please empty your brain below
I am sorry Kensington Gardens didn’t make the cut. Ralp Hancock’s daily blog about KG and Hyde Park is well worth reading if you are an urban birder.

Christopher Bellew | Homepage | 27.05.19 - 7:21 a.m. | #

Kensington Gardens doesn't meet DG's criteria because it isn't called "something park".

I must admit to being surprised that Kingston has a shortage of parks, but again most of its many open spaces are called something else, like Canbury Gardens or the Fairfield. Until 1995 Kingston had a part share of Richmond Park.

timbo | 27.05.19 - 8:01 a.m. | #

I would choose Beddington Park over Oaks Park in Sutton, but it's naturally a matter of opinion. Oaks is a bit more unspoiled, but has little beyond a car park and a cafe. Beddington manages to have the river and pond, playground, football fields, cafe, etc. and still be beautiful.

And a huge point in favour that it's pretty much across the road from me. No bias at all! :)

Chz | 27.05.19 - 9:02 a.m. | #

And perhaps more controversially (meaning that anyone other than me might care), I'd much rather go to Bushey Park than Richmond.

Chz | 27.05.19 - 9:04 a.m. | #

Well, for Haringey I would have chosen Alexandra Park. Maybe that's influenced by all the teenage time I spent walking the family dog there. But it does have wonderful views.

Malcolm | 27.05.19 - 9:16 a.m. | #

Of the parks in Boroughs that I'm reasonably familiar with I think that you're spot on DG. Except Haringey, as I agree with Malcolm that the views from, and other amenities of, Alexandra Park are superior to the attractions of Finsbury Park.

Frank F | 27.05.19 - 9:49 a.m. | #

I’ve been to 25 of those parks but weirdly haven’t been to the one in the borough I’ve lived longest in.

Agree with Alexandra Park being by far the best harringey Park. Finsbury Park is pretty disappointing.

Flare | 27.05.19 - 10:01 a.m. | #

Hi Dave, here is the friends page for Holland Park. A very good organisation. https://www.thefriendsofhollandpark.org/

Jamie | 27.05.19 - 10:22 a.m. | #

Being at the opposite corner of the borough from where I live, I haven't been to Canons Park in ages.

Must hop on the 186 and rectify that - especially as I don't remember it being particularly great when I last went (around 10 years ago?) apart from the playground for the kids.

Cornish Cockney | 27.05.19 - 11:03 a.m. | #

I'd probably choose Bedford Park over Harrow Lodge, in Havering. It's wild, moderately scenic, and has deer.

Albeit I've not been to either for about 20 years so things could have changed.

Dominic H | 27.05.19 - 11:07 a.m. | #

The website Friends of Finsbury Park does exist, and has a few Instagram pics as well as some news.

Bob L-S | 27.05.19 - 12:56 p.m. | #

The Olympic park may well get the nod but personally the Olympic park is just one big building site. I'll give a shout for West Ham Park in Newham. A traditional park with well kept ornamental gardens, childrens playground, conservation projects, football and criket pitches, tennis courts and well kept trees and fields.

Fred | 27.05.19 - 1:48 p.m. | #

A good selection though for Westminster I'd plump for St James's Park which to me is far more charming than Hyde Park.

Mikey C | 27.05.19 - 1:53 p.m. | #

Another 'not Finsbury Park' vote here, although the offering is significantly better than 15-20 years ago. The council using a large portion of the park as a revenue generator for the warmer half of the year does little for the attractiveness of the place. And management is patchy.

Alexandra Park has it by a whisker, but I think the finest of Haringey's open spaces are well outside of LBH's management hands.

Nico Hogg | 27.05.19 - 3:21 p.m. | #

I've been in 23 of those!

GeoffL | Homepage | 27.05.19 - 4:59 p.m. | #

I have been persuaded by your arguments to switch parks in three of the boroughs (Havering, Haringey, Sutton)... in each case to the park I'd placed a close second. Thanks!

diamond geezer | Homepage | 27.05.19 - 5:41 p.m. | #

Have you been to (and blogged about) all/any of these please?

dg writes: no/yes

John Simmons | 27.05.19 - 6:18 p.m. | #

On behalf of south of the river and despite Lewisham's attempt to rectify the matter Beckenham still feels like a golf course. What's wrong with the Hornimann or Hilly Fields or Blythe Hill or Ladywell?

g | 27.05.19 - 7:51 p.m. | #

I did a double-take upon seeing "Happy Valley Park" for Croydon, but apparently you're right and officially it has the "Park" suffix. But, though irrefutably a lovely place, surely it's more of a country park or a site of natural beauty than a standard urban park -- it kinda stands out in your list. Trouble is, what's the alternative? Lloyd Park, I guess, but it's nothing special...
(Nice idea for a post though!)

David F | 27.05.19 - 9:03 p.m. | #

Re Enfield Parks, I’d say there’s 3 that are pretty equal, Broomfield, Grovelands, and Enfield Town Park.

Redbridges Valentines Park is said to be Itchycoo Park in the Small Faces song.

mclm | 28.05.19 - 2:36 a.m. | #

I originally read the second line as 'There's an actual park called Something Park', and I thought 'That's an unusual name for a park. I wonder where it is?'. Given the kind of oddities DG sometimes brings to light, it didn't seem impossible Ah well.

Andrew M | 28.05.19 - 2:09 p.m. | #

There may be no such park as Something Park, but there is a Nonsuch Park - on the boundary of (and jointly managed by the councils of) Sutton and Epsom & Ewell.

Adrian | Homepage | 28.05.19 - 5:02 p.m. | #

Being pedantic and having been born around the corner, little Ilford park not valentines park is itchycoo park. See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itchycoo_Park

dg writes: Being pedantic, read a bit further down the Wikipedia article you quoted.

Peter Byrne | 28.05.19 - 5:59 p.m. | #

Southwark Park is nicer than Dulwich Park

brendan | 29.05.19 - 8:01 a.m. | #

I think that Kelsey Park in Beckenham is a much nicer park thar Crystal Palace. I’m surprised with your choice especially as I think you have visited it.

Brian | 01.06.19 - 9:21 a.m. | #











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