Peckham Rye Park: Arboretum, Playground & Open Common

📍 Peckham, Southwark 🌳 Open grass + Sexby Garden 🎟️ Free entry 🕊️ Birdsong along the paths ☀️ Dry, sunburnt grass on this visit 🧭 No fixed route, just wandering

An Unusually Large Amount of Space

The first thing I noticed was how much open space there is. There are large areas of grass, plenty of trees and different paths to walk through, so it doesn’t feel like a small park where you can see everything straight away.

Open parkland at Peckham Rye Park with sun-dried grass and a line of mature trees along a black iron fence — The open grass had turned yellow and dry after weeks of strong sun.

Wide sun-dried grass field at Peckham Rye Park with a tall poplar tree and a partly cloudy sky — One of the wide open fields, the grass gone golden brown in the heat.

The Grass Told Its Own Story

One thing that really stood out during my visit was the grass. It was quite dry from the strong sunshine, and you could clearly see that it had lost some of its usual green colour. Some areas looked more yellow and dry rather than fresh and green. Even so, the park still had a nice natural feeling.

Sun-dried open field at Peckham Rye Park bordered by trees under a cloudy sky — More of the same dry, open landscape stretching toward the treeline.

Tall dry wildflowers and grass in the foreground of an open field at Peckham Rye Park with people walking in the distance — Wildflowers gone to seed in the late summer heat, with a few walkers crossing the field beyond.

Worth knowing: a Strictly No Dogs sign marks off one fenced section of grass, and a stretch of ground nearby was fenced off for maintenance work on this visit, both small reminders that the park is actively managed even when it looks untouched.

A Strictly No Dogs sign on the railings of a fenced dry grass area at Peckham Rye Park — A dog-free enclosure within the park, marked clearly on the fence.

Temporary metal fencing around a patch of dug earth beside an open field at Peckham Rye Park — A small fenced-off section of ground, part of ongoing maintenance work.

Sexby Garden, a Quieter Detour

Away from the open fields, a walled garden gave the walk a completely different mood, ivy-covered archways, a shaded wisteria pergola and an old sundial tucked into a corner.

A Garden Tucked Behind a Fence

Further along, a smaller fenced garden area sat beneath an old oak tree, benches half-hidden among the shrubs, a spot that felt more local and less visited than the main lawns.

A fenced community garden area at Peckham Rye Park with benches, shrubs and a blue shed in the background — A quiet fenced garden area tucked away from the open lawns.

A large mature oak tree beside a fenced path in a garden area of Peckham Rye Park — A large old oak standing over the garden paths.

Trees, Birdsong and No Particular Route

I enjoyed walking among the trees and listening to the birds. There was something relaxing about being surrounded by nature while still being in London. I could slow down, take my time and just enjoy the surroundings without having to follow a specific route.

As I walked further, the scenery changed between open grassy areas and sections with more trees and greenery. I liked that variety because the walk didn’t feel the same all the way through.

Dry grass field at Peckham Rye Park with parked cars visible along a treelined road in the distance — Looking across the field toward the road running along the park’s edge.

A Love Parks banner from Southwark Council and Keep Britain Tidy tied to the park railings — A Southwark Council banner encouraging visitors to look after the park.

A pair of posters tied to the railings caught my eye too, a reminder that the park has its own community calendar beyond the everyday walkers and dog owners.

Posters for the Peckham Rye Fete and the Paws and Pause dog show tied to the park railings

Posters advertising the local fete and dog show, tied to the railings.

The Carved Faces at the Park’s Edge

Near one of the roads bordering the park stands a tall wooden totem, carved from a tree trunk into a stack of smiling community faces, a globe with wings at the top, and a figure with long dreadlocked hair among them. It’s the kind of thing you only notice if you walk the park’s edges rather than sticking to the middle.

Close-up of a large wooden totem sculpture near Peckham Rye Park showing a smiling carved face with long hair — One of the carved faces on the tall wooden totem sculpture near the park’s edge.

A wooden totem sculpture near Peckham Rye Park carved with a globe, wings and a face wearing painted sunglasses — A globe and wings carved into the top of the wooden totem sculpture.

Close-up of a smiling carved wooden face on the community totem sculpture near Peckham Rye Park, with a street and parked cars behind

Another face carved into the totem, smiling out toward the street.

Looking Back

Peckham Rye Park felt like a good place to spend a few hours, especially if you simply want to walk, sit somewhere and get away from the busy streets for a while.

For me, the dry grass was probably the most noticeable thing during this visit, but it didn’t take away from the experience. The trees, open space, birds and quiet parts of the park still made it a nice place to explore.

Practical Information

Everything else I didn’t cover in the walk.

Getting There

Peckham Rye station (rail and Overground) sits right beside the park, the simplest way in.
East Dulwich station is a short walk from the park’s southern side.
Numerous bus routes run along Peckham Rye and Colyton Road, both bordering the park.

Sexby Garden

A walled garden with ivy archways, a wisteria pergola and an old sundial.
Repair work is planned on the pergolas, stone piers and central timber archways, so its look may change over time, check current signage on site.

Dogs

Welcome across most of the park, though at least one fenced area is signed strictly no dogs.
Keep an eye out for local signage near gardens and fenced sections.

What to See

The open grass fields, good for a long, unhurried walk
Sexby Garden and its pergolas
The community garden area beneath the old oak
The carved wooden totem near the park’s edge

How Long to Spend

45–60 minutes: a walk across the main fields and through Sexby Garden.
A few hours: a slower, unplanned wander like this one, taking in the garden, the quieter corners and whatever’s happening on the noticeboards.

Best Time to Visit

A dry, sunny stretch left the grass looking more golden than green on this visit, a reminder that the park looks quite different depending on the season and the weather that’s come before it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Peckham Rye Park free to visit?

Yes, general access to the park is free.

Is Sexby Garden worth the detour?

Yes, it has a completely different feel from the open fields, shaded pergolas, ivy archways and a sundial worth stopping for.

Is the park dog-friendly?

Mostly yes, though at least one fenced grass area is signed as strictly no dogs, worth checking local signage.

Is there somewhere to see local art or sculpture nearby?

Yes, a tall carved wooden totem stands near one of the roads bordering the park, worth a short detour from the main paths.

Research Method

This guide is based on a personal walk through Peckham Rye Park, without a fixed route, taking in the open fields, Sexby Garden, the fenced community garden area and the carved totem near the park’s edge. All photographs above are original and were taken on site. Practical details such as transport and garden access were checked against Southwark Council; ongoing repair work and local notices can change what’s visible on the ground, so check current signage before travelling.

Official & Useful Sources

Southwark Council, Peckham Rye Park and Common
Used to verify general access, garden information and council-led maintenance work.
https://www.southwark.gov.uk/culture-and-sport/parks-and-open-spaces/find-park/peckham-rye-park-and-common

On-site observations from the visit
Sexby Garden, the community garden area, the Forget Not Mee and My Garden board, the planning notice, and the carved totem sculpture, as seen and photographed during the walk.

Last checked: 4 September 2026

More Parks to Explore

A few other South London walks worth pairing with this one.

South London Dulwich Park A boating lake, cycle hire and a level, family-friendly circuit not far from Peckham. South London Brockwell Park A hillside walk with a lido and walled garden, a short trip from Peckham Rye. South London Southwark Park A lake, sculpture and one of South London’s older Victorian parks.

Author

Steve

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