London parks with 'big' swings?

[kinzarose]

I'm planning a trip to London with dd12 who has ASD and swings are a big part of her regulation routine. Can anyone tell me if any of the major parks have them?
TIA

Do you mean the basket type ones or just regular swings?

I'd suggest looking at Diana Memorial Park or Corams Field - CF definitely has one of the bucket ones.

St James' and Hyde Park have decent playgrounds, I can't specifically remember about swings though.

Do you mean big basket swings or larger plastic accessible ones for wheelchair users? Most have basket swings but I'll have a think about the wheelchair friendly ones. I'm pretty sure the Diana Playground has both.

Where are you going in London?

Should have elaborated - I mean individual swings that are suitable for older children, not the bucket type ones. In my city most parks now only have baby/toddler swings, I'm hoping we can find them in London!

Regent’s Park does - the big round rope type ones. I know for sure there’s one in the new playground near Parkway. My 12 year old still goes on it!

Good question. My local south london parks have them and I'm sure some of the central ones do but not sure exactly which. Someone will know if you keep bumping.

Whereabouts are you staying?

We are staying near Hyde Park because I read they have them there, but I've been watching YouTube videos and I can only see the bucket style ones, which aren't any use. I don't mind travelling anywhere in London to get to them.

Again just to clarify I mean an ordinary swing that an older child can sit on.

The princess Diana memorial park definitely has normal swings. There are several frame sets of two.

parliament hill
Paddington Rec
Primrose hill
All have swings for the older child.

I would be really surprised if you can’t find one in the Princess Diana Memorial Playground which is at the NW end of Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens. It’s one of the best equipped London playgrounds. Seems to have everything!

The playground in St James’s Park is smaller and I haven’t been since my DS graduated to “big” swings.

I’m a Londoner and can’t actually think of any playgrounds that only have baby swings, apart from a couple of garden squares - they all seem to have the standard plank-type seat swings too. Coram fields is a great playground for Central London.

There's a small playground in Violet Hill (near Primrose Hill) that has them. I would also recommend Paddington Rec - it's a brilliant playground with all types of swings and suitable for all ages.

If you wanted a trip to zone 4/5 there are plenty of parks with those swings in the Richmond area! If you’re into National Trust properties, you could have a look at Ham House (no swings) then either go to the park at Petersham Gate entrance of Richmond Park (they def used to have big swings but not been in a while) or catch the little ferry (depending on dates) to the swings at Orleans Gardens next to Marble Hill, for example. Then (if you opt for the latter) I’m pretty sure there are more big swings at Cambridge Gardens as you walk along the river back towards Richmond Bridge on the Twickenham side.

Thank you for all the replies, I really appreciate them all.

By the way, if you’re in central London and need a swing, there is a small playground in Victoria Tower Gardens next to the Houses of Parliament, at the Lambeth Bridge end. I walked past it earlier this week and it has one of those big round swings for older kids.

I was walking through Hyde Park this morning and remembered this thread so have done a recce for you.

Diana Memorial Playground - two normal swings and four bucket swings

Buckhill Playground (by Italian gardens) - no normal swings, four bucket swings and one large circular basket swing but this is fenced off so seems to be broken.

Hyde Park Playground (south side by Rotten Row/Hyde Park Barracks) - has proper swings. I didn’t walk past there but an appeal on the class WhatsApp has confirmed that there are some. I can walk past next Friday if that’d be useful.

Photo of Diana Memorial Playground swings and opening times.

Thank you so much everyone, namechanged I really appreciate the effort! We are well sorted now 😁