I’ve been to Battersea Park before, but this time I decided to finally go into the Old English Garden, a part of the park I had never explored before.
Passing Familiar Landmarks on the Way
On the way there, I walked through the wooded area and then followed the path towards the garden, passing some of the park’s more familiar sights along the route, the London Peace Pagoda glowing gold as the sun dropped low behind it, and the board beside it explaining the four scenes carved and painted around the structure.
The route also passed the usual practical signage that you stop noticing after enough visits, a toilets sign pointing up the path, and the pavement plaque recording the park’s 2004 reopening after restoration by Wandsworth Council. A map board nearby confirmed I was heading the right way.
Notices Along the Path
A couple of practical signs caught my eye on the way, one setting out the licence and dog limits for professional dog walkers in the park, and another, out on the railings, warning about new on-street parking restrictions in the surrounding CPZ. Small details, but the kind that are actually useful if you’re planning to drive.
I also passed the Sub-Tropical Garden on the way, first opened to the public here in 1864 according to the board beside it, and the bowling green, before finally reaching the entrance to the Old English Garden itself.
Inside, It Felt Completely Enclosed
Once I went inside, I immediately noticed how enclosed and green the garden felt. There were pergolas covered with plants, paths to walk around and quite a few places where you could sit. It was a real contrast to the open lawns and busier paths I’d just walked through.
There was also plenty of wildlife around. I saw a squirrel that was surprisingly comfortable around people and came quite close, one of those little moments you don’t really expect when you’re just walking through a park.
The Pond, the Fish and the Sundial
In the middle of the garden there is a pond with a small waterfall. I could actually see fish in the water, which made the area even more interesting. There were also a few statues around and a sundial standing along one of the brick paths.
Further round, tucked into the greenery, a bronze boar statue stood almost hidden among the leaves, easy to miss if you weren’t looking down at the right moment.
Left to Grow, and Kept Apart from Dogs
Some parts of the garden are left to grow more naturally, and the area is fenced off to keep dogs out. Signs on the lattice gateway asked visitors not to feed the birds either. It gives the garden a more protected and quiet feeling than the rest of the park, somewhere the wildlife is clearly meant to come first.
I could also hear the children enjoying the water fountains outside the garden, while inside it was much more peaceful, with places to sit and just take a break. The wooded path leading in, fenced on both sides, made it feel like a proper transition from one part of the park into another rather than just another gate.
The Rest of the Park, for Context
Battersea Park is much bigger than just this one garden, and the map board near the entrance gives a good sense of how much else is packed in. Away from the Old English Garden, the park is really made up of several distinct areas, each suited to a different kind of visit.
Gardens & Quiet Corners
Beyond the Old English Garden, the park holds the Sub-Tropical Garden (planted since 1864), the Rosery, the Herb Garden and the Russell Page Garden, each with its own character and mostly missed by anyone sticking to the main paths.
The Boating Lake
A large lake sits roughly in the centre of the park, with a boathouse and pedal boats when the season allows. It’s the most obvious focal point on the map and a natural place to break up a longer walk.
Sport & Active Areas
All-weather sports pitches, tennis courts, a bowling green, a cricket pavilion, mini golf, an adult trim trail and the Millennium Arena athletics track are all marked on the board. A Tree Top Adventure course (Go Ape) uses the mature trees on the park’s western side for a more active family day out.
Art & Landmarks
A Barbara Hepworth sculpture and a Henry Moore sculpture both stand within the park, along with the Pump House Gallery, the bandstand, the Millennium Cross and the British Genius Site. The London Peace Pagoda, covered above, sits on the northern edge facing the Thames.
Families
A Children’s Zoo, a main playground with refreshments nearby, and a second refreshment point at Pier Point round out the family-facing side of the park, separate from the quieter gardens.
Looking Back
I walked through the garden, looked around the different areas and then came back out onto the main path. Honestly, I had walked around Battersea Park before and never realised this little garden was here. It felt like finding a small, quiet corner that I had completely missed.
I ended up sitting on a bench for a while, looking at the water and the greenery around me. It was a simple part of the park, but for me, it was one of the nicest discoveries of the visit.
Practical Information
Everything else I didn’t cover in the walk.
Battersea Park and Queenstown Road are the closest National Rail stations, both a short walk from the park’s southern and eastern edges. Battersea Power Station, on the Northern line extension, works well if you’re combining the visit with the riverside development nearby. Buses run along the roads bordering all four sides of the park, so the nearest stop depends on which entrance you’re heading for.
Quiet gardens and a slower pace: the Old English Garden, the Sub-Tropical Garden and the Rosery. Families with younger children: the Children’s Zoo, the main playground and Go Ape. Runners and cyclists: the carriage drives circling the park. Art and sculpture: the Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore pieces, plus the Pump House Gallery. A riverside walk: the Thames promenade past the Peace Pagoda towards Battersea Power Station.
Tucked away from the park’s busier central paths, reached along a wooded stretch fenced on both sides. Park map boards mark its location, look for it near the Sub-Tropical Garden and the bowling green.
The Old English Garden itself is fenced off to keep dogs out, unlike most of the wider park. Professional dog walkers elsewhere in Battersea Park need a licence, with a maximum of six dogs per walker.
Signage at the garden entrance asks visitors not to feed the birds, part of keeping this corner of the park a little more protected than the rest.
Passed on the way to the garden on this visit. Free to view, standing beside the Thames on the park’s northern edge, with an information board nearby explaining its significance.
On-street parking restrictions apply around the Battersea Park area CPZ Zone B, roughly 9am to 8pm. Check current signage before leaving a car nearby.
15–20 minutes: a walk through the Old English Garden itself, taking in the pond and pergola.
Half a day: pairing the garden with the Sub-Tropical Garden, the Peace Pagoda and a longer walk around the wider park.
Late afternoon suited this walk well, the garden was quiet, the wildlife was out, and the Peace Pagoda caught good light on the way there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Old English Garden free to visit?
Yes, like the rest of Battersea Park, it’s free and open access during park hours.
Are dogs allowed in the Old English Garden?
No, this particular garden is fenced off to keep dogs out, unlike most of the wider park.
Is it easy to find?
It’s a little tucked away, reached along a wooded path rather than sitting right on a main route, so it’s easy to miss even on a repeat visit, as this one was.
What’s inside the garden?
A pond with fish and a fountain, pergola walkways, a sundial, statues including a bronze boar, and several quiet spots to sit.
Can you feed the birds there?
No, signage at the entrance specifically asks visitors not to feed the birds in this part of the park.
Research Method
This guide is based on a personal, repeat visit to Battersea Park, this time specifically to explore the Old English Garden for the first time, alongside the London Peace Pagoda, the Sub-Tropical Garden and general park signage passed along the way. All photographs above are original and were taken on site. Practical details such as parking restrictions and dog walking rules were checked against on-site signage; opening arrangements and any seasonal changes to the garden should be confirmed before a visit built specifically around it.
Last checked: 8 September 2026
Official & Useful Sources
On-site observations from the visit
The Old English Garden, its pond, pergolas, sundial and boar statue, the London Peace Pagoda and its information board, the Sub-Tropical Garden board, and the park’s parking and dog walking notices, all as seen and photographed during the walk.
More Parks to Explore
A few other South West London green spaces worth pairing with this one.
Author
Steve visits every park featured on Ekskluzivet Park in person, checking practical details against councils, park operators and official sources. Every guide is based on a personal visit, and the photographs published with it are his own.
About Steve