Green Space in the South: Parks to Know + Walk Through
Looking for a great park in South London? You’ve got plenty to choose from.
This part of the city is rich in green spaces; big ones, small ones, wild ones, quiet ones.
Whether you’re in the mood for a proper woodland walk, a place to picnic with friends, or somewhere to let the kids run wild, there’s a park that fits the bill.
From peaceful spots tucked away in neighbourhoods to larger open spaces where you can cycle, swim, or even go horse riding, South London has a park for everyone.
Here are seven of our favourite parks to explore next time you need a dose of nature.
South London parks: seven outdoor spaces for families and individuals
Whether you are alone or you are with your family, the roundup below will show you the perfect parks to visit for fun and relaxation regardless of who is with you.
Battersea Park covers a large land space of 200 acres in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It was built between 1854 and 1870.
Accessible from Albert Bridge Road, Queenstown Road or Prince of Wales Drive, Battersea Park is perfect if you want a boat ride or desire to give your children an animal-based day out.
With a children’s zoo, boating lake and many sports facilities, this is one place that is ideal for a family outing.
There are restaurants and food stands around the park to tease and satisfy your taste buds. The park has a large parking space for your vehicles that will cost you just a few pounds.
- Opening time: The park gates open at 6:30 am daily. The children’s zoo opens at 10:00 am daily
- Nearest Train Station: Battersea Park Railway Station and Queenstown Road
- Entry fee: Free entry except on special events.
Facilities available at Battersea Park:
- Children’s zoo
- Bandstand
- Boating lake
- Tennis courts
- Football pitches
- Pump house gallery
- Cricket pitches
- Miniature railway for children
- Nature area with birds, butterflies and stag beetles
- Thrive, Rosery, Winter and Sub-tropical garden.
This park was established in 1896 through the efforts of Octavia Hill and a committee of people who fought to prevent the area from being taken over by developers and to be preserved as a public park.
It is located in Lewisham and stands at 175 feet above sea level offering an excellent view of the city of London.
If you enjoy running, cycling and long walks alone or with your dog while having a feel of nature, Hilly Fields is for you.
There is a large dog exercise area and regular park runs on Sunday mornings.
Picnics are also a delight when you are on top of the summit of Hilly Fields. The park can be accessed from Hilly Fields Crescent, Adelaide Avenue, Vicars Hill and Montague Avenue.
The park runs a cafe called Pistachios in the Park that offers mouth-watering treats.
There are various free on-street parking spaces available around the park plus a few pay-as-you-go car parks.
- Opening time: The park is open 24 hours daily
- Nearest train station: Brockley Railway Station
- Entry fee: Most areas of the park are open for free entry.
Facilities available in Hilly Fields Park:
- Tennis courts
- Francis Drake bowls club
- Basketball court
- Cricket pitch
- Dog exercise area
- Stone circle
- Monthly farmers market
- Pistachios in the Park cafe
- Playgrounds
Best known for its abundant wildlife and nature, Peckham Rye sits on top of the list of many people’s favourite parks in South London.
This lovely place of nature can be found at 34 Straker’s Road London.
It was opened in 1884 with an initial size of 54 hectares and it’s currently managed by Southwark Council.
You can get to it via Peckham Rye Road, Homes Tall Road, Colton Road or Straker’s Road.
This park is perfect for family fun and picnics as there are many family events and activities to be enjoyed.
We particularly like the Summer Fete and the History Tours.
It is also perfect for nature lovers with its wide range of wildlife, and fascinating flora and fauna.
You are feeling hungry as you check out the fantastic work of nature preservers? No worries.
Check out the food at the popular cafe in the park called The Round Cafe to soothe your appetite.
There is also safe street parking and pay car parks available. Peckham Rye car park charges from £4.75 per day.
- Opening times: The park opens at 7:30 am daily
- Nearest train station: Nun head Railway Station
- Entry fee: There are tickets for special events but entry into Peckham Rye Park is usually free.
Facilities available in Peckham Rye Park
- The Round Cafe
- Children’s playground
- Toilet facilities with baby changing area.
- Adventure playground
- Green gym
- Skate park
- Bowling green
- Football pitches
- Wildlife garden
- Dog free area
- Picnic area
- Flowing streams
- A lake
- Sexby and Japanese Garden.
Could this be the best park in South London? Quite possibly!
Welcome to the reference point of the Greenwich Mean Time, the place that lent its name to the prime meridian.
This is the oldest royal park in Britain with 183 acres overlooking the Thames, known mostly for housing many of Britain’s historic buildings such as the Royal Observatory, Queen’s House Gallery, National Maritime Museums and many others.
Perfect for nature and history in one place!
Greenwich Park boasts one of the richest flower and herb gardens in South London.
If you are a lover of nature and spices, your “thyme” here will be worth it.
There are children’s playgrounds if you are here with your family and you can safely keep them busy there while you explore the iconic sights from the One Tree Vista Point or the Statue of Wolfe.
Visit the Pavilion Cafe and Park View Coffee Cabin for some delicious snacks.
There is a large pay parking space accessible if you drive in via Blackheath gate. Disabled parking is also available. You can go in through St Mary’s Gate.
- Opening time: The park opens by 6:00 am for pedestrians and 7:00 am for motorists daily
- Nearest train stations: Maze Hill Railway Station, Greenwich Railway Station and Blackheath Railway Station. All are 20 minutes walk away from the park
- Entry fee: The park has free entry.
Facilities available in Greenwich Park:
- Children playgrounds
- Tree avenues
- Rose gardens
- Flower and herb garden
- Museums
- Boating lake
- Millennium sundial
- Bandstand
- Rangers house
Created by King Charles 1 in the 17th century, the park started as a deer park which it is still largely known for today.
It is now a wildlife reserve of 2360 acres located in the London Borough of Richmond in South West London and just a stone’s throw from central London.
Richmond is one of the largest parks in London and the largest royal park in Britain.
Richmond is known for its large population of wild deer and is a great place for deer spotting for wildlife lovers.
It is also perfect for sports activities like cycling and golf, fishing in the Pen Ponds, horse riding and many other sports.
The park also hosts frequent park runs.
If you are interested in nature, the Beverly brook, the Isabella Plantation and other natural spots are worth a visit.
There are a few on-site coffee shops when you need a little sit down.
The parks in Richmond are mostly free to enter and can be accessed from Sheen Gate, Ham Gate, Kingston Gate, Richmond Gate, Roehampton Gate and Choke Gate.
- Opening time: Open 24 hours except during deer culls. The vehicle gates open at 7 am and close at dusk
- Nearest train station: Richmond Railway Station
- Entry fee: Free
Facilities available in Richmond Park
- Isabella Plantation
- Woodland gardens
- Pembroke lodge
- Richmond Park golf course
- Children’s playground
- Pen Ponds
Beautiful and green, Dulwich sits on College Road in the London Borough of Southwark and spans 29 hectares.
This awesome place was created by the Metropolitan Board of Works and opened to the public in 1890.
Dulwich Park boasts a large American garden, a great attraction in its own right.
There’s also a large wildlife conservation area full of insects, birds and trees.
If you enjoy boating, cycling and running then you are in the right place. The park has a large expanse of land for sports and hosts regular park runs on Saturdays.
Visit Dulwich Park Cafe for delicious snacks and drinks. The parking spaces cost approximately £2 an hour and are available by the College Road entrance.
- Opening time: 7:30 am daily
- Nearest train station: West Dulwich Railway Station
- Entry fee: Free entry except on special events.
Facilities available in Dulwich Park
- American Garden
- Tennis courts
- Children’s playground
- Bowling green
- Cricket nets
- Bicycles for rent
- Boating lake
- Duck ponds
- Dulwich Park Cafe
Crystal Palace Park
This park was laid out in the 1850s and is located along Norwood Ridge in Crystal Palace.
The park bordersthe London Boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark. This park sits at the top of Sydenham Hill.
Popularly known for its dinosaurs collection, Crystal Palace Park has a variety of sports facilities in and around the park.
A dinosaur themed play area will soon be added as part of a £17.5 million regeneration project.
Crystal Palace Park has many restaurants and cafes serving hearty food and snacks. Free parking space is available for motorists at Thicket Road and Anerley Hill.
- Opening time: 7:30 am Monday to Friday and 9:00 am on weekends and bank holidays
- Nearest train station: Crystal Palace Railway Station
- Entry fee: Free
Facilities available in Crystal Palace Park
- Dinosaur court
- Crystal Palace Bowl/Natural Amphitheater
- Skate park
- The maze
- Crystal Palace Museum
- National sports centre with modern gym
- Swimming pool with child-friendly areas
- Indoor running track
- Stadium
- Children’s farm
- Playgrounds
If you want a day out in the open with nature surrounding you, each of these seven south London parks is a perfect choice.
This list is by no means exhaustive and with over 230 parks in south London, we can’t list them all; these are just the ones we tend to visit the most.
If you want to venture further, we suggest:
Our other top picks include:
- Nunhead Cemetery
- Sydenham Hill Woods
- Mayow Park
- Beckenham Place Park
- Lloyd Country Park
- Peckham Rye Park
- Horniman Museum and Gardens
- Sydenham Hill Wood
- Tooting Common
- Wimbledon Common
- Brockwell Park
- Wandsworth Common
- Clapham Common
- Wimbledon Park
- Streatham Common
- Burgess Park
- Southwark Park
Enjoy the great outdoors.