Where I Write in London #3 Regent's Park
Welcome to Where I Write in London, a blog where I take my laptop somewhere new and report back. The coffee (or wine), the atmosphere, the distractions—I'll cover it all. Come along and grab a seat.
#3 Regent's Park
If you write romance, you need a place that feels romantic. Regent's Park is mine. There's a reason I come here when I need my characters to fall in love.
It's a short walk from home. I cut through Primrose Hill, past London Zoo — where you can see some of the animals along the canal — and into the park through one of the northern gates. Within ten minutes I've gone from city streets to wide open green and a beautiful lake.
The Ducklings
I need to get this out of the way first. Right now, the lake is full of ducklings. Not hundreds, but thousands of them. Tiny, ridiculous, fluffy things following their parents in wobbly little lines. They climb over each other, they fall off things, and they swim in circles for no reason. I have lost entire writing sessions to watching them but it’s worth it. So if you want to go, go now because they’re too cute for words.
The Lake
The café by the lake is where I set up, next to the big Californian lilac if the table is free. Parasols for shade, sturdy tables, good coffee, and Wi-Fi. I sit looking out over the water with pedalos drifting past and the occasional visit of a heron. It’s a view that makes me want to slow down.
Busy streets are great for dialogue inspiration, but love scenes need something different. A first kiss, a conversation where the characters finally say what they mean. Regent's Park puts me in that mood. Surrounded by water and green and soft light, I feel what my characters are feeling.
Queen Mary's Rose Garden
If the lake doesn't get you in a romantic mood, the Rose Garden will finish you off. There are over twelve thousand roses, arranged in beds with neat little paths between them. It smells incredible and I sometimes walk through here before I start writing, just to reset. It works every time.
The People
Regent's Park attracts a different crowd depending on the time of day. In the morning it's runners, dog walkers, and people doing yoga on the grass. By midday the tourists arrive — families, couples on the pedalos, groups sprawled on the grass with supermarket picnics. On warm summer nights, locals gather on blankets with food and wine.
And then there are the other writers. I'm not the only one sitting at the café with a laptop.
The Overheard Things
"Olivia, stay away from the swan. Olivia. OLIVIA. That's not a friendly swan."
"If you slip into the lake I'm not coming in after you. I mean it. These are new trainers."
"Sit. Sit. Are you listening? I said sit. Right, fine, stand then. I don't know why I bother."
"Toby, come here. Toby! That's not —I'm so sorry. I’m truly, truly sorry. He's had breakfast. I don't know why he's like this, I do feed him."
"Come here, let me get a photo of us." "Absolutely not." "Why?" "Have you seen my hair?" "You look lovely." "You need glasses. Just take a selfie."
"We had these in the garden in Kent. But then the bloody neighbours put up a fence and they lost all their light."
The Writing Part
I got a lot of words down here in the past two days. The ideas came easily and the love scenes felt warm and authentic.
I worked on five chapters of Sloane Archer Gets What She Deserves. At first it was all drama and comedy, now it’s shaping up to be a true romcom that I promise will make you swoon. My characters are actually starting to like each other and even a little bit more than that.
Practical Notes
Go on a weekday morning for calm. Weekends are lovely but busier, especially around the lake. Bring a charger — there are no plugs outside. The café closes depending on the season so check before you go. And don’t try to get too close to the ducklings, their parents will take your eyeballs out.
Next time, I'll take you somewhere different.