While we're at it... best park/common in London?

[PacificOcean]

Epping Forest up the end of the central line.

I live about 5 mins walk from the thickest part of the forest and it is teh

Saw a muntjac the other day too!!



Edit: Hmmm, just noticed that this said "park/common" in the title but am leaving the forest in there as there are loads of open common-type areas in there.

There are two of those living in the Marsh out the back where I walk the dog. I didn't know what they were the first few times I saw them and assumed I had found a "beast of Sewardstone" type of creature.

Ready with a camera in hand for the blurry, shaky picture to sell to the Sun, I was disapointed to be told that they are only a type of deer.

 

[girasol]

Outdoor sex thread is thataway ------------------>>>

 

[skyscraper101]

Not a mention of Holland Park yet?

One of my favorite places is there Kyoto garden in Holland Park, with the Japanese water feature with big fish swimming around. And the little wooded area with bunny wabbits and the big fuck off Peacock that walks around!!

 

[nino_savatte]

Richmond Park
Clapham Common
Hampstead Heath

 

[PacificOcean]

What's so special about Clapham Common?

It's just a flat bit of grass bordered by major roads.

 

[nino_savatte]

Victoria Park is my favourite so far I think. But London does have some great parks in general. (Ravenscourt Park, my closest one at the moment, is not that good IMO though.)

Ravenscourt Park is crap. You should try Frank Banfield Park (off Fulham Palace Road) if you want a seriously shite park.

 

[London_Calling]

I love Belair Park.. it's small, empty, nothing special but that's what I love.

Having ignored it in the past, I did have a look around yesterday and I agree with your assessment - though I wouldn't go so far as to proclaim love.

Though I did enjoy it, it's barely a 'park' at all perhaps, and it caused me to think about a definition for a park. Two things about Belair struck me:

1) If it hasn't got entrances/exits on three sides, it's not a proper grown up park
2) If there's no park caff, it probably not a proper grown up park

Has a nice water feature though

 

[Louloubelle]

Hampstead Heath is still my favourite out of all the parks in London...

Closely followed by Waterlow Park.

Definitely!

Hampstead heath has the ponds, woody areas, hilly, grassy areas, fabulous views of either rural vistas or London spread out below you. The ponds are the best thing though, nowhere else like them in London.

I suppose the best parks are the ones which bring back the fondest memories...

so that was you and your special friend was it?!

On my way to analysis, looking at the daffodils blooming, the birds singing mating and the bees buzzing.

I went to sit in my usual place inside a little open hut thing to find it was already occupied by a man with a lady sitting on his lap. Innocently I sat down before noticing that the lady was bouncing up and down.

"lovely morning" she gasped

 

[nino_savatte]

What's so special about Clapham Common?

It's just a flat bit of grass bordered by major roads.

I see you haven't let us know what your favourite green space is. I wonder why?

 

[girasol]

No, it wasn't me!!!

Why does everyone automatically associate 'fond memories' with sex???

I've never ever had sex in Hampstead Heath, my fond memories of the place include things like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasmatika/347987291/

 

[PacificOcean]

I see you haven't let us know what your favourite green space is. I wonder why?

Trent Park in Enfield.

A beautiful country park in North London.

 

[nino_savatte]

Trent Park in Enfield.

A beautiful country park in North London.

It's a nice park. But there's nowt wrong with Clapham Common, it has a pub which is very handy for summertime refreshments.

 

[PacificOcean]

It's a nice park. But there's nowt wrong with Clapham Common, it has a pub which is very handy for summertime refreshments.

The Windmill is fab but not techincally part of the common.

Just of all the parks in South London, Clapham Common is so flat and boring and you can see the roads from all parts of the park.

 

[nino_savatte]

The Windmill is fab but not techincally part of the common.

Just of all the parks in South London, Clapham Common is so flat and boring and you can see the roads from all parts of the park.

You're such a pedant. The Windmill is adjacent to the Common which makes it handy for drinks. Is that alright fer yez?

You don't get that sort of thing on Tooting Bec Common.

 

[girasol]

There's a nice cafe on Tooting Bec Common though

Not to mention the biggest Lido in the UK (or is it in Europe)

and the biggest fallen tree I've ever seen, great for climbing, especially if you have kids

and stuff...

 

[nino_savatte]

There's a nice cafe on Tooting Bec Common though

Not to mention the biggest Lido in the UK (or is it in Europe)

and the biggest fallen tree I've ever seen, great for climbing, especially if you have kids

and stuff...

Where on Tooting Bec Common is this cafe?

 

[girasol]

Where on Tooting Bec Common is this cafe?

just after tennis courts/playground and pond, near Bedford Hill... Follow the cycle lane and it goes past it. Hang on let me see if I can find a map.

Near the arrow, where you see a white triangle, that's where the cycle lane splits into two and that's the cafe

it's run by Italians and they sell lovely ice-cream

 

[nino_savatte]

just after tennis courts/playground and pond, heading towards Balham... Follow the cycle lane and it goes past it. Hang on let me see if I can find a map

Ah, it's that part of the common that's closest to Balham as opposed to the bit between Streatham and Balham.

 

[gaijingirl]

I have to agree that Clapham Common isn't all that great (sorry!) - it does feel a bit like a giant green roundabout. I love Brockwell Park - but then I would, it's basically my back garden. It massively features in my life.

Richmond Park is amazing - but almost seems like it's not a park iykwim - it's sort of a "park plus" or a "taste the difference park" - it's so massive.

Tooting Common is also lovely as is Wimbledon.

I'd like to get to know some of the east London parks better - they look pretty good and I'm not that knowledgeable about the North London parks either.

That's one thing that we're especially lucky for here in London - some real quality parks.

 

[ShiftyBagLady]

top five in no particular order:
kennington- my usual, lots of space, decent playground and all important cafe
st james- very pretty, nice ducks, very nice kids area and fantastic puddles
sunray gardens-tiny but best pond and kids playground ever
myatts field- another local and regular, neglected but well loved playground, good for loafing
battersea- for sheer entertainment; bikes,thames river, pond lake thing, trees and bushes to explore, great playground, temple, water fountain thing and it too has great puddles

i heart parks

 

[Final]

Depends what you want to use the space for I guess.

Hampstead Heath is my favorite for running, but if I wanted play sports then the best would be elsewhere (maybe Regents park).

 

[Chz]

Wimbledon Common and Waterlow Park for me. Richmond's a bit bland for its size.

 

[Rollem]

southwark park and wimbledon common

 

[Cid]

There's a nice cafe on Tooting Bec Common though

Not to mention the biggest Lido in the UK (or is it in Europe)

and the biggest fallen tree I've ever seen, great for climbing, especially if you have kids

and stuff...

Hampstead heath has a tree you can climb inside though...

Prob have a pic actually.

Yep:

here and here.

 

[oryx]

I used to think I was very spoilt living between Battersea Park and Clapham Common (I like the latter, despite the traffic - happy memories of concerts/picnics/drinking on the grass outside the Windmill).

I love the old Festival of Britain bits at Battersea, & boating on the lake, & the riverside walk, so I suppose that's my favourite.

But I do like Hilly Fields (in Brockley) and St. James Park as well.

 

[jazzzz]

visually holland park is stunning & very romantic.
i really like victoria park - so pretty despite where its located.

 

[RubyToogood]

I happened across Morden Hall Park today. Never had any idea of its existence before, was just in the area, spotted the mysterious words "Snuff Mills Environmental Centre" on the map and went to investigate. Even on a sunny Sunday afternoon there weren't a lot of people there and wow was it pretty, all little gravelly streams running everywhere. I remember someone posting a thread once asking where they could go for a picnic by a river, with willows, kingfishers etc. Morden Hall Park would fit the bill perfectly. I dangled my feet in a river in London and so far have lived to tell the tale... This is not the River Wandle I remember from my childhood!