West London Park/Playground Recommendations

[NuffSaidSam]

Has anyone got any recommendations for good parks/playgrounds in West London?

It doesn't have to be a 'big' park with loads of stuff, just a nice/interesting/different playground or any other attraction and preferably a cafe/toilet.

I keep seeing great park recommendations, but they're always East London way and I don't think my DC will be happy to travel for an hour+ to visit a park.

We like Ravenscourt Park and Holland Park and Richmond Park. Also Kew Gardens, but you have to pay to get in if you're not a member.

What are your favourites?

Going into town a bit - the Princess Diana memorial playground in Kensington Gardens. I used to take my dc there loads when they were small. It's really fantastic. Loads of buses stop nearby and there is also a car park on Queensway.

Battersea Park

And perhaps Chiswick House Gardens

Hanwell zoo is lovely

Marble Hill park has a nice playground - or it might be in Orleans park, but they are side by side. It overlooks the river and always has a nice crowd, plus there's a cafe 2 mins away in Marble Hill park. It's just a walk down the towpath from Richmond bridge, and is also near where the little ferry goes over to Ham House.

Another vote for Hanwell Zoo. It has a playground, nice cafe, lots of green space and some interesting animals (flamingos, meerkats, little monkeys, pigs, goats, etc)

It's a few pounds to get in. You can also buy an annual pass for £10. Great value.

I was going to say the bunny park but a google tells me it's now hanwell zoo! Yes it's lovely.

Bedfont lakes has great playgrounds and loads of water birds. They have special event days too so worth a look on Facebook.

Kensington gardens is great, there's a small zoo at battersea we enjoyed and last time we were there they had been building new playgrounds but I'm not sure they're going to be open.

There's also the urban farm at Hatton Cross which the kids loved when they were smaller - their animal handling sessions are brilliant.

Langley park is a bit further out but I love it.

Sorry the playgrounds were in battersea park itself not the zoo!

It has to be Hampstead Heath for me. As close as you can get to the countryside in London.
Good variety of environments as well: swishy grasslands, meadow, tree lined paths, wilder woodlands.
I could easily spend all day there with kids.

Battersea Park
There is a crazy golf place (with a cafe that does the best pizza in London), a Go Ape, a zoo, boating lake, an adventure playground and about 4 normal playgrounds

Plus you can hire bikes and recumbent bikes to go around the park

There is a lovely cafe next to the lake, plus various kiosks around the park, and plenty of toilets

There are a few overground stations really close by (queenstown road or Battersea Park) or Sloane Sq tube is about 15 mins walk

Odds Farm Park is nice and has a massive outdoor playground and indoor play. Crazy golf, maze, animals, tractor ride and other bits but it's not the cheapest place for entry.

Walpole Park near Ealing Broadway - they have some great play areas, sand pit, giant climbing frame, water features, and tire swings. Next to that play area's cafe is a little door in the wall that opens to reveal live honeybees (behind glass) in their hive! The park also has fields and ponds and several more play areas, with different equipment than the usual. Lovely place.

The bunny park (hanwell), black park, Langley park (has some lovely climbing trees), mine always liked the 4 hills on the a40 near Greenford

Bishops park is fab - big fountains to play in, good playgrounds and a walk through fulham palace grounds afterwards. Lovely. And I think the farmers market is on Sundays?

Bishops park.

Wandsworth common

Bushy Park

Thanks so much, these are great.

We actually live quite close to Hanwell Zoo/Bunny park and have never been! That's terrible isn't it?! That's going straight to the top of the list!

Battersea park is also a definite. Another place we've never been although have had recommended in the past.

Particularly love the ones I've never even heard of: Bishop's Park, Marble Hill park, Bedfont Lakes, Langley Park. I've had a quick google and they all look great!

Have been to Chiswick House and Walpole Park and can confirm both are lovely. Have been to the Diana playground too, but not for years (last time we went the then toddler kicked a woman in the shins and I haven't shown my face since!).

What's the cafe/toilet situation like on Hampstead Heath? Is Bushy park accessible via public transport?

Dukes meadows also. Its a little hidden gem in Chiswick, not far from Chiswick house. It has a big paddling pool and sand pit and also a cafe and park.

Battersea park is brilliant for all the reasons sparechange says above. We've been taking the DC's there for years and they never grow tired of it.
Marble Hill park is also lovely. There's an adventure playground place there - kinda old fashioned with wooden structures and rope swings and also a zip wire. You have to pay about £2 per child but they can come and go as much as they want throughout the day. It's staffed too.

Agree with lots of pp but a new suggestion Northala fields is nice.

Holland Park. Great adventure playground there. And peacocks wandeinghariund!

Northala Fields and Dukes Meadows we have been to, but again not for years so are definitely due another visit.

Do you know if there is shade at Dukes Meadows now? I only went when it was quite new and there wasn't any, but it looked as if they were planting trees and stuff to create some.

NuffSaidSam any chance you could report and ask MNHQ to move this thread to the 'London' topic (so it doesn't expire in 30 days)?

Yy to Holland Park.

Queens Park in err Queens Park. 5 minutes walk from the tube stop (Bakerloo) or Brondesbury Park on the overland. Has a little farm, great (fenced) playground, paddling pool in summer and big sandpit. Park itself has plenty of green for Football and riding bikes, plus a wild bit at the back to go adventuring.....