Sitting pretty on the south bank of the Thames, Battersea Park is a gorgeous spot for Londoners to enjoy. We take you through a brief history of the park, highlighting its best features, and then it’s on to a quick tour of the surrounding neighbourhoods. If you’re planning on buying or renting in Wandsworth or nearby, it’s well worth checking out Battersea Park as a nearby amenity.
Battersea Park’s History: Gunpower, Gambling and Greenery
Today, Battersea Park is best known for providing South Londoners with lovely, family-friendly days out. However, look back about 200 years and it was a much grimmer affair!
In the early 1800s, much of the area where the park now sits was occupied with marshland. This made it quiet, secluded and a perfect spot to carry out a duel. This was the site of dozens of famous duels of the period, including one involving the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley. Fortunately, the ‘Iron Duke’ wasn’t hurt on this occasion, and neither was his opponent, the Earl of Winchilsea.
Another famous marker of the area was the Red House Tavern. A dangerous den of hard drinkers, gamblers and general neer-do-wells, it was a favourite spot for those wanting some excitement and a walk on the wild side. Even author Charles Dickens was supposed to be a regular visitor!
In 1846, the local authorities had had enough. Parliament passed an act authorising the whole area to be turned into a public park in the style of Regent’s Park. James Pennethorne, who had been instrumental in bringing Regent’s Park to life, used 750,000 tons of earth and spoil from the excavated Surrey Docks to level the marshland and raise it up sufficiently to become a firmly grounded park.
Battersea Park layout
Battersea Park occupies about 200 acres spread. This means it dominates the Battersea area and takes up a fair chunk of the borough of Wandsworth itself. Its northern border is a quiet and picturesque river promenade, perfect for a wander along the Thames. Battersea Power Station is to the immediate east, while the heart of Battersea highstreet is to the south.
There’s also a dedicated station called Battersea Park. It serves the Northern Line as well as overground train services running towards Croydon.
Battersea Park main attractions
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo: A guaranteed crowd-pleaser for those with small children. The zoo is home to dozens of species of mammals, reptiles and birds, including farmyard animals. Children and adults can enjoy watching feedings as well as the many added attractions such as the picnic area, playground and café. Entry prices are £9.50 for adults and £7.50 for children.
The Old English Garden: A beautiful garden with plenty of native English trees for shade. It’s run by the charity ‘Thrive’ which helps people living with a disability or mental health issues transform their lives through gardening.
Boating Lake: No great English park is complete without a lake! Battersea Park offers rowboats and pedalos for hourly hire. Though large, the lake is actually one of the quieter boating spots in the capital. Perfect for a chilled-out stretch on the water.
Putt in the Park: Mini-golf, another universally beloved pastime. The course at Battersea Park is fun, challenging (but not too hard) and varied enough to give even veteran putters a run for their money.
Go Ape Battersea: If you want something a bit wilder, then Go Ape is just the ticket. The nationally popular high-rope experience company has a great set-up here, so you can swing about and look down on the gorgeousness of the park from nearly 14 metres up in the air. Adults can Go Ape for £36, while children are charged £28.
Where to live near Battersea Park
Battersea
If you live in Battersea, you’re within walking distance of Battersea Park. It’s that simple, and that convenient. Overall, living in Battersea is a fast-paced, bustling existence. Thanks to massive regeneration projects (the main one being the power station) the area is thriving, with great transport links, shopping experiences, nightlife and cultural attractions. In fact, if you live here you may need to visit the park regularly for a bit of chill time!
Wandsworth Town
Further to the southwest sits the heart of the borough, Wandsworth Town. It features a lot of the same benefits as Battersea, perhaps with more choice of property types and prices. You still get outstanding schools, access to green spaces, and bustling commercial and nightlife scenes. There are also excellent transport links, especially for South London.
Clapham
It might be set back a bit further from Battersea Park, but Clapham has the benefit of being much more tranquil without ever being boring. It’s a very cool, chic part of town with a touch of the hipster about it. There’s a thriving arts scene, and you can’t move for artisanal coffee shops, microbreweries and produce merchants. There’s also a wealth of green spaces locally, such as the ever-popular Clapham Common.
Chelsea
If you have a massive budget and want to live over the river in North London, Chelsea is the spot for you. Universally expensive, the borough of Kensington and Chelsea is one of the most desirable areas in the capital, and it caters to the upmarket crowd exclusively. If you live near the river, then Battersea Park is just a short hop over either Chelsea Bridge or Albert Bridge.
Brixton
Okay, Brixton is a bit further away from Batterea Park, but it’s still within easy striking distance on the Tube, and it’s such an up-and-comer that it needs to be on the radar of anyone hunting for a new home in South London. Brixton is effortlessly cool and chock-full of new energy as it continues to attract new investment from both public and private spheres. With its deep roots, the community will always be uniquely strong and beautiful, but the rapid pace of change here means that now is a great time to get your foot in the door.
Good luck with your search to find the right home near Battersea Park. Access to green spaces is one of the most important ‘quality of life’ measurements used by homebuyers when considering where to purchase. If you want to live in London, make sure you know the range and quality of green space you can look forward to exploring.
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Featured image credit: Doyle of London
