The Rookery
The Rookery is an attractive, formally landscaped area with an ornamental pond, flower and herbaceous beds, and a rock garden with streams. It has a café and is surrounded by Streatham Common.
The Rookery is not just a formal garden: it also has areas of woodland that are important for biodiversity and environmental education.
Address: Covington Way, SW16 3BX
Train: Streatham Common/Streatham
Bus: 50, 60, 109, 118, 159, 249, 255
See a location map for The Rookery
Facilities
- Café
- Flower gardens
- Sports facilities:
- Tennis courts - charges apply during the following hours only:
Monday-Friday: 4pm-9pm
Sat, Sun, Bank Holidays: 9am-7pm
Adults £4/hr; Under 16s free.
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) manages sports bookings in our parks. Please call them on 0845 130 8998 to make a booking.
- Toilets
- Ornamental ponds and water feature
- 'Friends of' group (Friends of Streatham Common).
Opening times
The park opens by 7.30am each morning and is closed approximately 15 minutes before sunset. See opening and closing times
History of The Rookery
The Rookery sits on the site of area formerly known as the Streatham Spa, where people would drink water from local springs for their medicinal and healing properties. The Streatham Spa and formal gardens used to be in the grounds of a large house called The Rookery. When the popularity of the spa declined, local residents campaigned to buy the Rookery and save it and the surrounding woodland for use as a public open space.
The Rookery became a public garden and opened formally on 23 July 1913. Because of its heritage and unique character, the garden is on English Heritage's Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Help us look after the Rookery
The Rookery is managed by Lambeth Parks and Greenspaces and comes under the South Lambeth Parks Area.
The park is in the area patrolled by the Streatham South Safer Neighbourhoods Team of Lambeth Borough Police, who work in partnership with Lambeth Council and the Friends of Streatham Common to ensure it provides a safe and welcoming environment.
Whilst the walking of dogs is allowed on adjacent Streatham Common, dogs are only permitted on the top terrace of the Rookery, and only on a lead. Dogs are not allowed in any other parts of the Rookery except for guide or assistance dogs. The reasons for not allowing dogs in most of the Rookery, or having them on leads on the top terrace are for the comfort and safety of children and families, to help protect the Rookery's heritage status, and protect wildlife. Please help us keep the Rookery attractive and safe by respecting this rule.
For more information on Streatham Common and the Rookery and how to help us keep them both clean, green and safe, please contact us on 0207 926 9000 or email us at parks@lambeth.gov.uk.
Further information