Top 10 Parks In South West London

The boroughs of south west London are home to some of the most beautiful historic green spaces in the country. The Green Flag Award scheme accredits the best quality and well-kept recreational parks across the UK and internationally. This year the scheme celebrates as 2,216 parks across the UK are awarded – the largest number since the award began.

Cannizaro Park

The exceptional Cannizaro Park was awarded a Green Flag Award in July. Located close to Wimbledon Village, the park is renowned for its landscapes and interesting history dating back to the 19^th century. Cannizaro House was originally the home of the Duke of Cannizaro and in WWII, it was used as a base for wounded soldiers. Today, the park homes various sculptures to marvel at, a picturesque rose garden, a tranquil lake with a bridge and a beautiful natural woodland to stroll through.

Canbury Gardens (pictured top)

A tranquil oasis to escape the urban bustle, Canbury Gardens offers idyllic views of the riverside. Situated in Kingston along the River Thames, the park has been recognised this year with a Green Flag Award for its fantastic range of public facilities including a children’s playground, tennis courts and available hire for boats and canoeing.

Coronation Gardens

An exquisite Edwardian green space, located in Southfields in Wandsworth, the gardens have been awarded a Green Flag Award for their well-kept lawns and gorgeous views. Among this natural retreat, you will find colourful flower beds and vast open grassy areas perfect for picnics and relaxing rambles.

Richmond Park

Spanning 2,500 acres, Richmond Park is renowned as the largest of London’s Royal Parks. Originally created as a deer park by King Charles I, herds of deer still roam freely through the park today, including red deer and fallow deer. The park also hosts a range of events and activities with designated cycling paths and horse riding tracks and various scenic walking trails with beautiful attractions.

Photo credit: The Royal Parks

Streatham Common

Nestled within the borough of Lambeth, Streatham Common has been awarded a Green Flag for its quality landscapes and maintained areas. With majestic meadows, grassland, woodland and streams, the park is the perfect escape to take in nature. The Rookery is a beloved attraction of the park featuring ornamental gardens and a beautiful scenic lake.

Battersea Park

For a park with something to do for the whole family, Battersea Park offers numerous activities and features including boating, an Olympic-quality running track, a beloved children’s zoo, a mini-golf course and the aerial adventure ‘Go Ape’. Beyond the array of activities, the park serves as a serene tranquil oasis, with the notably famous sub-tropical Victorian garden and the vibrant winter garden.

St Luke’s Gardens

A Kensington and Chelsea green space with a rich history, St Luke’s Garden holds a Green Flag for its enchanting formal gardens. The park was originally used as a burial site in 1812 before it was transformed by James Veitch and has been open to the public since 1888. The park now features a children’s playground and a multi-use games area.

Tooting Common

With sweeps of natural landscapes paired with sports facilities, Tooting Common is the perfect spot for a wander and a family day out. Featuring acid grassland with mature and veteran trees as well as semi-natural deciduous woodland habitats, the diverse space also caters to various recreational activities. The most notable feature is the Tooting Bec Lido, England’s largest freshwater open-air pool.

Parson’s Green

A triangular common bordered with plane trees and crisscrossed with walking paths, this wholesome public pocket park holds a Green Flag. The name derives from the park’s history, called after the rectors of the parish of Fulham whose residence once adjoined the land.  The park hosts vast grassy plains, shaded by large trees making for the perfect nature green to escape to for some calmness and peace year-round.

Ebury Square Gardens

A quiet haven in the heart of the bustle of the city, Ebury Square Gardens, located in Belgravia, holds a Green Flag for its formal lawns, colourful bedding plants and ornamental shrubs. An exquisite fountain sits at the centre to create a serene paradise, just a moment away from the central city rush. The green has traditional circle paths with tile edging for a perfect therapeutic stroll through nature.

South West winners this year include:

Lambeth:

Streatham Common, Archbishop’s Park, Brockwell Park, Clapham Common, Eardley Road Sidings Nature Reserve, Hillside Gardens Park, Holmewood Gardens, Kennington Park, Milkwood Community Park, Larkhall Park, Myatt’s Fields Park, Old Paradise Gardens, Palace Road Nature Garden, Ruskin Park, St. John’s Churchyard, St. Paul’s Churchyard, Slade Gardens, Streatham Common, Streatham Rookery, Ufford Street Gardens, Vauxhall Park, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, West Norwood Cemetery

Merton:

Cannizaro Park, Colliers Wood Recreation Ground, Abbey Recreation Ground, Dundonald Recreation Ground, John Innes Park, Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Field, South Park Gardens

Wandsworth:

Battersea Park, Wandsworth Common, Tooting Common, Wandsworth Park, King George’s Park, Coronation Gardens

Kensington and Chelsea:

Avondale Park, Cremorne Gardens, Emslie Hornimans Pleasance, Gunnersbury Cemetery, Holland Park, Kensington Memorial Park, Lancaster West Estate, Little Wormwood Scrubs, St. Luke’s Gardens, Tavistock Square Gardens, Westfield Park.

Kingston:

Canbury Gardens, Queens Promenade, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Churchfields Recreation Ground

Hammersmith and Fulham:

Wormwood Scrubs, Bishops Park and Fulham Palace, Brook Green, Cathnor Park, Frank Banfield Park, Furnival Gardens, Hammersmith Park, Hurlingham Park, Marcus Garvey Park, Margravine Cemetery, Norland  North Open Space, Normand Park, Parsons Green, Ravenscourt Park, South Park, St Paul’s Gardens, St Peter’s Square, Wendell Park, Westcroft Square, Wormholt Park, William Parnell Park

Richmond:

Buccleuch Gardens, Cambridge Gardens, Carlisle Park, Crane Park, Garrick’s Lawn, Ham Village Green, Hampton Common, Hatherop Park, Heathfield Recreation Ground, Kew Green, Kneller Gardens, Murray Park, North Sheen Recreation Ground, Palewell Common and Fields, Radnor Gardens, Richmond Green, Richmond Park, Terrace Gardens, The Kings Field, Twickenham Green, Vine Road Recreation Ground, Westerley Ware, York House Gardens