Where to begin... do I start with the fact that all the while you are here you are still in south…read moreLondon or do I start with if you just want a bit of tranquillity and don't want to drive for miles this is the place to go. Either one is a good starting point as both are true. The park covers 125 acres 50.59 hectares, yes I did look that fact up but it goes to show how big an area it covers. There are many dog walkers in the park and you can see why as loads of space for the dogs to run around and do what dogs do. Not sure how much picking up of dog mess happens but there are bins a plentiful for them to use. Within the park you will find wet land and a lake area which has seating around it so you can sit and while away some time, although no fishing is allowed... From the top of the hill/viewing mound you get a great view of the extent of the park and also some of the high rises in the distance which remind you that you are in London still. There is a children's play ground (that was undergoing some renovations) wild flower meadows, I understand there is a visitors centre but I think it is for school groups (I could be wrong). I'll finish with the surprising part which is that they have a pitch and putt area for those of you who like a bit of golf but you would need to check the opening hours by contacting the council. Enjoy

you can almost forget that you are in South East London... home to Lake Conan, lovely walks - calm…read more& quiet with a great kids playground... so lucky to have this space in London... It is like being in the countryside - and you can get there by tram which is always exciting!

Probably the jewel in Beckenham's crown and easily the finest park in the area. Like all great…read moreparks, this was originally the landscaped gardens of the Kelsey Manor Estate. Encouraged by the local newspaper, the Beckenham Urban District Council purchased it 100 years ago, saving it from extinction. Built on the River Beck, the large ornamental lakes provide an amazing array of waterfowl that I'd always taken for granted. Maybe it's because I used to be easily scared by Canadian Geese! Apparently, if you want to see Herons in the South East of England, this is the place to go. Alternatively, do what I do and just talk to the Canadian Geese like a madman. Not so scary now, are you? The park is very long, and not very wide in sections, and long walks meander through the trees and over the river. Large lawns provide awesome picnicking and loafing opportunities. What I like about the park is the many elements working together to create a park for all. The Northern sections of the park are quieter, whilst the South East of the park has all the action, with a Children's play area, tennis courts and a recently-refurbished cafe. I really love this park. No, it isn't well-known and you're not going to see it referenced in a movie but it's our St James' Park. And from the amount of use it sees, everybody around here agrees.

I really enjoy coming down to this quaint little park just down from the Natwest in Beckenham high…read morestreet for a bit of parklife in the summertime. The main focal point is a small lake populated by Canada geese and ducks, running down to a small waterfall and stream (no it's not for sale). You can probably walk it in about 15 minutes, but what's the hurry? Loadsa room to find a spot even when its perfectly sunny; I've spent some really lazy summer afternoons here relaxing with friends and a picnic without being bothered by anyone else. There's room for a kickabout or a spot of Frisbee, a couple of tennis courts and a good sized play area etc for the kids to scream and run around in if that's your thing. There's usually an ice cream van in the middle, but I doubt there'll be much need for him in winter.

Queen's Gardens is a very pleasant green oasis adjacent to the Town Hall in Croydon, and just a few…read moreminutes' walk from the busy shopping centre. It is popular with office workers, and for wedding photographs for those undertaking Civil Ceremonies in the Town Hall, but not that well known to many of the visiting shoppers, who never stray this far. It is a mix of lawns, formal borders and a more informal sunken garden, complete with palms. It has an interesting history: the 'sunken' gardens to the north of the site were formed from the railway cutting which led to the former Croydon Central railway station. During the early days of the railways, the two current stations, West Croydon and East Croydon were built by the London and Croydon Railway (1839) and the London and Brighton Railway (1841) respectively, but the townspeople felt neither station was conveniently sited for the town centre. This pressure led to the authorisation in 1864 of a short branch line from East Croydon station to a new station on the site of the present Town Hall, which duly opened as Croydon Central station in 1868. It was a spacious two-platform terminus, handsomely provided with an Italianate station building in brick. Alas, with a meagre service of just 12 trains a day, passengers found it easier to use the other two stations, and the service ceased in 1871. After pressure from the Council, a service was reinstated in 1886, (this time as 'Central Croydon') but this too lasted only until 1890, when the station closed for good. But one advantage of the legacy was that it provided a large, consolidated site for redevelopment. The Council used this opportunity to build the original Town Hall, Courts, a Police Station and Public Library. The sunken garden was constructed in the cutting and opened in 1896. In 1968, the lawns facing Taberner House were laid out, which at that time remained separated from the sunken gardens by Mint Walk and the Victorian Police Station. The Police Station was demolished in 1980, and the two sections of garden joined together as we see them now. They were opened by the Queen on 21st June 1983.

I was so pleased to discover this small area with urban gardens right in the heart of Croydon…read more Opened by the Queen in 1983 it has blossomed ever since. At one of the weddings I attended, we came down here for photo shoots. With the vast array of beautiful flowers amidst a beautiul fountain, this garden truly represents what tranquility and serenity one can find in the open. As I sat on the bench, I imagined myself coming down there again, to bask in the lovely sunshine and soak in the pleasant scents of the colourful flowers overlooking me. It even gets more attractive because there are a bit more private areas the next level below, like (its like a one storey plan) and you can enjoy a lovely novel in the more shaded areas or for those serenaders, its a nice place too. You cannot miss it. It's just right across the Registry.

Sandilands is rather similar to the name Sanderstead , the name Sandstead being an old name for…read moresandy place or Stead as in Homestead. Sandilands being Sandy land. Sandilands in it's own right is just a place name , but it is interesting to look into why that area is named so. I know that through the building of certain architectual features and garages and Tramlink in general back in 1999 . That there is indeed a lot of sand about at sandilands. Before the vertical and curving concrete pile wall on the Elmers End and beckenham was completed at Tramlink track level that is situated beneath Herons Croft Cottage est 1492. A building well worth a glance. There was an excellent cross section in the local sands there. This sand being the Reading Beds of the Palaeocene era , around 50 Million years old. The more stony and fosiliforous Woolwich Beds are missing in the Addiscombe and Sandilands area and maybe into Fairfield ward. But further East at Glebe Way nr Coney Hall I found an outcrop of the woolwich beds exposed as an extension to an old peoples home was under way between 1999-2001. there I found Fossil Oyster shells , Bivalves and Corkscrew snail shells . The Woolwich Beds differ in that they are much coarser in grain of sand , and range from clear , gold and even green grains staind with the mineral glauconite. Also layers of orange sandstone and pebbles abound of small to medium size of a pale colour in appearance. The Reading series at sandilands however are more in the lines of mainly golden silty fine sands , pinkish and grey silty fine sands , lighter sands , nodules of pale and light brown clays and the rare occurance of small bands of Iron rich nodules. When the Derby and Joan or D&J old peoples home was built in Addiscombe road back in the later 1990's . I visited the site as they were boring down into the ground for yet more concrete piles. They told me that there the had a small amount of London clay intruding ontop on one corner on the site. They had been drilling into the overlying Blackheath pebble Beds. Unfortunately he said that suddenly they're boring machine was going nowhere and they had to replace some of their drilling equiptment because they had hit and inpenetrable pan of what I can only excitely guess as being a rare outcrop of heavily compressed Hertfordshire style Pudding stone. Even though I never saw any lying on site. After they broke through they completely bypassed the Woolwich beds of which was missing and strait into the Reading Beds , i.e Sandilands similar sand. ----- As far as Sandilands is concerned as a place . Herons croft is well worth a look as you can see several noteable historic alterations. The reposistioning of the main door from the front of the house to the side of which is now the main Addiscombe rd. Also the addition of two new bay windows on the origional frontage of the house , the blocking off of the origional front door and also the blocking up up of two big first floor square windows. Something that more than likely would have happened in the time of Henery or Elizabeth the 1st , when there was a cruel tax on windows and the amount of light you could have. Further along Addiscombe rd is Addiscombe farm , a very pretty flint and brick combination farm cottage dated 1676. Porch stradled with Stone mushrooms , it is a pretty sight but even more so when covered in a layer of snow. Also keep a good lookout for Mistletoe in the Sandilands area . Especialy in the Lime tree oppsite Herons croft and in the Accacia opposite Sandilands tram stop. Sandilands is a hotbed for Mistletoe. But try and ignore the slabs missing in the platform there and the slap dash repair to a hole in a fence , caused by a Hijacked excavator used to try and break into the ticket machine there. The interest is in Sandilands , but keep your eyes out and up , some of the secrets are underlying. Also there is the Villa's once used by Professors that taught at the former Honourable East India Companies military college at addiscombe. They are situated at the top of Clyde Rd just three minutes walk towards croydon from Sandilands ding a ling stop. Regds Ex Postierider Jon

I envisoned a place 'Sandilands' with a lot of beautiful white sand with relaxing scenery all over…read more What a wonderful way to unwind say at lunch time or chilling out with my friends. Then I did the next logical thing - I set out to find my lovely 'beach-like' day-dreaming spot on the island- I mean Croydon. It was so so within close proximity from the rest of Croydon. So, I could just stay there for as long as was needed and perhaps be whisked off to another time-destination. Very quickly, I boarded the tram towards New Addington and peered out of the window, being careful not to miss my stop - Sandiland. Eventually, I was there. Now only just few minutes from my fantasy island, I looked around for some clue as to how to get to the proper Sandilands. I quickly spotted a dear elderly lady and asked her about how to get to Sandilands. She smiled up and said to me 'This is it. Come to think of it, I don't know why they call this place Sandiland. Though gutted at first, I quickly recovered. I guess that's the way it is sometimes with these names.

The proper name is Lloyd Park. This place is enormous. Every year they have a two day Mela, last…read moreyear the special guest was Jimmy Cliff, and the park swallows up the, what 50, 000 people with a huge amount of room to spare. Plus they have a funfair in another corner. Then of course there's about half a mile of blackberry bushes at the top, and the two sad little horses in the corner, in their own vast paddock over the fence. If you walk just a little way out, round the clump of bushes, you get to a hayfield through the fence which is beautiful in summer, the perfect place for evening if you're with someone. And beyond the hayfield is more countryside, until you get i don't know where.

This is a beautiful and massive park very close to the Lloyds Park tram stop. It has cool deeps and…read morehumps for cycling and palying different games. With the availability of its own tennis court, it attracts players from all over, both apprentices and professional. There is alot of activity for young children as well with the massive playground that has alot of fun for the young children. It makes a great venue for parties, picnics and group outdoor activities. Restrooms also available. For quiet moments with friends and family or even by oneself, just pick a spot, settle down, relax and enjoy. Summer's here again and this is one very hot place to make the most of the sunshine!

A nice place with a lovely open scenery for walking but several including one of my children have…read morealmost drowned in the lake after falling over face first into it.... Going to this location I would suggest keeping your kids well away from the lake Also a while back a murderer used the woodland as a hiding place and wasn't found by the police until six days after he was sleeping there... It's s great place but is it a safe place?

The Five Arches is an area of woodland and open grassland so names because of the five arches that…read moremake up the bridge across the river that runs through it. In the summer, children often paddle in the water and throw stones into the water from the bridge. There's also a park for children to play in which has been modernised to include some exciting looking playground toys. The wooded area provides a fun alternative for youngsters wanting to climb amongst the trees and play hide and seek and a local pub, The White Cross, is a great place for a drink and snack afterwards.

When I think of Coombe Wood I think of the times I visited as a young boy with my parents…read more We would go there in the old days when there used to be an old Chinese couple there. The old man furiously calculated everything with an abacus. The enclosed courtyard outside was all a bit gloomy at that time and I remeber the walls having been grown over with ivy and other plants , that partialy covered a massive square tank suspended at the top of the wall. Of which may or may not have at one time have contained water or even oil for heating. Years ago the Park wardens stabled their horses on the site in Stables that were purpose build. They are now store rooms I would guess , along the arcade leading up to the on site Cafe. The cafe there changed hands on and off , and laterly was known as the Pond Cafe and then at this present moment in time called the Coach House Cafe. Croydon council appear to have had their hand in the Coombe Wood cafe. Prices of food are reasonable to just into the short of slightly steep. The Cafe seems to have become the victim of it's own popularity in more recent years. There is still only one till and customers tend to backlog into a short que , waiting to order coffee , cakes or food. Also it seems that the boss himself spends most of his time behind the till itself , which frankly in my mind is unheard of. Tables are often reserved but empty and tables that are used are often not cleared away any where near fast enough , to make room for next prospective customers to sit down to eat. Despite that , food and drink is of V good level. . . Little has changed in recent years as far as the gardens are concerned. Coombe Gardens seems to be the same old familiar , which is good for people to remanisce , but the future has yet to impact on the site. The quality of planting in the rockery by the pond in recent years seems to have seen some improvement , which is good. The small cottage by the rockery now has something to do with the BTCV ( conservation group ) . I recently took a walk around pretty much the whole of the site with my cousin . Walking up and down the anchient pebbles that once used to be an anchient seabed in millenia gone by. Pine trees , Larch , Birch, Beech and a group of Sweet chestnuts nestling in one of the small valleys on the Coombe Wood site , might be worth a look each year around Late October and Early November. I also noticed leaves from ornimental japanese maples in the lower woodlands at the end of the formal borders. I had not realised these were there. If I had been there on previous visits in my youth , I had missed them or not been there at the time of year when they had been if change of colour. I noticed that in parts of the Coombe Wood site that area's of Rhodedendron had been cut down to encourage new rejuvination of future more compact flowering bushes. At the far end of the Coombe Wood site I noticed that at the other side of the fence. That Rhodedendrons were running rampant and were huge and unmanaged. And very little lives under the canopy of dense Rhodie growth. Personaly I can recomend visiting the site in winter months after several nights of frost that has'nt entirely melted. If frost is lingering on your neighbours roof in Croydon and is added to the next night/morning for a few days. Rush off down to Coombe Wood to see the many millions of Ice Crystals that cover the rockery , shrubs , formal borders, outhouse roofs and Rose gardens. Due to The topography of the site and the low posistion of the sun in winter months. The site is a bit of a frost pocket. So take your kids and a Macro Lens camera and show the lttle ones the beatiful seasonal show of shiny clear bar like growth crystals , or sometimes white Dog tooth shaped formations. The crystals depend on the moisture in the air , atmospheric conditions and the severity of the cold. For me 2001 was a good year. I also visited again in 2007 and now 2012. Also if you can catch the frost covering everything and the light right in the rose garden , the sun shines colour through the old fashioned Pampas grasses. Also if your lucky you might see one of the nearby houses many Black cats. I saw one the other day and he was glancingly friendly. . . Regds Jonathan Moore - Ex Postie rider Jon . expostieriderjon@yahoo.co.uk

I absolutely love Coombe Wood, but the cafe is disappointing. I ordered a piece of cake there…read morerecently, and it was barely edible.

This is probably the most beautiful garden square in London. On a sunny day you can have an amazing…read morepicnic, and the appeal can grow when you think you are just by the river. It has a lovely fountain in the middle of the square that is surrounded by the most beautiful roses. It also has an area exclusively for dogs! So it is inviting for the whole family. These days when it's pouring rain and the weather is less that inviting it still stands as a beautiful place of peace and calm in our amazing but hectic city.

I appreciate that the London Wildlife Trust has preserved this small slice of woodland from the…read moreencroach of civilization. And it is vaguely wild - there's a decent tree canopy overhead, but very little underbrush. It's not quite large enough to really feel like you're really apart from the city - from several spots, we could see houses and hear noises from the surrounding city. It's worthwhile for locals looking for a spot to walk or run, but in my view, it doesn't justify more than a 5 minutes drive to get here.

Due to time restraints I wasn't able to explore, but the little bit of woods I saw was adjacent to…read moreCox's Walk. According to my map Dulwich Wood is some distance away, but it's what the sign said the website later confirmed my assumption that the wood stretches right across the Northern end of the golf course. I wish I'd had time to explore further what I saw was beautiful. Apparently it's the remnant of a much larger ancient wood. Lovely mature trees, not much undergrowth, views out over London between the trees. A really peaceful atmosphere.

Ewell Court Park is a beautiful park with numerous pedestrian entrances. It is lovely for a Sunday…read moremorning stroll in the Summer where you can see children feeding the ducks in the pond and the wildlife around you. There is also a playground and a sports ground in the park. Located in the suburb of Ewell it is a rare piece of green land to be enjoyed by all. There are a few parking spaces by Ewell Court Library or down Lakehurst Road.

This is a beautiful park which has a lovely setting, an ideal place to go for a walk or take the…read morekids to feed the ducks. With plenty of wildlife, you can often see the herron sitting on the island in the middle of the lake. There are squirrels, ducks and plenty of tropical parrots that fly above. If you follow the path it leads to the playground where there are swings and slides for the children. Its a great place for dog walkers, strollers or to take the kids out. There is also a library and a garden centre within the grounds so there is something for everyone. It is my favourite park and is truly a beautiful and harmonious place.