Kennington Park
With a long and fascinating history, Kennington Park contains areas managed for heritage as well as those with a more modern layout. The park contains many mature and historic trees, as well as open areas for wildlife and biodiversity. The park contains a popular café, an 'old English' flower garden, rose beds and a new 'Green Link' which connects the older Victorian park to a newer extension.
Kennington Park is also one of Lambeth's nine Green Flag Award winning parks, having won this prestigious award for the first time in 2011. The award recognises the efforts of the local community and council, working with a wide range of partners and funders, to make Kennington Park one of the safest, most welcoming and sustainable open spaces in London.
Children's facilities include a new playground and the nearby Charlie Chaplin adventure playground, which has wheelchair access. The park also contains an exciting new nature trail for use by children and schools.
Kennington Park offers a wide range of sports facilities including tennis courts, basketball, netball and an all-weather floodlit facility for football and hockey. Young people and local cricket clubs are also able to use the Kennington Community Cricket Ground.
Address: Kennington Park Road, SE11 4BE
Tube: Oval (Northern Line), 0.1 miles (0.2km)
Rail: Vauxhall, 0.1 miles (0.2km)
Bus: 3, 36, 59, 133 155, 159, 185, 333 and 436 (to/from Brixton, Camberwell, Elephant and Castle, Lewisham, Peckham, Vauxhall and Victoria).
Location map for Kennington Park
Facilities
Opening times
The park opens by 7.30am each morning and is closed approximately 15 minutes before sunset. See opening and closing times
New developments in Kennington Park
The Friends of Kennington Park are very active in working with the council to secure funding to improve the park. As well as helping to create a brand new playground and nature trail, the Friends have secured funds to work with a experienced landscape gardener to transform a series of old rose beds along the western side of the park using a colourful mixture of herbaceous plants. Funding has also been secured to install interpretative signage to educate and inform about many of the historic features of the park, including the Slade and Tinworth fountains, a civilian war memorial and the Prince Consort Lodge, a charming building which which was relocated here following the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Kennington Park nature trail makes it fun and easy to explore the natural world right on your doorstep. Go to the nature trail page to find out more about the trail and download a map and activity pack.
History of Kennington Park
Kennington Park was first opened in 1854 and lies between Kennington Park Road and St Agnes Place. It had previously been called 'Kennington Common', and until 1800 was the site of public executions as well as being the South London 'speakers corner'. Methodist founders George Whitefield and John Wesley are some of the illustrious orators to speak at the Common and are reputed to have attracted a crowd of 30,000.
Friends of Kennington Park
The Friends of Kennington Park represent those who live around and use the park, and play a major role in its management for present and future generations. The Friends organise regular meetings, events and activities within the park, and regularly publish leaflets and guides about Kennington Park and the local area.
To find out more about or join the Friends go to their website at www.kenningtonpark.org or email them at info@kenningtonpark.org.
Help us look after Kennington Park
Kennington Park is managed by Lambeth Parks and Greenspaces and is within the Lambeth Central Parks Area. It also comes under an area patrolled by the Oval Safer Neighbourhoods Team of Lambeth Borough Police, who work in partnership with Lambeth Council and the Friends of Kennington Park to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all.
Kennington Park welcomes responsible dog walkers, but there are dog free areas such as the children's playground, sports facilities and formal gardens. This is for the comfort and safety of children and carers, and also helps to protect local wildlife. There is an area within the park specifically allocated for exercising dogs off the lead without disturbing others.
For more information on Kennington Park and how to help us keep it clean, green and safe please contact us on 0207 926 9000 or email us at parks@lambeth.gov.uk.
Further information