We've found 60 parks

Acton Cemetery was opened in 1895 on farmland purchased for the purpose by Acton Local Board in 1893. Land was initially consecrated for burial in the southern section, a drive from the entrance leading to a pair of chapels connected by a porte-cochère with picturesque turret. The cemetery was extended to the north in 1915 and 1926 but by 1903 the site was divided by the railway line running east/west, the two parts connected by a metal footbridge. Among those buried here are various civic dignitaries and others, including Albert Perry, a passenger on the SS Lusitania, and George Temple, the first British airman to fly upside down. Near the entrance on Chase Road to the north a small circular memorial garden was created c.2001 on the site of a former cemetery building.

Acton Green Common is a simple area of open land, laid out with perimeter planting, cross-walks and some mature trees. It is bounded to the south by the railway and at its eastern end it faces the church of St Michael and All Angels and the Tabard Inn, which are among the buildings designed by Norman Shaw for the Bedford Park Garden Suburb. The common was part of the site of the Battle of Brentford during the Civil War when on 12 November 1642 the Royalists under Prince Rupert surprised and overcame the Parliamentarian army under Lord Essex.

In medieval times this was commonland. The southern part was used for brick-earth extraction in the 1870s, and there was a market garden in the south-east. In 1886 Acton Local Board began to purchase land for a public park from various owners, including the Goldsmiths' Company whose almshouses overlook the park. It was opened to the public in 1888 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It was laid out with radiating avenues of mature trees enclosing large grassed open spaces, with a sunken garden of rhododendrons and shrubs. Some of the trees may predate the municipal planting. By the early C20th there was a bandstand, now a circular flower bed, and other facilities were added, including the bowling green and cafe. In the early C21st a new community garden was created.

Dating from the 1970s, Beaconsfield Gardens was a somewhat bland linear strip of amenity grassland along the main road, but it was transformed into pleasant public gardens in 2022 when the overgrown shrubbery was removed, thousands of bulbs planted, mown paths created and facilities for bees, insects and birds installed. The project was the work of Abundance London, a Chiswick-based community organisation, who continue to maintain the gardens working with volunteers. This area was once commonland close to the site of the Battle of Turnham Green in 1642 when the Royalists were routed by the Parliamentarians. Prior to the housing development that took place from the 1860s, the area had been used for grazing and orchards. Beaconsfield Road consisted of Victorian terraced housing and shops but these were demolished in the 1970s when a new Council housing estate was built on the west side of the road, the road curved to provide car parking for the new estate.

Bedford Park is described as the first Garden Suburb, the early speculatively-built estate becoming a model and showpiece, successful in attracting the 'aesthetic middle classes' and artists. In 1875 Jonathan Carr purchased 24 acres north of Turnham Green, taking the name for his estate from a late C18th house. First plans were drawn up by E W Godwin, but in 1877 Norman Shaw became estate architect and was responsible for creating the architectural character of the suburb. Wherever possible existing trees were kept and the garden character was enhanced by many roads being closed by views of trees. From 1880, Shaw no longer involved, a third phase of building began on additional land acquired by Carr. By 1883 there were 490 houses on 113 acres, the church of St Michael and All Angels, the Tabard Inn, a School of Art and a Club. In 1963 the Bedford Park Society was formed to preserve the estate, which was designated a Conservation Area in 1969.

In 1936 land near St Mary's Church in Northolt was acquired by the MCC and the local council for public open space, which became Belvue Park. Situated adjacent to the parish church are notable earthworks of the moated medieval manor house, excavated in the 1950s and '60s that provided evidence of Saxon occupation. Fragments of Iron Age pottery, as well as Roman roof tiles have also been found at the highest point of the park.

1928 Ealing Town Council decided to acquire 17.25 acres of land for public open space. Middlesex CC made a contribution of a quarter of the cost of the 9.25 acre recreation ground, conditional on this portion of the land being permanently dedicated to public use. It opened as Northfields Recreation Ground but in 1957 it was renamed Blondin Park after the French acrobat and tightrope walker, Charles Blondin, who had retired to this area. Blondin Nature Area was opened in 1997 and planted with a community orchard, wildflower meadow and pond.

Brent Lodge Park is on the site of the former landscape park of Brent Lodge, created by the Rector of Hanwell. He acquired the house in 1795 and enlarged it, created a new driveway and landscaped the grounds, building a cottage orné in the east. Owners in the C19th added a walled garden, stable block, greenhouses and other outbuildings, and ornamental tree planting continued. It became the home of Sir Montagu Sharpe and his wife, who eventually sold the estate to Ealing Council in 1931. Brent Lodge Park was opened to the public and various recreational facilities have been added over the years, including Brent Lodge Animal Centre, which has developed from a small group of aviaries in the 1960s. The gardens are on the higher ground overlooking the parkland and river, either side of the main path on the east of the site, and provide the setting for the buildings and animal enclosures. The park became part of the wider Brent River Park in 1976.

Brentham Garden Suburb was built from 1901-1915, a pioneering Arts and Crafts-inspired housing estate built on open country, formerly part of Pitshanger Farm estate. It was developed by Ealing Tenants Ltd, founded in 1901 as the first co-operative tenants society to provide improved housing for working people. The first chairman was Henry Vivian MP, whose co-operative building firm, General Builders Ltd. undertook much of the work. The first phase was completed by 1905, the earliest houses named after Vivian. In 1907 a further 30 acres had been purchased and the Ealing Tenants engaged Ray Unwin and Barry Parker, who were responsible for schemes including Hampstead Garden Suburb. The estate's garden aspect was created through low hedges and trees as well as playing fields and recreation grounds, particularly north of the Institute. A major feature was the provision of allotment gardens behind some of the larger groups of houses.

Churchfields Recreation Ground was former glebe lands for St Mary's Church Hanwell. The land was owned by Sir Montagu Sharpe of Brent Lodge when it was purchased in 1898 by the local council for public open space. In 1902 the purchase of the Rector's Glebe next to the recreation ground completed the open space and by then fencing and path repair had been carried out, seating provided and two 'handsome fountains' erected. Close to the centre of the recreation ground is a War Memorial erected by the Boy Scouts in 1919. The site has views towards the Wharncliffe Viaduct, built by Brunel in 1836/7. A line of mature trees marks its northern boundary with Church Road and an avenue of mature horse chestnut trees crosses the ground along the diagonal path from the parish church.

Prior to being laid out as a park, the area was fields. There was a proposal to purchase land north of Cleveland Road and east of Argyle Road for an extension of Pitshanger Park in 1914. However it was not until 1926 that the Town Council applied to the Ministry of Health to approve borrowing to purchase land north of Cleveland Road for a recreation ground. The small rectangular park is on sloping ground with good views north over Pitshanger Park and beyond.

Conolly Dell was formerly part of the grounds of The Lawn, the home and private asylum of Dr John Conolly after his retirement as Superintendent of Hanwell Asylum where he worked from 1839-44, He pioneered humane treatment and non-restraint of the mentally ill. Part of the grounds of The Lawn were given as public open space in 1911, named in his memory, with a memorial surmounted by a winged figure. The sloping garden has a series of ponds, rockery garden and fine trees.