London has many famous (and infamous) landmarks. Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, the British Museum, the list goes on. One of my favourites is a bit different, though, as it is not one single space. Regent Street remains a popular destination for visitors, and for some Londoners as well. While the wares available on Regent Street may be quite dear, it is free to walk along it and enjoy. Today’s History Bite is exploring the history of the area, and answering the big question: why is Regent Street called Regent Street?
The History of Regent Street
Regent Street is actually a relatively new part of London. After the Great Fire of London in 1666, various plans were suggested for much of the city to rebuild in a methodical layout. However, work in this area did not start until the second half of the eighteenth century, and planning did not start until the 1810s, largely to connect with the Prince Regent, henceforth “Regent Street”.
The Regent in Regent Street
The Prince Regent- the future King George IV- commanded society. He set trends across all areas of life, and people knew to court his favour as he was Regent for his father and would be king himself. It was determined that there was a need to connect Marylebone Park (to be known as Regent’s Park) with the Prince Regent’s House. Regency architect John Nash turned his eye to the plans and submitted them in 1810 with Parliament’s approval coming in 1813. Nash, along with James Burton designed most of Regent Street. However, that is not what we see now…
Regent Street Today
Regent Street was actually redesigned in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Originally, much of the street had been housing, but shops and storefronts took over. Stores continued to expand, taking over multiple properties to sell their increasingly exotic wares. Liberty of London, right off Regent Street, is a good example of that. The Regent Street that we know dates to 1895 to 1927, depending on where you are looking.
Were you familiar with the history of Regent Street?
Cheers,
The Historian
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I have often wondered – and indeed imagined – if actual people had ever lived in Regent Street. Thanks for clarifying that for me!
Keep up the good work!