Living in New Eltham we are blessed to have this lovely expansive park right on our doorstep. The…read morepark is a great place for walking the dog, for kids to play footie or just to wander through some of the ancient trees. There's a great cafe which is very cheap and does some great hot snacks and just outside the little kids are playing on the swings etc so great for families. It's a well kept park and right next to the university of Greenwich campus so you often see students laying out on the grass in the summer taking life in while they study.

A very large park which houses the famous winter gardens which are hothouses containing exoctic…read moreplants from around the world. These are maintained by the University of Grennwich next door. Adjacent to these is a walled rose garden ideal for relaxing on a summers day. In the center of the park is a childrens playground with a small cafe which serves excellent home cooked meals. The park houses several sports pitches which can be hired from the local council. The Green chain walk runs through the park

The Hollow Pond is part of Epping Forest, lying between Upper Leytonstone and Snaresbrook. I first…read morecome across this parkland while cycling around the neighbourhood. It was such a delightful discovery! I was so thrilled by this place and I still am. Very raw and natural, not as artificial as most parks in Central London. The pond covers quite a large area and I usually hire a boat for an hour which only cost £10 during summer time. Around the pond, there is a track for walking and cycling. There are full of animals and it's so nice to be part of this natural environment no words can described my liking for this place! A definite five star-er!

Its a very calming place, love it to the core, not very known so still not that crowded or…read moretouristy. Its nature at its best with lovely little lake, a forest trail and a clear area for picnics and boating can be awesome fun as well

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.

went to the park last week with our children and saw the new slide area which is absolutely…read moreterrible. To be able to get up to the slide, you have to crawl through small holes which are very dangerous if you step backwards and forget that it's there.. I'm surprised it's been allowed. Also considering it's near Great Ormond Street Hospital, you would think it was more of an SEN friendly park. Such a shame.

Wish the ground is soft neat foam like ground not dirt ground. Other than that seems more down to…read moreearth than US ones. Two bouncing crossing ropes" are extreme fun for 5 yrs n plus kids.

An idyllic destination a short drive from London, Painshill Park is a great place to spend a day…read moreenjoying the beauty of the English countryside. Created by the eccentric Charles Hamilton, the park was created as a "romantic landscape". Both organized and naturalistic, the park offers many vistas, perspectives and experiences. Created with a variety of follies dotting the landscape, the park offers panoramic views and interesting scenes. Views from the Gothic Temple and the Turkish Tent are breathtaking. While exploring the man-made grotto (which is currently undergoing renovation) you can't help but be in awe of Hamilton's vision while at the same time thinking "This guy must have been totally out there to build stalactites with lathe and plaster and then cover them in pieces of crystal!". Whether walking the grounds, bringing a blanket and a book and enjoying the solitude, Painshill Park is a wonderful place to visit. Be prepared to walk, as the park is large and very hilly. It's a good climb to the top of the Tower as well. Would definitely recommend this if you need a relaxing afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of London.

A grade 1 listed park, much renovated over the last 25 years, by the trust that owns it…read more Created by Charles Hamilton ,in the mid 18th century, after his 2 (obligatory) Grand Tours, he wanted to create an idyllic natural setting, around a lake, with water diverted from the river Mole. He was very succesful in this, and created a number of follies, a Grotto, and the unusual Turkish Tent. Many of the plants are of American origin, and were just becoming fashionable at the time. It's worth remembering it's a park like setting rather than a garden like Wisley. Reasonable cafe near the entrance, and the ever present gift shop. Worth chcking their website for offers, currently free entry on Wednesdays in November, children free at weekends, and A special Santa event. The Grotto is only open at the weekends. A great place for a walk on a sunny day, great views across the lake and Surrey.

Denying Nonsuch Park a glittering 5 star review would be like denying my childhood. I am hugely…read morebiased when it comes to Nonsuch as my whole life has been so intrinsically linked with it and played out within its parameters. I don't want to sound soppy or cheesy but some of my earliest memories were in this very park: learning to ride my bike and walking our family dogs. I went to secondary school right here in the park (Nonsuch High School) and had our ball (or 'prom' as the new kids call it these days having stolen it from Glee and other American programmes) in the Nonsuch mansion house. Don't tell anyone but it's also where I had my first kiss! In the 16th century Henry VIII, the old rogue, built Nonsuch Palace here, which is where the park gets its name. It stayed in royal hands until Charles II gave it to Barbara Villiers sometime in 1670 and she demolished the palace and sold off the parks to pay off her gambling debts - hmmm, perhaps not the kind of person you should be handing palaces out to, eh Charlie-boy? Only remnants of the palace are left today. This is a HUGE and beautiful park with big open spaces great for dogs, a few dog-free cordoned-off picnic areas, a big mansion house where you can get ice-cream in the summer months or a cup of tea when it's chillier and even a big pond (if you can find it) where as kids my sister and I would come to look at the frog spawn (I have no idea why we found it so fascinating). Round the back of the mansion house there are some beautiful landscape gardens making it a popular spot for weddings. I've also attended a classical music evening in these gardens where you take your own picnic along and it was lovely! Well worth a visit if you're in the area and should be a regular feature if you're a local. I'm telling you, there's 'none-such' like it!

The Park remains the same but the cafe has new management which has changed the offering. The food…read morehas improved and they now serve plenty of great food but, because you are a captive audience, the prices are slightly higher than the food deserves. Of course, they have to cover their costs for running throughout the year not just the summer months and so I pay the extra - but if the prices went up much more, I would start bringing food and having more picnics in the house grounds.

Once a private landscaped garden, Dunorlan Park is now an historically important and much-loved…read morepublic park. The Heritage Lottery Fund award of £2.1 million enabled the restoration of Dunorlan's historic features and improved access into and around the park. Having been to the park since childhood to feed the ducks, go on the boats or watch the fireworks i was initially concerned when the funding was given to restore the park and trees started to disappear and the park looked bare. However now that it has started to settle down it is clear that the improvements have been made and the park is a stunning place to take the kids, read a book,go for a run or just sit and stare into space. My kids love it so much now just i did as a child. One question where did the Swans go????

Excellent park, well looked after, great space, recommended.read more

Although the place is really cool, 2 weeks ago we went there again for some well deserved fun in…read morethe sun. Unfortunately, my kid and his friends found a dead bird in the middle of the playground. He was very intrigued and he even picked it up and was swinging the stinky thing around to show me. I know....don't ask... Obviously, I was mortified!! I told the staff about what happened and they weren't very surprised but they said they'll clean it up. Last week we went again and guess what, the bird was still there!! Totally unacceptable! The staff totally ignored that bird, the smell (ugh) or the fact that kids are playing next to a health hazard.

This is the best place to bring your kids on their school holidays! The playground is a charity…read morewhich provides loads of activites in areas such as arts and crafts and cooking. I think this is better for younger kids in your family - the lovely staff here will make them feel so welcome! The outside is very bright and colourful - there are sandpits and lots of play equipment. I think that it's restricted to children who live in the borough, as you have to register to use the park, but if there's room they welcome others! My friend's children love this place and I always enjoy bringing them here!

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.

Nice place to have a walk, see the deer and have a picnic on a summer day. The three car parks are…read morepay and display for £2 (feb 09). There's a cafe for ice creams, cakes, rolls and hot drinks, they also sell deer food to hand feed them if they're interested on the day you go. And with the bread left over from your picnic, feed the birds (and water rats) on the lakes. If you can plan it right and get your some else to drive back and after having a pint in The Tower Arms around the corner.

I have been to quite a few parks in the area, but this is a really lovely one. Loads of different…read moreroutes to walk around - you could visit quite a few times and not take the same walk twice. £2 to park in the car parks, but this is pretty standard in any essex country parks. The deer are lovely, you can buy deer food in the visitor centre, or you can feed them some veggies you have brought along. theres a nice pond with lots of wildlife on it. and a huge space for kids to run around or have picnics on. theres also usually events going on here, like craft fairs, or kite events, but check the website for details.