Beckenham Place Park
Beckenham Hill Road, Beckenham, Kent. Beckenham Hill rail.
Tennis courts nestle amongst the parkland.
Blackheath
SE3. Blackheath rail.
170 acres rich in history: the Danes camped here in 1011, and James I introduced golf to England here. Greenwich Park is on one side, unspoilt Blackheath Village on the other. There are two ponds, one used for boating at the weekend. An architectural gem, The Paragon, is off South Row, SE3.
Brockwell Park
Dulwich Road, SE23. Herne Hill rail.
A hilly expanse of green.
Charlton Park
Charlton Park Road, SE7. Charlton rail.
A big expanse of open parkland by the impressive Jacobean Charlton House. There’s a small playground. Cross Charlton Park Road and there’s leafy, wooded Maryon Wilson Park, which has a small collection of animals on display.
Crystal Palace Park
Sydenham, SE19. Crystal Palace rail.
There’s a maze, a children’s play area, a tiny museum about the huge Victorian glasshouse, Crystal Palace, which was installed here but later destroyed by fire, and even a collection of full-scale Victorian models of 29 dinosaurs.
Dulwich Park
College Road, SE21. North or West Dulwich rail.
A Victorian park of 75 acres with a good collection of trees and regular events organised by the Park Rangers. Neighbouring smaller Belair Park was laid out in the late 18th century in the classic English landscape fashion.
Eltham Common
Well Hall Road, SE9. Eltham rail.
A grassy expanse merging into glorious Oxleas Woods.
Greenwich Park
SE10. Greenwich/Maze Hill rail.
Situated on a hill between Blackheath at the top and the River Thames at the bottom, this park was enclosed in 1433 by order of Henry VI. Successors Henry VIII and Elizabeth I found it a pleasing party venue. Deer were introduced in 1515 and a herd is still in residence in the 13-acre Wilderness. There’s a pond with wildfowl, a children’s playground, a flower garden and London’s longest herbaceous border. There’s excellent views, especially at the top of the hill by the Old Royal Observatory (with the meridian line of zero longitude passing through it) where the magnificent panorama takes in the National Maritime Museum (free admission to locals, as with the Observatory) and Docklands, and on a clear day Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral as well. The Observatory’s big red ball drops at 1pm daily. The information centre at the St Mary’s Gate entrance has displays about the history of the 183 acre park. In the summer there’s various events such as band performances in the bandstand, open air theatre, cafe music, children’s entertainments and shows and a family day with various events.
Greenwich Pleasaunce
Chevening Road, SE10. Westcombe Park rail.
A formal, tree-lined garden tucked away around some quiet residential streets. It contains a burial ground for around 3,000 sailors who spent their last days at the Royal Hospital Greenwich. There is a voluntarily-run children’s play centre based in the park, The Bridge, as well as a children’s playground, table tennis and a cafe serving refreshments.
Horniman Gardens
100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23. Forest Hill rail.
Has a small children’s zoo and a nature trail. If you like working outdoors, volunteers are needed for two hours on Sundays to help with ‘ecological management tasks’ (ie clearing up and repairing) on the Horniman Railway Trail – phone for details.
Lesnes Abbey Woods
Abbey Road, Belvedere, Kent. Abbey Wood rail.
Named after the 12th century abbey whose remains are within this 200-acre wood, there’s a wealth of wild flowers, birds and a fossil bed. Bostall Heath and Woods is adjoining, adding an extra 150 acres of green space.
Maryon Wilson Park
Charlton Park Road, SE7. Charlton rail.
Tranquil, leafy, wooded Maryon Wilson Park has a small collection of animals on display. Also, one side of it is Charlton Park and on the other is picturesque Maryon Park, featured in Antonioni’s classic 1966 film, Blow Up.
Mycenae House and grounds
90 Mycenae Road, Blackheath, SE3 Westcombe Park rail.
The spacious, mature gardens are often gloriously empty.
Oxleas Woods
Shooters Hill, SE18. Falconwood rail.
8000 year-old woodland that is adjacent to Shepherdleas, Jack and Castle Woods, Eltham and Woolwich Commons and Eltham and Avery Hill Parks – a massive area of green space. It contains Severndroog Castle, a Gothic tower built in 1784.