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things to do in the park

Sports activities

Family favourites

  • Battersea Children’s Zoo – the Park’s iconic and much-loved zoo
  • Go Ape – tree top adventure course
  • Putt in the Park – crazy golf and pizzeria/ bar
  • Playgrounds – children’s playground and adventure playground near Go Ape/ Putt in the Park (south-west of the Park.) Pirate ship playground is located near the Pear Tree cafe in the east of the Park 
  • Boating Lake
  • Bike Hire

Eating and drinking

Cultural/other

 

sports activities

family favourites

  • Battersea Children’s Zoo – the Park’s iconic and much-loved zoo
  • Go Ape – tree top adventure course
  • Putt in the Park – crazy golf and pizzeria/ bar
  • Playgrounds – children’s playground and adventure playground near Go Ape/ Putt in the Park (south-west of the Park.) Pirate ship playground is located near the Pear Tree cafe in the east of the Park 
  • Boating Lake
  • Bike Hire

eating and drinking

cultural/other

 

using the park

Cycling and e-scooters

Cycling through the Park is a wonderful way to experience it. Cycles and e-scooters are permitted on the carriage drives but not in other areas of the Park. Please note that cycling is not permitted on the River Walk. The River Walk is busy with Park visitors, children and dogs and cycling here would be very hazardous. 

There are a number of cycle racks in the park, strategically located in car parks, near The Pear Tree Cafe, the Millennium Area and the Astro Turf Playing Fields. 

Dogs

Battersea Park is a popular place for dog walking. Dogs are welcome in most areas of the Park.

Dogs love both the open lawns and the wilder areas in the Park: it is an exciting and yet tranquil place to enjoy with one’s dog.

There are many litter bins include dog poo bins, through out the park and users are asked to make use of these.

Dogs are not permitted in the children’s play areas, in the Millennium Arena, on the Astro Turf and in the Old English Garden.

Litter

Bins are placed strategically throughout the Park and in the summer additional large bins are provided. Users are asked to take their litter home with them and to place anything they can’t into the bins. We want Battersea Park to be an oasis, not a dumping ground.

Parks police

The borough Park’s Police are headquartered int Battersea Park. They keep an eye on speeding cyclists, badly behaved dogs and humans who may be littering or displaying anti social behaviour. 

They can be contacted on 07500 959442. 

History of the Park

History of the Park

Victorian Era

Battersea Park first opened its gates in 1858. Before that, the area was known as Battersea Fields – a stretch of marshland where landowners tended to their lavender and asparagus crops.

The fields weren’t just about growing crops; there was also a less savoury side. It was here, for instance, that the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea famously met for ‘pistols-at-dawn’. A few hundred yards to the east was the infamous Red House Tavern, a favourite haunt of Charles Dickens, with a seedy reputation as one of London’s roughest pubs.  

The arrival of the Park was a catalyst for gentrification. Townhouses and villas sprang up and the Park’s open spaces became a focus for all kinds of leisure activities such as football – indeed, the first game played under Football Association rules was played here on 9 January 1864

Twentieth Century

During both World Wars, the Park was used as a defence station complete with anti-aircraft guns, barrage balloons and shelters.

In 1951 Battersea Park became a central part of the Festival of Britain celebrations. Its ‘Pleasure Gardens’ included the Guinness Clock, a tree-walk, a miniature railway and the rollercoaster known as the Big Dipper.

Sadly, the Big Dipper suffered a large fire in 1970 and then, tragically, in 1972, a derailment resulted in the death of five children. This led to the closure of the attraction and, two years later, to the entire fun fair.

TV and Movie appearances

Over the years Battersea Park has earned a reputation as one of London’s most in-demand movie locations. Appearances include:

  • 1960s: Gorgo, The Wrong Arm of the Law; The Day the Earth Caught Fire; and The Spy who Came in from the Cold

  • 1980s: The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

  • 1990s: Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence (1998); Brave New World (1998)

  • 2010’s The Iron Lady (2011); Magic Mike (2012); The Death of Stalin (2017); The Fallout (2018)
  • 2020’s and upcoming: Tom and Jerry the movie (2021); What’s Love Got to do with it? (2022): The Flash (2023); Heart of Stone (2023); Apartment 7A (2023); Our Man from Jersey (2023)

TV Appearances include:

Mr Bean in Mr Bean Goes to Town  (1991); Mrs Wilson; Call The Midwife; The Crown; The Bodyguard; The Capture; Killing Eve Season 3, Season 4 and Season 5; The Chelsea Detective Season 1 and Season 2; The Split; The Man In The Orange Shirt; Pillow; Culprits; Better Things; Deceit; There She Goes 2

IMDB Database matching “Battersea Park”

 

notable features

Peace Pagoda

The Peace Pagoda (centre-north by river) was presented to Londoners by the Venerable Nichidatsu Fuji in 1984. Read more …

Barbara Hepworth

At the south side of the lake is Single Form (Memorial), dating back to 1963, and a smaller iteration of Hepworth’s largest work, outside the UN Headquarters in New York. Read more …

img credit: Andy Scott

Brown Dog

The 1985 ‘recreation’ of the famous 1906 anti-vivisection statue, Brown Dog (near old-English garden).  This version – a competition-winner – was by Nicola Hicks. Read more …

img credit: Tagishsimon

Millennium Cross

This cross was erected to commemorate the passing of two millennia since the birth of Jesus. Read more …

img credit: Iris Escent

WW1 Memorial

The 24th Division War Memorial is a First World War memorial, designed by Eric Kennington. Read more …

img credit: Edwardx

Henry Moore

Three Standing Figures 1947  is a large stone sculpture by Henry Moore, made in 1947–48. Read more …

img credit: Yair Haklai

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