Local Parks
There are so many parks we are lucky to have so much open green area nearby but here are a few reviews on some local ones...(I think I will add to and update this one as there are lots more!)
Kelsey Park
Manor Way, Beckenham BR3
Kelsey is somewhere I always used to go as a child a lot. There is a huge lake in the middle of the park with lots of ducks, geese and swans. There are also loads of squirrels, so take monkey nuts with you to feed them with, they are very tame and often come right up close for a nut. Its a great place to go for a walk as its a large park and the kids love feeding/spotting the wildlife. There is also a very good play area with a small café, although the play area does get quite busy at weekends, we usually just do the park itself as its a lovely walk. I'd highly recommend visiting this park. I don't know if there is an actual car park, but we have always parked on the road somewhere near one of the entrances, you can usually find a space fairly close!
Beddington Park
Wallington SM6
Beddington park I have been to a couple of times. Once I went with a group of friend and their kids just to the play area in the summer. It is a brilliant play area with a splash zone that has a water pump that you can collect water in buckets. Its worth taking your own pot or jug for this as there are only so many buckets to go around especially on a hot day! Also remember to take spare clothes if your little one is likely to want to get wet! It has the usual swings and climbing frames etc. for a variety of ages and a café with toilets next to the play area.
The second time I went to the other side of the park, parking in a car park near 'The Grange'. It was a really nice walk, there is a stream running through the park with ducks and geese. In the warmer months I believe you can actually walk in the stream, but it was October when we went so only the dogs braved the cold water! There was also a rocky garden area which the kids enjoyed climbing and exploring. Another great park with lots of do!
Crystal Palace Park
Thicket Road, London SE19
I think most people locally know of Crystal Palace Park, as it has the famous dinosaurs. Its always fun to spot the dinosaurs hiding and peeping out of the plants around the lake. Its a picturesque park and huge! There is a great play area with the usual play equipment but also a sand pit area with dino bones to dig up. There is also a small city farm which you can visit. Its pretty tiny but still worth a look if you are there, they have a couple of each animal, pigs, sheep etc. and a small reptile area as well. When I went at the end of the summer the café was closed for refurbishment, I'm not sure if that has reopened yet or not. There is a separate building with toilets, but best to take tissue as they are not always well stocked. A great park for a picnic, a walk or play area but be aware that it can get very busy at peak times! There are a couple of car parks depending on what side of the park you enter but if they are full you can usually find somewhere on the road pretty close to one of the entrances.
Oaks Park
Banstead SM5
I've only been to Oaks park once when Oliver was very small, he was still in the buggy. Its a very short drive from where I live so thought I'd check it out. Its a nice park but its is a very dog friendly park, so if you don't like dogs don't go! We laid out a picnic blanket but there were lots of dogs constantly running over, and although I love dogs I did felt a little apprehensive about my baby and our belongings being vulnerable. Saying that we still had an enjoyable walk, its quite hilly. The café had good food too, we sat outside as it was warm and literally everyone had a dog sat with them! Did not see a play area anywhere so not sure that here is one. Nice for a walk but not really a place I'd plan on taking kids too especially.
Coulsdon Memorial Park
Marlpit Lane
I go to this park as my local even though Rickman Hill is technically closer, as its much nicer. Its not huge but its a nice open space and there is a decent play area with a little trim trail type area down one side. There is also outdoor gym equipment - which is always good for a laugh! It was a good park to come to and walk around with the buggy trying to get Oliver to sleep as its essentially a round circuit, and it quite steep on two sides which is good exercise. There is a little café called Poppy's which is very friendly, the toilets are separate buildings outside and are up steps - note they aren't always open in winter. There is also a bowling green, pitch and putt and tennis courts (none of which I have used as yet). Its not the most exciting of views but its a lovely little local park that's always quiet during weekdays. We actually had Oliver's 1st birthday celebration there as a picnic on the grass, being so local to us, close to toilets, café etc. the perfect space!
Rickman Hill
This is my closest park but although it is within walking distance it is a very hefty walk due to being at the top of Rickman Hill. I have walked it many times when Oliver was a baby and in a pushchair and it is exhausting! But I haven't been up with Oliver on foot as I would not be able to carry him if he got too tired and refused to continue!! You can however drive up and park on the road easily. The park itself is not very exciting, its essentially a grassy field, but it does have a play area. The main reason we used to go was for the play café called Mother Kitty's, which had a small soft play area for kids inside the café. Apparently Mother Kitty's has recently closed down (I suspect from losing business to Little Lambs in Coulsdon) but I have heard that something will be opening in its place so we will have to watch this space on that one...
Grange Park Playground
I have only taken Oliver to this playground a couple of times but its a really lovely one! Its not walkable from mine but only a 10 minute drive, I have always managed to park along the residential road alongside it. They have some great play equipment that is a bit different including a little trampoline that is sunk into the ground. I think it has been refurbished and redesigned fairly recently. It was lovely and quiet when we arrived but as soon as the schools kicked out it went a bit crazy with older kids also enjoying the area so we didn't stay long after that! But during the weekdays it is a perfect spot for a change of scenery.
Kelsey Park
Manor Way, Beckenham BR3
Kelsey is somewhere I always used to go as a child a lot. There is a huge lake in the middle of the park with lots of ducks, geese and swans. There are also loads of squirrels, so take monkey nuts with you to feed them with, they are very tame and often come right up close for a nut. Its a great place to go for a walk as its a large park and the kids love feeding/spotting the wildlife. There is also a very good play area with a small café, although the play area does get quite busy at weekends, we usually just do the park itself as its a lovely walk. I'd highly recommend visiting this park. I don't know if there is an actual car park, but we have always parked on the road somewhere near one of the entrances, you can usually find a space fairly close!
Beddington Park
Wallington SM6
Beddington park I have been to a couple of times. Once I went with a group of friend and their kids just to the play area in the summer. It is a brilliant play area with a splash zone that has a water pump that you can collect water in buckets. Its worth taking your own pot or jug for this as there are only so many buckets to go around especially on a hot day! Also remember to take spare clothes if your little one is likely to want to get wet! It has the usual swings and climbing frames etc. for a variety of ages and a café with toilets next to the play area.
The second time I went to the other side of the park, parking in a car park near 'The Grange'. It was a really nice walk, there is a stream running through the park with ducks and geese. In the warmer months I believe you can actually walk in the stream, but it was October when we went so only the dogs braved the cold water! There was also a rocky garden area which the kids enjoyed climbing and exploring. Another great park with lots of do!
Crystal Palace Park
Thicket Road, London SE19
I think most people locally know of Crystal Palace Park, as it has the famous dinosaurs. Its always fun to spot the dinosaurs hiding and peeping out of the plants around the lake. Its a picturesque park and huge! There is a great play area with the usual play equipment but also a sand pit area with dino bones to dig up. There is also a small city farm which you can visit. Its pretty tiny but still worth a look if you are there, they have a couple of each animal, pigs, sheep etc. and a small reptile area as well. When I went at the end of the summer the café was closed for refurbishment, I'm not sure if that has reopened yet or not. There is a separate building with toilets, but best to take tissue as they are not always well stocked. A great park for a picnic, a walk or play area but be aware that it can get very busy at peak times! There are a couple of car parks depending on what side of the park you enter but if they are full you can usually find somewhere on the road pretty close to one of the entrances.
Oaks Park
Banstead SM5
I've only been to Oaks park once when Oliver was very small, he was still in the buggy. Its a very short drive from where I live so thought I'd check it out. Its a nice park but its is a very dog friendly park, so if you don't like dogs don't go! We laid out a picnic blanket but there were lots of dogs constantly running over, and although I love dogs I did felt a little apprehensive about my baby and our belongings being vulnerable. Saying that we still had an enjoyable walk, its quite hilly. The café had good food too, we sat outside as it was warm and literally everyone had a dog sat with them! Did not see a play area anywhere so not sure that here is one. Nice for a walk but not really a place I'd plan on taking kids too especially.
Coulsdon Memorial Park
Marlpit Lane
I go to this park as my local even though Rickman Hill is technically closer, as its much nicer. Its not huge but its a nice open space and there is a decent play area with a little trim trail type area down one side. There is also outdoor gym equipment - which is always good for a laugh! It was a good park to come to and walk around with the buggy trying to get Oliver to sleep as its essentially a round circuit, and it quite steep on two sides which is good exercise. There is a little café called Poppy's which is very friendly, the toilets are separate buildings outside and are up steps - note they aren't always open in winter. There is also a bowling green, pitch and putt and tennis courts (none of which I have used as yet). Its not the most exciting of views but its a lovely little local park that's always quiet during weekdays. We actually had Oliver's 1st birthday celebration there as a picnic on the grass, being so local to us, close to toilets, café etc. the perfect space!
Rickman Hill
This is my closest park but although it is within walking distance it is a very hefty walk due to being at the top of Rickman Hill. I have walked it many times when Oliver was a baby and in a pushchair and it is exhausting! But I haven't been up with Oliver on foot as I would not be able to carry him if he got too tired and refused to continue!! You can however drive up and park on the road easily. The park itself is not very exciting, its essentially a grassy field, but it does have a play area. The main reason we used to go was for the play café called Mother Kitty's, which had a small soft play area for kids inside the café. Apparently Mother Kitty's has recently closed down (I suspect from losing business to Little Lambs in Coulsdon) but I have heard that something will be opening in its place so we will have to watch this space on that one...
Grange Park Playground
I have only taken Oliver to this playground a couple of times but its a really lovely one! Its not walkable from mine but only a 10 minute drive, I have always managed to park along the residential road alongside it. They have some great play equipment that is a bit different including a little trampoline that is sunk into the ground. I think it has been refurbished and redesigned fairly recently. It was lovely and quiet when we arrived but as soon as the schools kicked out it went a bit crazy with older kids also enjoying the area so we didn't stay long after that! But during the weekdays it is a perfect spot for a change of scenery.
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