving and go all out to beat my previous time to have that effort wasted because somebody can't wait two seconds for me to pass So how would you impose speed limits on a form of transport that doesn't have (or at least doesn't legally have to have) a speedometer and how would an average speed camera have any applicability to a form of transport that doesn't carry registration numbers Is it "if they're going as fast as a car that's too fast" and "tabards" Irrespective of the fact that bikes don't have licence plates or other means of identification Richmond Park isn't flat and cyclists can't just use an accelerator to smooth out their speed on an uphill section Most will stay easily within the 20mph average whilst cycling at 'dangerous speeds' on the flats The old heads in The Royal Parks will be fuming Royal Parks are nothing but a bunch of middle and upper class nimbys that loath cyclists and love drivers and SUV's The only way cars will be banned in the park is if cyclists are banned too Which is why they are kicking up a fuss about Regents Park Their reaction to that incident makes no sense at all when drivers have hurt people with their cars in Richmond Park and even destroyed a 100+ year old gate (Ham Gate) They'll ban cars when they can get away with banning cyclists could we remove motor vehicles from these parks the simplest and best solution - but almost impossible to implement Tells you all you need to know about Royal Parks The Times newspaper columnist Giles Coren has responded to news of the latest spate of violent bikejackings in London — incidents which saw terrified victims threatened with hammers and pushed off bikes — by penning a column calling the attacks "excellent" and claiming the violent criminals responsible "are doing society a favour" In the column, titled 'Bikes turned park into a circle of hell — steal away' Coren wrote that it is "good" that police are failing to respond to bikejackings and suggested three robberies in one day was "excellent" > "They told me to 'get off the f***ing bike' and pulled out a hammer": Cyclists demand urgent police action after latest violent bikejackings at Regent's Park The comments come in response to more accounts from cyclists targeted by bikejacking gangs near Regent's Park last month "They told me to 'get off the f***ing bike' and pulled out a hammer" Cyclists who use the park's Outer Circle for early morning training rides have reported feeling like "sitting ducks" but were recently told the police are "unable" to begin patrols before 8am a claim the Met has since rejected in a pledge to address the "significant concern" Coren's attempt at a justification for why cyclists apparently deserve to be the victims of violent crimes that are "doing society a favour" is because Regent's Park's Outer Circle has "become a racetrack for cyclists" children and dogs scatter like victims of a mass shooting as pelotons of Lycra-clad cyclists rage through at speeds that would be illegal for cars ignoring lights and islands and hurling abuse at drivers trying to get in and out of their cars" Coren wrote: "According to a report in The Times police are failing to respond to a spate of bikejackings in London's Regent's Park three bikes worth thousands of pounds were stolen It is surrounded by a once-peaceful perimeter road called the Outer Circle that has lately become a racetrack for cyclists life ought to be sweet for the thousands visiting London Zoo or taking their children to weekend junior football matches children and dogs scatter like victims of a mass shooting as pelotons of Lycra-clad cyclists rage through at speeds that would be illegal for cars ignoring lights and islands and hurling abuse at drivers trying to get in and out of their cars was crossing the road with her dog at 7am — exactly the time cycling clubs now say they need police protection — when Brian Fitzgerald ploughed into her at 29mph while doing timed laps with the Muswell Hill Peloton club and walked free because speed limits don't apply to bikes "It's bad enough that cyclists are protected by law when slaughtering pensioners but now they want a police escort while doing it as I've argued before about phone grabbers the Regent's Park bike-jackers are doing society a favour." The column follows London bikejackings returning to the spotlight following numerous incidents being reported in the first month of 2025 The police action Coren referenced was in the form of one club who uses the park contacting the Regent's Park safer neighbourhood policing team to ask whether a car could patrol the area between 5.30am and 7am The Met Police yesterday assured us it is able to "direct uniform and plain clothes patrols to target criminals at peak offending times" and a spokesperson insisted that the comment from the safer neighbourhood policing team did not paint the full picture The violent nature of the incidents targeting riders near Regent's Park has been particularly shocking, with victims threatened with knives and other weapons And as if to prove the point that these crimes are nothing new and have not been dealt with by the Metropolitan Police, it's a year this week since Regent's Park Cyclists, supported by British Cycling, Rapha, and Brompton, called on the Met to station more officers at the London crime hotspot in a bid to stem the seemingly constant flow of bikejackings Let's not forget that this is the same individual who wrote a column about how sexy his three-year-old daughter is as well as one quite literally laughing about the death from cancer of a journalist who had crossed swords with him Coren is commending criminals for their violent robberies That's quite a mental leap to be encouraging criminality Has anybody with access to the full article (I don't subscribe to its sewer tax) complained to 'I'PSO The mental gymnastics which must be necessary to allow Coren to decry cyclists for being intimidating while simultaneously supporting tooled-up youths riding on mopeds in the same areas and threatening people with violence.. that these attacks and armed robberies on defenceless or easy targets will actualy have an effect of encouraging people to ride in large groups it's about a culture of making 'provocative' arguments celebrating harm and violence to cyclists This crosses my mind in so many situations "what was their boss thinking...?" My dad worked in advertising through the 60s and 70s and very much liked Alan Coren In fact my dad's son thinks Alan Coren's son is a bit of a c**t Coren is a charmless oafish bell end and always has been cyclists are protected by law when slaughtering pensioners I'm not sure that statement is quite correct…  Comic hyperbole, innit?  Like "what's smug and deserves to be decapitated?" Frankly anyone objecting can suck it up with their confected outrage They're just a conchie pinko loony leftie snowflake woke enemy of free speech The man who blamed Jaguar for his electric iPace running out of charge at the end of a long journey despite presumably driving past a number of perfectly good charging points although I now feel a bit guilty about abusing toads by association Surely he works for the Mail and the Telegraph sometimes however this link should allow you to  view it https://www.thetimes.com/article/8ccf3e81-9f9c-4d2e-a438-c8d9dd3c9124?sh... Though there were some comments defending the majority of cyclists and pointing out that the vast majority of pedestrian KSIs are caused by drivers and one person asked GC if it would be similar to someone threatening a person wearing a silly small hat with a hammer As the late great Linda Smith said (about someone else though she most definitely would have said it about Coren too) "I don't think they should be given the oxygen of publicity In fact I don't think they should be given the oxygen of oxygen." Yet another data point, as if it were needed that Giles Coren is a worthless little shit Nice to have proof that someone you always thought to be a twat Also nice to read that 'He drives a Jaguar I-Pace Lycra-clad cyclists rage through screaming vile four-letter warnings .. Is this the same Giles Coren who wrote an article for The Spectator in 2008 headed "Potty mouthed and Proud: Swearing and shouting are underrated Four-letter words can be immensely satisfying and extraordinarily effective" Perhaps somebody also needs to explain to the pathetic nepo baby that no traffic has to stop for crossing islands that don't have zebra crossings (none of the ones on the Outer Circle do) and indeed it's dangerous to do so because it raises the risk of drivers/cyclists behind who aren't expecting you to slow or stop crashing into you In case anyone is unfamiliar with Coren's work a sample of the sort of thing he tweets: ""Next door have bought their 12-year-old son a drum kit Another occasion when he covered himself in glory was when the journalist Dawn Foster died aged 34 he tweeted: "You can fuck off to hell now where you belong HA HA HA HA HA HA." Just a couple of things to bear in mind when considering his outrage at cyclists shouting naughty words This should be called out for what it is: Hate speech If there was a spate of violent attacks on newspaper columnists would I be allowed to write a piece for road.cc advocating violence against newspaper columnists I had a run in with his father in 1975; he was reckoned to be one of the sharpest wits in the country at the time After a business lunch (Piss-up in Fleet Street) he turned up at my place of work (a Bank) and turned the full force of his charms on me a 17 year old kid who was attempting to fix the cash point machine that had gone wrong He had an audience of customers and clearly loved it He was a bully and ***t that day; I'm guessing the apple doesn't fall far from the tree Victoria always comes across as a very nice person also his immortal line that started Dr No Will See You Now his imagining of a seventy-year-old James Bond: "Bond tensed in the darkness and reached for his teeth." Clearly two main differences between father and son Giles is a dick all the time (I've never met him but I have three friends in journalism who have and they all say he's one of the most bumptious "don't you know who I am" characters one could imagine) and Alan had talent in spades whereas Giles hasn't an ounce of it US musical will be followed by Rodgers and Hammerstein dream ballets Malorie Blackman’s Noughts & Crosses and Brigadoon Drew McOnie’s inaugural season as artistic director of Regent’s Park Open Air theatre will open with a hit US musical about corn Shucked will have its UK premiere this summer on the outdoor stage in London whose verdant surroundings should suit a rural comedy set in the corn town of Cob County Shane McAnally and Robert Horn’s musical about the fight to overcome failing crops was nominated for nine Tony awards in 2023 will star Ben Joyce whose previous roles include Marty McFly in Back to the Future: The Musical will reimagine the dream ballets from the duo’s musicals Allegro McOnie, who took over at the 1,240-seat theatre after Tim Sheader left to run the Donmar Warehouse said the outdoor stage offers “a unique opportunity to engage with stories under a shared sky” said he was “particularly thrilled that we have been able to continue our commitment to £15 tickets” 36,000 seats will be available at that price Fears that annual event will never take place again in Richmond Park - as cycling club ditches time trials News | Transport Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A new code of conduct that requires cyclists not to exceed 20mph in the Royal Parks could prevent the return of the London Duathlon to Richmond Park The mass participation event, which normally attracts about 4,000 entrants, was shelved last year after weeks of controversy over cycling in the Royal Parks organised by the London Dynamo cycling club and first held in 2009 were also cancelled – despite taking place early in the morning on virtually empty roads London Dynamo told The Standard on Friday that its events would not take place this year The Royal Parks charity, which runs the eight royal parks, has asked cyclists not to exceed the 20mph speed limit for vehicles as part of a “considerate cycling” campaign in the royal parks The code states: “Do not ride in excess of 20mph in any circumstance and do not use the park roads for unauthorised competitive cycling of any kind.” Richmond Park Cyclists said in an email to members on Friday: “The focus on 20mph inevitably threatens the park’s two time trials and the London Duathlon ever coming back following their suspension last year “To reinstate them would seem to contradict [The Royal Parks’] own code we will continue to argue for their return as they are of huge value to the sports cycling community and none of the events have ever had any serious safety issues.” The decision to axe the three events last summer followed an inquest into the death of an elderly pedestrian two months after she collided with a cyclist as she tried to cross a road in Regent’s Park Mr Fitzgerald had been doing laps of the park with his cycling club when he collided with the 81-year-old in 2022 Her death was recorded as "accidental" by the coroner People competing in the duathlon can do so individually or as part of a team followed by a 44km bike ride and a second 10km run Last August the organisers of the London Duathlon “regrettably” announced that the event was being cancelled with a month’s notice It blamed “a number of unforeseen factors that have led to this difficult decision particularly in relation to the operational complexity of producing a multi-sport event” The London Duathlon added: “This includes an increased focus on the security and logistics of cycling events in public spaces which creates significant operational challenges.” The London Duathlon website states: “Currently we are not able to confirm whether a 2025 London Duathlon will take place and we will be working to establish this in the coming months.” The new code of conduct will be accompanied by new road signs being introduced in the royal parks told The Standard: "Unfortunately we are not planning to run our Time Trials this year as The Royal Parks have not changed their position on these events as far as we are aware "We think it is a great shame as these have been run for many years and were very well marshalled and run very early in the morning when the park was very quiet "The events were fully risk assessed and run under the guidelines of Cycling Time Trials (the national governing body for time trials) and had an impeccable safety record cycling has potentially lost yet another grass roots event which allowed people to develop their riding skills in the safe confines of the park this was of particular value to youth/juniors Richmond Park Cyclists said the general aim of the code was “laudable” but it was badly worded – with the 20mph limit being “unenforceable as there are no legal speed limits for cyclists on any UK roads” According to the Office for National Statistics 12 pedestrians died in collisions with cyclists between 2019 and 2023 out of a total of 1,967 pedestrian road deaths – more than 1,000 of which were caused by car drivers and almost 200 by HGVs Richmond Park Cyclists said the Royal Parks “should have a code of conduct for everyone who uses its roads The cycling group added: “By shifting the focus away from safety and on to speed [the Riyal Parks] is in danger of making the thousands of ordinary folk who choose to cycle in its parks seem like a significant threat to the public A Royal Parks spokesperson said: “We have not been approached by the organisers of the London Duathlon or the time trials this year "Any cycling events that take place within the parks must undergo a thorough risk assessment and meet the required level of safety measures "The Royal Parks will work with any event organiser to establish what these are depending on the proposed event taking place." London Duathlon has been approached for comment Parks in London: The capital’s most glorious green spaces Speeding cyclists urged to slow down in London's Royal Parks as new 'be considerate' campaign launched How Regent’s Park became a no-go zone for cyclists as terrifying moped muggings surge Hundreds of cyclists to take part in protest ride in Regent's Park over bike thefts David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints VE Day 2025 flypast and parade LIVE: King Charles and senior royals watch procession as crowds line the Mall King joined by senior royals to watch VE Day parade before flypast Donald Trump says non-US movies to be hit with 100% tariff in major blow to UK film industry Trump says non-US movies face 100% tariff in blow to UK film industry UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Revealed: The real reason Brooklyn Beckham snubbed dad David’s 50th birthday amid family feud Revealed: Why Brooklyn Beckham snubbed dad David’s 50th birthday Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Cyclists are calling for the Met Police to begin patrolling Regent’s Park earlier in the day following a spate of threatening bike thefts News | London This is the shocking moment a cyclist was forced off his bike by a man wielding a hammer in Regent’s Park Footage shared by police shows Patrick Conneely being pursued and cornered by two men on a moped while riding on the outer circle of the park which is regularly used by more than 30 cycling clubs Mr Conneely stands between the men and his £4,200 bike but one of the pair quickly grabs a hammer and swings at the cyclist when he tries to protect his vehicle but the two men quickly speed off with his bike Cyclists have been calling on police to patrol Regent’s Park earlier in the day after a spate of violent robberies left them feeling like “sitting ducks” Mr Conneely is not the only cyclist who has been threatened by men on motorcycles wielding hammers early in the morning Metropolitan Police officers do not begin their patrols of the central London park until 8am and say they cannot start before then. Assailants are forcing victims off their expensive bikes while others had sharp objects thrown under their wheels to cause punctures It comes amid fears that upcoming cuts to the Met budget will result in the Royal Parks Operational Command Unit being disbanded previously told The Times: “I was meeting some friends in the park and was a bit early so did a lap by myself “A moped pulled up with two men on and one started looking at the brand They told me to ‘get off the f***ing bike’ and pulled out a hammer “Someone called the police and they were there in about five minutes. They said it was the third or fourth call that morning. Cyclists are really scared.” House prices rise for sixth month running ahead of stamp duty increase ‘Edge-of-your-seat’ thriller makes Glasgow look ‘spectacular’ – Martin Compston Don’t miss this free immersive light experience at Westfield London was attacked at about 5.45am on January 14 and had her £8,000 Trek Émonda stolen She said: “I was on my way to the park and a motorbike with two men drove past me “I thought it was quite unusual to see pillion riders at that time of the morning The Met Police has insisted it is working hard to stop the thefts and has been patrolling hotspot locations told the Standard: “We have been working hard to curb bike thefts in and around Regents Park including patrolling hotspot locations we have stood up additional plain clothes and uniform officers especially at night and before the park officially opens in the early hours of the morning “This is a key priority for the team, and given the violence used in these attacks, we will continue to ensure that we do all we can to put a stop to these crimes.” The season includes an array of new offerings for outdoor audiences Alex Wood Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced artistic director Drew McOnie’s inaugural season Programming will begin with the UK premiere of the musical comedy Shucked from 10 May to 14 June 2025. The show, about a beleaguered, corn-obsessed town, has also revealed a raft of lead casting and creatives. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill will run from 19 to 22 June 2025 featuring re-imagined dream ballets from Allegro with new arrangements by Simon Hale and live accompaniment by Sinfonia Smith Square sound by Nick Lidster and costumes by Yann Seabra The season continues with a stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s novel Noughts and Crosses adapted by Dominic Cooke and directed by Tinuke Craig The creative team includes RC Annie (fight directors) Ingrid Mackinnon (movement and intimacy director) Jacob Sparrow (casting director) and DJ Walde (composer) Lerner and Loewe’s classic musical Brigadoon will follow from 2 August to 20 September 2025, in a new adaptation by Rona Munro, directed and choreographed by McOnie. Initial casting has also been revealed, alongside further creatives. runs during the daytime from 15 August to 7 September 2025 developed and directed by Emily Lim with co-direction and puppetry design by Toby Olié The 2025 season also includes four Open Air Theatre Festivals will offer early-career musical theatre choreographers a paid residency McOnie said today: “After what has without doubt been one of the most thrilling incubation periods of my creative career I am so proud of the season we are now able to announce Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre offers its own unique opportunity to engage with stories under a shared sky and my ambition is to honour that legacy as we move into this new artistic chapter “Every member of the Regent’s Park team and the many artists that are coming together to share their imaginations with us at the centre of their process and it’s an honour to work alongside them in delivering my debut season for this much-loved venue.” Priority booking for the  season opens at 12pm today with public booking opening at 11am on Thursday 6 February 2025 Get the best deals and latest updates on theatre and shows by signing up for WhatsOnStage newsletter today A new garden to commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II has been approved for planning in Regent's Park in London The Royal Parks charity has revealed that work is now underway to transform a disused plant nursery in the heart of the park into a beautiful two-acre garden to mark what would have been the late Queen's 100th birthday The garden will reference Queen Elizabeth's life and service by using plants significant to the late monarch or with royal associations designed by HTA Design LLP and their team including Horticulturalist Dr Noel Kingsbury and Tate + Co architects drawing inspiration from their design principles while introducing innovative sustainability practices Key features of the garden will include a circular pond enhancing wildlife habitats a central promenade with an accessible platform over the pond and a vibrant flower garden showcasing species significant to the late Queen A disused water tower will be transformed into an accessible viewing platform with panoramic views of the garden and its surroundings serving as a unique educational tool for visitors to explore the natural oasis of the new garden and the wider park said: 'The approval of planning permission marks an exciting step forward in the creation of the new garden which is designed to be a tranquil space for reflection 'It provides a serene escape from the city's hustle and bustle This site will add two acres of biodiverse parkland for everyone to enjoy and explore' The new garden will significantly boost biodiversity in the park and will feature diverse habitats such as nectar-rich planting and hedgerows with climate-resilient plants to attract wildlife Sustainable practices will guide the garden's development such as reusing steel from the former nursery greenhouses to create elements of the new pergola and repurposed water tower concrete from demolition material will be recycled and transformed into growing mediums making it a landmark for sustainable urban design HTA Design said: 'We are honoured to be working with The Royal Parks on the design of such a significant new garden to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II 'The design transforms a brownfield site into a stunning biodiverse and climate resilient garden for the public to enjoy for many years to come' Public engagement sessions were held in January to gather the views of local communities about the new garden Many attendees expressed that the garden offers opportunities for peace The Royal Parks is a charity dedicated to caring for the most famous collection of urban parks in the world Their role is to conserve and enhance parkland can enjoy these exceptional green spaces in the heart of a world-leading city Meanwhile last year, a special garden looking back at the late Queen's favourite plants while commemorating King Charles's reign featured at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. CGI impressions of 'A Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration' gave an early glimpse of the design, which commemorated the life of Queen Elizabeth II, in April. The late monarch rarely missed a visit to RHS Chelsea during her 70-year reign. The garden had been put together by gold medal-winning designer Dave Green, and was filled with some of the Windsor family's favourite plants. It had two sections, one to celebrate the new King and the other for visitors to reflect about the late Queen. Mr Green had undergone thorough research to capture the royal essence. To celebrate the late monarch's tastes, he included light pink and white flowers and plants, such as the rose 'Olivia Austin' and silver birch. For the King, he added in more blues, purples and pinks to capture his planting choices. While walking through this section visitors saw the magnolia 'Heaven Scent', lupins and geraniums, and the aptly named clematis 'The Duchess of Cornwall'. Mr Green sought advice from Sandringham's Head Gardener, Jack Lingfield, to perfectly encapsulate the King's tastes. No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yetLeave a comment so your voice will be heard first. {{message}} Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 17th January 2025 by ianVisits in London News A new garden being created in Regent’s Park to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s life and legacy has received a £450,000 grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation is currently working on transforming a disused plant nursery into a biodiverse and climate-resilient garden that everyone can enjoy for years to come The funds from the Foundation will support the construction of the new free-to-visit garden Key features of the new space will include a circular pond enhancing wildlife habitats and a flower garden showcasing species significant to the late Queen such as the specially bred Narcissus ‘Diamond Jubilee’ or Tulipa ‘Royal Celebration’ Sustainable practices will guide the garden’s development such as reusing steel from the former nursery greenhouses to create elements of the new pergola and a repurposed water tower said: “We are delighted to receive this generous grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation which will help bring this unique garden to life “The garden will be a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II offering a tranquil space for reflection and connection with nature.” The new garden, set to open in 2026 to coincide with the late Queen’s centenary year in The Regent’s Park is expected to attract millions of visitors This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here and website in this browser for the next time I comment and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy London without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. London The annual announcement of the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre summer season is always a pleasing promise of warmer times to come And this year’s is extra special: former OAT artistic director Timothy Sheader ran the place for a walloping 18 years but he’s now gone to run the Donmar Warehouse.  kicking off with the  transfer of the hit eight times Tony-nominated Broadway musical Shucked (May 10-Jun 14) It’s comedy about a preposterously insular rural American community whose corn starts to die leading to naive couple Maizy and Bill heading out into the wider world to look for answers A new UK cast will star a transfer of Jack O’Brien’s original production for five weeks only (although a transfer seems a distinct possibility) one for real musical theatre-slash dance nerds: Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill (Jun 19-22) is a trio of new dance pieces set to the music from the ‘dream ballet’ sequence from the Rodgers & Hammerstein classics Allegro Shelley Maxwell and Kate Prince respectively.  and the only ‘proper’ play of the season is a revival for Dominic Cooke’s 2007 adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s classic YA dystopian race drama Noughts & Crosses (Jun 28-Jul 26) – previously commissioned by the RSC it gets its first revival here courtesy of Open Air Theatre associate director Tinuke Craig An adaptation of the first novel in the series it follows two childhood best friends as the negotiate a Europe segregated between lighter-skinned Noughts and darker-skinned Crosses The ‘big’ August musical is Lerner & Loewe’s Brigadoon (Aug 2-Sep 20) which McOnie himself will direct and choreograph the show about two American tourists who stumble across the titular mystical Scottish village that only appears once every hundred years hasn’t been seen in this country for decades That’s likely to be because it’s kind of offensive to the Scottish but the revival has been adapted by top Scots playwight Rona Munro who has hopefully de-cringed its sweeping romance Roald Dahl adaptation kids’ musical The Enormous Crocodile (Aug 15-Sep 7) will be back for a fresh run of daytime performances In general it’s a super-fun looking season that sticks to the late Sheader formula of two-musicals-and-a-serious-play-plus-some-kids-stuff and both McOnie and Craig were veterans of the previous regime The short run Dream Ballets suggests McOnie may operate a slightly more dance-heavy programme and it’ll be interesting to see if any Shakespeare appears in future years – for much of its lengthy history the OAT was a Bard-only theatre but our national poet has always been kept in the mix confident and interesting start – classic OAT The 2025 Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre summer season will go on sale Thursday February 6 The National Theatre has announced its 2025 summer season The best new London theatre shows to book for in 2025 Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Contact us Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker After an 81-year-old’s fatal collision with a cyclist in London’s Regent’s Park Cyclists say MPs are peddling fears over road safetyThis article is more than 11 months oldAfter an 81-year-old’s fatal collision with a cyclist in London’s Regent’s Park and inside Regent’s Park the birds are chirping as the sun rises sleepily over the lawns and lake Scores of cyclists are riding on the 4.5km Outer Circle – some of them clearly commuters others on racing bikes and dressed in Lycra or the colours of a cycling club with Londoners using the capital’s green spaces to exercise or minimising pollution by commuting to work by pedal power have found themselves at the centre of a political and media storm after the conclusion earlier this month of an inquest of an elderly woman who died after being struck near Regent’s Park by a cyclist who had been travelling above the motor vehicle speed limit of 20mph my mother was the victim of it but at some point something like that was going to happen because they neither have the will nor obligation to stop.” as is often accused by people who say anything about it anti-cycling,” Duncan Smith told the Commons it’s about making sure [cycling] takes place in a safe and reasonable manner.” Justin McKie the chair of the Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill Safer Parks panel Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian“Everything that has been said has been spun to a degree that is quite honestly outrageous,” said Justin McKie who was riding a folding Brompton bike through the park around 8am when he stopped to speak to the Guardian McKie is the chair of the Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill Safer Parks panel which liaises with police over safety issues “There have been 70,000 cyclists who have completed 7m laps at this park in the last 10 years The average speed of a cyclist going around the park is about 16mph.” In addition the cycling clubs that use the park were active in trying to improve safety and behaviour with a recent campaign leading to what he said was a dramatic fall in riders jumping red lights this idiosyncratic stretch of road is part of the royal park and closed to through traffic between midnight and 7am meaning many serious cyclists use it very early in the morning had already been there at 5am on Friday morning Cyclists don’t carry speedometers Photograph: David Levene/The GuardianArmed with a handheld speed camera the Guardian observed cyclists at one of the fastest stretches of the route; most were below or around the 20mph mark cyclists are not subject to the motor vehicle speed limit as they don’t carry speedometers the majority of cars on the road were recorded travelling faster than 20mph; two passed at 33mph Most dangerous of all was a motorbike who zoomed past the Guardian at 53mph then swerved to pass a traffic island on the wrong side Shashi Pangasa and Ramesh Kumar Pangasa Photograph: David Levene/The GuardianTo many of those using the pavements and park on foot on Friday “We are excited to see them,” said Ramesh Kumar Pangasa visits their daughter in the area for six months of the year “They should be given more liberty to use it for exercise.” “I’d say they should bring in safe infrastructure for cyclists before they start blaming them for anything they cause,” said Gale Blackburn despite having had a near miss with a delivery rider earlier that morning “A bike is going to cause less damage [than] a car.” jogging around the Outer Circle with her partner said there had to be a balance between the rights of cyclists and pedestrians “Sometimes with cyclists it feels that it’s the cyclist’s access first Megan Bryer and Kay Tukendorf Photograph: David Levene/The GuardianAnd there is no question that pedestrians sometimes feel intimidated by cyclists riding quickly or in a large peloton which brings together the 35 cycling clubs which use the park or crossing some bike lanes in central London as a pedestrian the issue is one of infrastructure – and that’s an issue that has been solved in other countries.” Epstein said he had “no issue” with the new legislation increasing sanctions for dangerous cyclists but questioned why other recommended measures to tighten sanctions against drivers had not been implemented by the government “My concern is that by presenting this as a solution a narrative is formed that cyclists are the enemy of pedestrians.” Instead cyclists and pedestrians “should be trying to work together to advocate for safer travel” © 2025 Country & Town House.All rights reserved The Grade I listed property was designed by John Nash From grand townhouses to homes inside landmarks London certainly has its fair share of historic properties but this Grade I listed Regent’s Park mansion boasts a particularly hefty price tag If the majestic façade of this London mansion looks familiar it’s all thanks to its designer: John Nash As one of the most esteemed British architects of the Georgian and Regency eras from Marble Arch to Buckingham Palace – but he also designed plenty of incredible homes United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty Standing proudly behind a large carriage drive (which happens to fit up to eight cars) this Regent’s Park mansion is certainly incredible there’s more than 8,000 square feet of space to explore including seven bedrooms and five bathrooms While the entrance hall is complete with soaring ceilings and parquet floors the drawing room is the real star of the show: expect a hand-carved marble fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows at either end of the enormous space study and powder room make up the rest of the ground floor while the lower level is occupied by a cavernous kitchen/breakfast room as well as a gym As you might expect from a home listed for £20 million the property even boasts a separate two-bedroom mews house which sits above a double garage at the end of the garden.) guests will be spoilt for choice when it comes to bedrooms: there are seven across the first and second floors The principal suite features a sleek dressing room and a large bathroom with a double vanity unit just a stone’s throw from Marylebone and the West End this really is a London gem – with a dazzling price to match Gloucester Gate is available through United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty. For more information, visit sothebysrealty.co.uk Subscribe to Country & Town House in print or the app to make sure you get the very best of property Country & Town House is an introducer appointed representative of Wealthify Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Country & Town House acts as an introducer appointed representative for the purpose of promoting Wealthify products and introducing customers to Wealthify Violent robberies of bikes worth up to £10k in one of London's most popular parks are creating a 'climate of fear' Hundreds of cyclists have had expensive two-wheelers snatched by armed balaclava-clad men on motorcycles in recent years making them terrified to go out cycling in the capital Clubs around Regent's Park in north London say they have seen a real drop-off in cyclists clocking miles in the area after a recent rise in robberies Some believe their bikes may even be 'stolen to order' by criminal gangs before being transported across the world But despite their frequent reports to police cyclists say they are dissatisfied with the 'shrug-of-the-shoulder' responses they receive which represents more than 30 cycling clubs and over 5,000 enthusiasts in the area said those with more expensive bikes are targeted during early morning rides around the park He said: 'What is special about Regent's Park is that it's shut to cars in the morning There are main through roads [to the park] in the mornings 'Mopeds just stand and wait - two people on a moped of motorbike - plates removed 'Most robbers kick riders off their bikes while they're riding and wrestle their bikes off them 'Last winter the robberies kept increasing Our clubs were getting hit on a weekly basis 'It's always the same method and the same response from the police: treating it like stolen property 'It has led to a general fear and inability for people to feel safe.' recently penned an open letter to Sir Mark Rowley Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service warning him of the 'chilling' effect of the 'weekly' attacks on cyclists across London Mr Epstein quoted figures from a Freedom of Information response from the force which reported that in the year up to December 2023 768 crimes of a pedal cycle being stolen using violence or the threat of violence were reported - equivalent to '15 violent attacks each week He added that a poll of members also found that out of 1,400 respondents 91 per cent felt less safe as a result of a recent surge in violent robberies with 59 per cent admitting they'd reduced their cycling as a consequence in a response they received from former Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe Mr Epstein was told a national review of cycling theft had found that violent robberies were 'currently occurring in isolation' with 'no particular patterns' or indications of 'wider who has since moved on from her role as Assistant Commissioner said: 'I am confident that our renewed commitment to community-focused policing and the strengthening of the teams working in local areas will only enhance this ability and lead to improved results.' said he was dissatisfied with the response 'Lots of nice words but no actual resource commitment,' he said there has been a massive drop in participation in cycling and people just not feeling safe the cycle continues and there's no meaningful response.' Some cyclists who've had their bikes stolen said they have been threatened by thugs with knives Mum-of-three and keen cyclist Bethan Lloyd-Glass part of the Regents Park Rouleurs cycling club was on her way to Regents Park one early morning last month when a thug pushed her off her bike and cycled away The 52-year-old was one of three victims of attempted thefts that morning around the park and admitted that the rise in thefts had led to a 'climate of fear' in the cycling community 'There's definitely a climate of fear in the cycling community conveniently located just a few miles from her home in North London says a lot of female cyclists like her are afraid to go out riding on their own due to violent robberies Describing her terrifying ordeal of having her bike stolen 'As I was approaching a canal bridge this motorbike came past me The pillion passenger turned around to look at me 'I kind of knew he was going to get off his bike I unclipped my foot from the pedal and I think I said something ridiculous like they would definitely have had weapons - lots of people are threatened with knives Ms Lloyd-Glass says she remembers lying in the road and watching a light in the shape of a heart on the back of her £8,000 Trek road bike grow smaller as the thieves held the lightweight bike aloft and drove away Within ten minutes of her bike being stolen another cyclist had their bike stolen around Regent's Park A third cyclist also had thieves attempt to steal their bike but managed to resist along with the help of fellow cyclists 'Three attempts within ten minutes,' Ms Lloyd-Glass said A friend was down visiting from Scotland recently and saw a man on an electric bike carrying another bike with another man screaming that he'd taken his bike 'Another guy got his bike taken and said something about the thieves having a machete and a hammer Ms Lloyd-Glass added that she believes some bikes who then hide the stolen bikes in nearby locations She said the thieves rode past one of her friends she had even seen a man in his 70s who had had a hip replacement pushed off his E-bike Another friend who had their bike stolen once tracked his bike down and said it discovered it was in Russia Ms Lloyd-Glass says she would like to see more police patrolling around the park on motorcycles to deter and chase bike thieves who often take roads on getaways that cars cannot get down She even suggested a 'sting' operation to catch the criminals 'There should be more police on motorbikes in London,' she said Insurance for bikes is now as much as for cars What is sad is that it's your freedom gone.' Mr Epstein says reports of similar thefts are on the rise and the following weekend there was one in broad daylight,' he continued 'There was an incident last winter in Barnet where a cyclist managed to get their bike inside a passerby's car 'These two guys on the motorbike started bashing the doors People don't feel safe to leave their houses.' Mr Epstein added that the robbers who targeted the cyclist in Barnet had a piece of paper with 'lots of brands' on it 'They are definitely targeted [attacks],' he said 'It's not random kids on E-bikes causing trouble There's definitely an organised and targeted element to it.' This comes following a series of similar crimes across the city where phones have been snatched by thieves on bikes One incident happened in Albany Place in Marylebone, near Regent's Park, with footage shared and going viral on X, formerly Twitter. The Marylebone crime came just days after another bike-riding thief snatched a man's mobile phone out of his hand in nearby Park Lane. Video footage showed a cyclist riding in the middle of the main road then turning off the road to ride on the path, before lining up behind an unsuspecting pedestrian holding his phone and swiftly swiping it. Meanwhile, some cyclists fed up with police inaction over bike thefts have taken matters into their own hands. Business partners James Dunn and Richard White founded their company BackPedal, which installs GPS trackers on customers' bikes and sends recovery officers to reclaim stolen bikes once they're located, back in 2021. The pair believe bicycle thieves are encouraged by the lack of convictions and successful prosecutions. In 2022, almost 90 per cent of bike thefts reported across England went unsolved, according to figures from the House of Commons Library. And in the five years up to June 2022, just 159 people were found guilty of bike theft out of an estimated 350,000 reported cases. Many victims also don't bother reporting their bikes being stolen - due to their lack of faith in the police's ability to locate and reclaim them. The Metropolitan Police was approached for comment but did not wish to add to former AC Rolfe's comments. Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150... How Meghan's biggest cheerleader brokered Harry's disastrous BBC interview - three months after... 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Husband of British mother, 65, who was knifed to death in French village says her affair is a... {{message}} Full casting has been announced for the stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s novel Noughts & Crosses at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre this summer and directed by Tinuke Craig (A Raisin in the Sun) Noughts & Crosses will run at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 28 June to 26 July 2025 The show will star Corinna Brown (Heartstopper) as Sephy, and Noah Valentine (Waterloo Road) as Callum The Noughts & Crosses cast also features Alec Boaden as Jude; Amanda Bright as Jasmine; Halle Brown as Lola & Juno; Michael Cusick as Mr Stanhope & Peter; Elle Davies as Shania & Leila; Eddie Elliot as Mr Corsa Collins & Jack; Emma Jane Goodwin as Sarah Pike; Kate Kordel as Meggie; Jessica Layde as Minerva; Wela Mbusi as Mr Pingule & Governor; Habib Nasib Nader as Kamal; Yolanda Ovide as Dionne & Clerk; Helena Pipe as Reporter & Kelanie & Joannie; Richard Riddell as Ryan; Ben Skym as Colin & Morgan; and Chanel Waddock as Lynette Joining Tinuke Craig in the creative team are Fight Directors Hazel Holder; Movement & Intimacy Director Malorie Blackman’s best-selling Noughts & Crosses is a bittersweet love story with echoes of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet By a secluded beach Callum and Sephy meet in secret; life-long friends living on separate sides of a divided world is accepted to Sephy’s prestigious Cross school or will the hate and fear that surrounds them drive them apart who is Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director said in a statement: “I’m so excited to be working with this wonderful cast on this deeply loved story The company is a thrilling mix of new graduates seasoned theatre performers and accomplished television actors making their stage debut and each actor is bringing their own unique perspective and playful energy to Malorie Blackman and Dominic Cooke’s characters Dominic Cooke’s forthcoming projects include directing Mrs Warren’s Profession at the Garrick Theatre starring Imelda Staunton Noughts & Crosses is part of the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s new summer 2025 season, which also includes musicals Shucked and Brigadoon Book Noughts & Crosses tickets at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have announced that the much-anticipated UK premiere of musical comedy Shucked and Lerner & Loewe’s Brigadoon will play as part of Drew McOnie’s inaugural season at the venue with Monique Ashe-Palmer (Standing at the Sky’s Edge Riverside Studios/UK tour) as Storyteller 2 Featuring a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn a score by the Grammy Award-winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien corn-bred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite Including the knockout songs ‘Woman of the World’ and a battle for the heart and soil of a small town The creative team includes casting director Jill Green CDG A new adaptation of Lerner & Loewe’s Brigadoon by Rona Munro with direction and choreography by Drew McOnie The captivating Scottish Highlands come to the magical outdoor setting of Regent’s Park in this major London revival for the first time in over 35 years Danielle Fiamanya (Mandela) will play Fiona alongside Louis Gaunt (Mary Poppins) as Tommy WW2 fighter pilots Tommy and Jeff are searching for a way home sisters Fiona and Jean are preparing for a wedding Over the course of one chance day in the dreamlike village of Brigadoon But can love endure in this enchanting place where everything is not quite as it seems Brigadoon features soaring songs including ‘Almost Like Being in Love’ ‘Waitin’ for My Dearie’ and ‘The Heather on the Hill’ The creative team includes musical director Laura Bangay and music supervisor and orchestrator Sarah Travis The season will also include Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill from 19 – 22 June which will see award-winning musical theatre choreographers Julia Cheng Shelley Maxwell and Kate Prince re-imagining the dream ballets from Allegro Drew McOnie said: “After what has without doubt been one of the most thrilling incubation periods of my creative career Every member of the Regent’s Park team and the many artists that are coming together to share their imaginations with us at the centre of their process and it's an honour to work alongside them in delivering my debut season for this much-loved venue.” Full creative teams and casting for all productions to be announced Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Memberships are now on sale and Members’ priority booking for the 2025 summer season opens at 12pm today (30 January) with public booking opening at 11am on 6 February For full details on the new season, please click here. Growing numbers of cyclists are now avoiding Regent’s Park for fear of falling prey to the moped muggers News | Crime I just went completely blank,” says Bethan Lloyd Glass as she recalls the terrifying moment she was pushed off her £8,200 bike by moped-driving muggers The Pilates teacher was meeting up with other cyclists for a ride around Regent’s Park one morning in January when she became the latest victim of a crime scourge that has struck fear into the heart of London’s cycling community “It was a motorbike with a passenger on the back and as soon as they passed me I realised this was not good so I stopped a few metres back,” says the 52-year-old “I saw the bloke on the back of the bike turn around and look at me and then he said something to the rider and I just thought ‘oh this is it’ “He came over and he said give me your f***ng bike and then he pushed me off “I remember just sort of scrabbling around and then I saw my bike he had it over his shoulder and just disappeared off down the road.” Ms Lloyd Glass is one of a growing number of Regent’s Park cyclists who have been picked off by masked robbers in recent months This week cyclist Patrick Conneely told how he was forced off his £4,200 bike by a hammer-wielding man. Footage shows him being pursued and cornered by two men on a moped while riding on the outer circle of the park Mr Conneely stood between the men and the bike but one of the pair quickly grabbed a hammer and swung at the cyclist but the two men quickly sped off with his bike For years Regent’s Park has been enjoyed by thousands of cycling enthusiasts who have taken advantage of the fact it is closed to traffic between 5.45am and 7am But the lack of cars has also made the royal park a target for moped muggers who lie in wait - often armed with knives - ready to prey on lycra-clad cyclists who race their high-end bikes around the outer road Police figures clearly suggest the number of bike-jackings has been rising. 1,061 thefts and robberies were recorded by the Met in the 12 months to January 2025 - a rise of more than a third in two years However limits on the number of police available to carry out early-morning patrols have led cyclists to complain they feel like “sitting ducks” Cycling group leaders told The Standard many now feel the risk of being attacked is simply too great and are avoiding the park altogether Others are altering their routes to avoid being singled out and have started pairing up to increase their safety in numbers Ms Lloyd Glass says she has little hope of ever getting her top-of-the-range Trek Émonda bike back I have for years and it brings me a lot of joy and happiness but people are terrified now and you can see people dropping off and not coming to the park anymore which is sad.” said the attacks have had a “massive impact” on the biking community He said a typical morning used to see around 15 cyclists riding in the mornings however the number has now dropped to just three Shocking moment hammer-wielding thief forces cyclist off £4,200 bike in Regent's Park Mugger threatens to stab cyclist then steals bike in Regent's Park The rampant bike-jacking gangs terrorising London’s parks Commenting on the response from the Met’s Parks Police Unit he said: “They work to a fairly set schedule and don’t appear to have much flexibility when it comes to the park and what they can do.” He added: “It’s really impacted an important part of the Regent’s Park community One of the principal reasons for it is for sport and recreation “It’s a massive lifeline to people to come here in a morning and exercise in safety and that feels like its been taken away from us.” More than 30 clubs who meet in Regent’s Park before it opens to cars in the morning have asked for greater police protection has been cycling around Regent’s Park for 10 years and said he now feels vulnerable in the city for the first time in his life “The feeling of being vulnerable is not something I’m used to as a man in the city It’s obviously a lot worse for women and female members of my club have stopped coming which is a shame.” Mr Lockwood has heard reports of cyclists being threatened with knives and brutally kicked and punched to the ground I’ve changed my route to come to the park but then on the new route They’re trying to coordinate and come in a group but then there are times even in groups of two or three where they’ve still been attacked the incidents Mr Lockwood had heard about were taking place at dawn or dusk but there have been reports of attacks taking place in broad daylight where to go and they are targeting more valuable bikes I don’t know if it’s coordinated but they’re not coming and taking the first bike they see.” Mr Lockwood has called on Met Police to step up their efforts to bring these thieves to justice but they’ve got a lot to do and what we don’t seem to have any sense of is that they are investigating and following up and trying to find where these bikes are going to,” he said a member of Cycle Club London for four years said the recent surge in thefts has forced her to change the way she cycles “Especially for a woman riding into the park it’s really scary and it has put me off quite a lot this morning it’s brighter and so I’ve felt safer.” said one cyclist was accosted and threatened with knives last year and has yet to return to the group’s morning rides but the fact these guys had knives and frightened the life out of him.” said: “We have been working hard to curb bike thefts in and around Regent’s Park including patrolling hotspot locations and given the violence used in these attacks we will continue to ensure that we do all we can to put a stop to these crimes.” The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n \n \n \n '.concat(e,' Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response The file could not be found for a number of 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Click here to get back to where you came from Jordan Fein directs the classic Jerry Bock Following a summer 2024 engagement at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, the Jordan Fein-directed production of the classic American musical Fiddler on the Roof will transfer to London’s Barbican Theatre this summer Producer Howard Panter said in a statement “I saw this incredible production last summer and was immediately blown away I'm delighted—with our partners—to bring this masterpiece to the Barbican and on tour for what will be one of the major cultural highlights of the year It was completely sold out during its Regent’s Park run so this new production will give many more people the chance to see musical theatre at its very best.” and Ta-Tynisa Wilson will perform nearly 50 songs by the late singer-songwriter See clips of the numbers “Daydream,” "Flying Away" and "Jugglin'" from the new musical The play comes on the heels of a broader cultural conversation about Dahl's work and the prejudice that was embedded in many of his most beloved stories Pearson will be the first disabled actor to portray Joseph Merrick on screen The musical will play its final performance on Broadway May 18 The Harvey Schmidt-Tom Jones musical would go on to play over 17,000 performances at the Sullivan Street Theatre The play began performances April 28 at Audible's Minetta Lane Theatre Maltby will also direct the new revue at the Connecticut venue Thank You!You have now been added to the list Blocking belongson the stage,not on websites Our website is made possible bydisplaying online advertisements to our visitors Please consider supporting us bywhitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.Thank you A new adaptation of classic Lerner & Loewe musical Brigadoon is coming to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre this summer 2025 The show was announced today during the venue’s 2025 season launch Adapted by leading Scottish playwright Rona Munro (The James Plays) with original dances created by Agnes De Mille the show will play Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 2 August to 20 September 2025 Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award-winner Drew McOnie (Jesus Christ Superstar) Brigadoon will be his first production as Artistic Director of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Brigadoon will star Danielle Fiamanya (Otherland) as Fiona and Louis Gaunt (Mary Poppins) as Tommy Joining Drew McOnie in the creative team will be: Laura Bangay (Musical Director); Basia Bińkowska (Set Designer); Will Burton (Casting Director); Sami Fendall (Costume Designer); Carol Hancock (Associate Wigs Hair & Makeup Designer & Supervisor) Cory Hippolyte (Associate Director); Hazel Holder (Voice Coach); Jessica Hung Han Yun (Lighting Designer); Nick Lidster for Autograph (Sound Designer); Ingrid Mackinnon (Intimacy Director); Drew McOnie (Director & Choreographer); Ebony Molina (Associate Choreographer); Morag Stark (Dialect Coach); and Sarah Travis (Music Supervisor & Orchestrator) From Alan Jay Lerner (Book & Lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (Music) the magical outdoor Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre will be the perfect setting for this Scottish Highlands-set show Brigadoon boasts crowd-pleasing songs including ‘Almost Like Being in Love’ Brigadoon is part of Drew McOnie’s first season as Artistic Director of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. The director and choreographer joined the venue in January 2024 Other musicals playing during the 2025 season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is award-winning Broadway musical Shucked Last year’s musical at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre was Jordan Fein’s new production of classic Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof and is transferring to London’s Barbican Theatre this summer Brigadoon is playing at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 2 August to 20 September 2025 More about tickets to Brigadoon at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London It’s aimed at early-career musical theatre choreographers Tanyel Gumushan a new artist development programme from Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre offers two early-career musical theatre choreographers a paid residency to develop their practice It’ll culminate in an industry showcase at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Successful applicants will receive coaching from artistic director Drew McOnie as well as mentoring from the theatre’s producing team and external choreographers They’ll also receive access to a rehearsal space and professional dancers to work with McOnie said: “I am thrilled to announce Theatre Dance Lab and offer this unique opportunity to early-career musical theatre choreographers We are hugely grateful to both The Dorfman Foundation and the Garrick Charitable Trust for their generous support of the project I am proud to be able to support the next generation of musical theatre dance makers and offer a new platform for the development of their work.” Applications are open now and close on 16 April 2025 at 12pm Successful applicants will be invited for an interview on 12 and 13 May 2025 Applicants should not currently be in training they should have choreographed no more than three professional regional productions The programme will run from 8 September to 19 September 2025 with availability also required during the year to allow for mentoring sessions For more information visit openairtheatre.com/theatre-dance-lab Published on 2nd January 2025 by ianVisits in History Around the side of a Victorian church next to Regents Park you can find a very large decorated runestone celebrating the creation of Denmark as a nation state It’s actually a replica of Denmark’s famous Jelling Stone and was installed next to Regents Park in 1955 made in 1948 for the V&A Museum’s exhibition of Danish heritage The stone wasn’t inside the exhibition but mounted on the pavement outside as an advert for what was inside the museum There’s a short clip of the stone outside the museum here It later seemed to move around a bit to St Paul’s Cathedral and then the Guildhall Museum before ending up next to The Regent’s Park Although the church it sits next to was built in 1826-28 for the Royal Foundation of St Katharine and the church was taken over by the Danish Church the wandering plaster cast of the Danish Jenning Stone The copy looks slightly different from the original but over the centuries the paint had flaked away but just enough remained for the replica to be painted as the original would have looked Being next to the Danish Church is doubly apt it also explicitly mentions Denmark’s conversion from Norse paganism and the process of Christianization alongside a depiction of the crucified Christ; it is popularly dubbed “Denmark’s baptismal certificate.” putting the stone next to the church was an inspired decision You can find the replica Jelling Stone next to St Katharine’s, The Danish Church on the topeastern end of Outer Circle next to Regent’s Park although only through a stone wall which is sometimes unlocked to get up close you can still look at it from a slight distance Welcome to bdonline.co.uk. This site uses cookies. Read our policy By 2024-08-19T09:27:00+01:00 Planning permission has been granted for a new garden in Regent’s Park which will commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II Work has already begun on transforming a disused plant nursery within Regent’s Park into the two-acre garden The project is being led by HTA Design LLP with contributions from horticulturalist Dr Noel Kingsbury and Tate + Co architects The garden is intended to complement the park’s existing historic gardens while incorporating modern sustainability practices HTA Design said: “We are honoured to be working with The Royal Parks on the design of such a significant new garden to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II The design transforms a brownfield site into a stunning biodiverse and climate resilient garden for the public to enjoy for many years to come” Key features of the new garden will include a circular pond designed to enhance wildlife habitats a central promenade with an accessible platform overlooking the pond and a flower garden showcasing species associated with Queen Elizabeth II a disused water tower within the site will be repurposed as an accessible viewing platform offering panoramic views of the garden and surrounding area The tower will also be adapted to support habitats for birds serving as an educational resource for visitors said: “The approval of planning permission marks an exciting step forward in the creation of the new garden It provides a serene escape from the city’s hustle and bustle This site will add two acres of biodiverse parkland for everyone to enjoy and explore” The new garden in Regent’s Park is expected to significantly enhance biodiversity within the park all designed to attract wildlife such as invertebrates and pollinators The development of the garden will adhere to sustainable practices including the reuse of steel from the former nursery greenhouses to construct elements of the new pergola and the repurposed water tower concrete from demolition materials will be recycled and utilised as growing mediums Opportunity described as “one of the most significant design projects in recent British history” The design competition for a memorial to Queen Elizabeth II will invite multidisciplinary teams to reimagine a site within St James’s Park HTA Design and housing association Clarion proposing to replace local east London landmark with 23-storey tower The centre will contain buildings up to nine storeys in height Plans designed by Gensler for a £1bn cancer research and treatment centre in south London have been submitted for planning by developers Aviva Capital Partners and Socius Retrofit of 150 Aldersgate includes new terraces a reconfigured entrance and a public art installation Howells also scoops two awards for Birmingham office scheme and a cafe at a grade I-listed country house Site powered by Webvision Cloud Shelagh Fogarty is Leading Britain's Conversation Cyclist being robbed of his bicycle in Regent's Park This is the moment a pair of 'bikejackers' force a man off his expensive bike in Regent's Park by threatening him with a hammer Footage shared by police shows Patrick Conneely being pursued and cornered by thugs on a moped while cycling round the central London park's Outer Circle last month with more and more cyclists in the central London park being attacked - leaving many now terrified to go out Mr Conneely initially refused to give up his £4,200 bike when being harassed by the gangsters - leading to one of them pulling out a hammer and threatening him with it This thug then grabbed the bike and put it over his head as his partner in crime made to speed both of them away Read more: Masked thugs forced me to hand over my bike - and the machete gangs targeting London cyclists are getting worse Read more: Royal Parks call for cycling apps to remove Regent’s Park route after death of elderly woman in 29mph crash but the thugs were able to make their getaway Mr Conneely said he was reluctant to go back to Regent's Park "This is a place we go to exercise and it's right in the centre of London - we should be able to enjoy it safely," he told Mail Online The park is closed to cars from 5.45-7.45am which has made it a haven for biking clubs bike thieves have started operating at this time when it is still dark and cyclists are easier to prey upon some 768 violent attacks on cyclists were recorded each week across London - the equivalent of 15 such assaults every week Officers don't start patrolling the park until 8am and are said to have told cyclists that they cannot start any earlier said: "What is special about Regent's Park is that it's shut to cars in the morning "Mopeds just stand and wait - two people on a moped of motorbike - plates removed 'Most robbers kick riders off their bikes while they're riding and wrestle their bikes off them.'Last winter the robberies kept increasing "Our clubs were getting hit on a weekly basis "It's always the same method and the same response from the police: treating it like stolen property "It has led to a general fear and inability for people to feel safe." Stop Killing Cyclists co-founder opposes giving life sentences to 'killer cyclists' Last month LBC's Johnny Jenkins recounted how he had been attacked by 'bikejackers' in the park "Two masked thugs on electric bikes approached me demanding I hand over my bike," he wrote "I let out a piercing scream – I couldn’t believe this was happening It felt like I’d been thrown into a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from." Police were no use and so he was left out over £1,000 out of pocket because of the stolen bike Another cyclist told of how he was attacked by men on a moped See more More Crime News See more More UK News See more More Topics