We've found 60 parks

Haven Green has existed as common land since medieval times, with a small hamlet distinct from the larger settlement at Ealing Green. As a result of the 1866 Metropolitan Commons Act, Ealing Local Board purchased Haven Green and other common lands in 1878 to preserve them as public open space, at a time when suburban development was accelerating. Horse chestnuts were planted around the perimeter of the Green, with a walk lined with London plane trees along the south side.

Grenan Forde is first mentioned in 846 AD, the ford presumably crossing the River Brent. The Manor of Greenford was owned by Westminster Abbey until the C16th, and manor house and church were in the centre of the hamlet, the surrounding area rural into the C20th. Holy Cross Old Church was built or rebuilt in the late C15th/early C16th on the site of an earlier church. By 1939 it was too small for the growing parish and a new largely timber church was built at right angles to it. The churchyard has headstones dating from the early C16th, the oldest near the south porch. A Celtic Cross commemorates the Roy family of Greenford Hall, an C18th building that still stands nearby. Fine trees in the churchyard include a monkey puzzle and an ash and a small garden of rest dates from 1979.

Hortus Cemetery was established as a new burial ground for Southall in 1944. The rectangular site is laid out with a grid of paths. A drive leads from the main entrance with a line of ornamental trees to the north; south of the entrance is a formal rose garden. The remainder of the cemetery has little planting other than a few ornamental trees with a screen of cypress trees on three sides separating it from roads or housing. In 1986, the first Muslim burials took place here in a dedicated area.

Islip Manor Park was created on the former grounds of Islips Manor, whose history dates back to a C14th estate of the Ruislip family, Ruislips Place. It was renamed Islips Manor when the Lord of Northolt Manor purchased the estate in 1629. In 1853 it was purchased by antiquary George Harris who laid out the grounds and rebuilt the house, which remained in his wife's family after his death in 1890. Ealing Town Council purchased house and grounds in 1929; the house was used as a clinic and the grounds opened as a public park. There are vestiges of the C19th planting, with many fine trees, and the municipal layout included new planting, a bowling green and modest modern flower garden.

In 1935 Ealing Council purchased a site of over 12 acres of former farmland to create Jubilee Park and Jubilee Gardens, named for King George V's Silver Jubilee. The smaller area for Jubilee Gardens included an Arts and Crafts style Branch Library and Welfare Centre, with pleasure gardens having a lodge and WC, trees, flower beds and a shelter. The remaining area was laid out as a recreation ground with playground, provision for sport, paths, two shelters and tree planting. A pair of large black Italian poplar trees in the park pre-date the municipal layout.

* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Kensington Hanwell Cemetery was one of first public cemeteries to be opened after the Metropolitan Interment Act of 1850. It was established by the Burial Board of the parish of St Mary Abbots, North Kensington in 1855. Due to the number of burials it was expanded a number of times but was virtually full by 1924 when the Burial Board opened its new Gunnersbury Cemetery. Its layout is little changed, entered via a splendid Gothic-style arch from where a straight walk leads, thickly planted with shrubs. The main part of cemetery is richly planted with Cedars, Holm oaks, Corsican pine, specimen conifers and other trees. One of its two original chapels survives with picturesque remnants of the arcade that formerly linked it to the Nonconformist chapel to the east, demolished c1972. There a number of notable tombs and monuments.

In the mid-C18th much of the area was part of Hanwell Heath, but when the parish land was enclosed in 1816 only c.1.25 acres had been set aside for the poor in compensation for loss of common rights. This was the site that later became King George's Field, then called Poor's Piece and owned by Hobbayne's Charity, whose Trustees were not permitted to sell the land for private use or building. King George's Field was opened as a recreation ground in 1951. Its gate piers on St Mark's Road have the heraldic stone plaques commemorating funding from King George's Fields Foundation. The Foundation, set up as a memorial following the King's death in 1936, provided funding for the creation or improvement of a great many playing fields before it was dissolved in 1965.

King George's Playing Field is so-named from the funding received by Southall Borough Council from the King George's Fields Foundation, which was set up as a memorial following the King's death in 1936. The playing field has the original metal gates with brick gate piers and heraldic stone plaques commemorating King George. The Grand Union Canal (Paddington Branch) runs along the western boundary and to the north is the ground of Southall Cricket Club, founded in 1887.

The park is named after the original use of the land as lammas land where tenants of the manor could graze their cattle following harvest. In 1881 c.23 acres were purchased by Ealing Local Board when it was feared that it might be lost as open space; compensation was paid to those who lost their rights. Lammas Park opened in 1883 and was subsequently extended west to Northfield Lane by arrangement with the Elers Estate, and a lodge was built at the new entrance. By 1907 there were 2 bowling greens, shelters for the bowling club and cricketers, and a 'tea chalet' for those playing tennis and croquet, with 19 lawn tennis courts and 4 croquet lawns by 1911. The park once had a bandstand and over 50 flower beds, mostly removed by 1958. In January 1949 a small War Memorial was erected by the Boy Scouts near the South Lodge entrance.

Southall - Norwood UDC purchased the C16th Manor House in 1913, opening the grounds as public gardens. The house was used as council offices until 1965, later leased to Southall Chamber of Commerce. Originally a house called The Wrenns, it was purchased in 1572 and rebuilt as an Elizabethan mansion by Francis Awsiter, remaining in his family until 1821. Henry VIII reputedly planted the Mulberry tree that still exists. Over the years in private ownership the grounds developed and had formal gardens, topiary, orchards, tennis and croquet lawns. Various amenities were laid out in the 1920s/30s, including new gardens, a bowling green and a cottage for the Park Superintendent. Land at the rear became the main council nursery. The overall layout has little changed although some of the features are lost, and the garden now contains a series of hedged areas, an Arts & Crafts sunken garden with pool, flower gardens and a rockery.

Mill Hill Gardens originated as the private sports grounds for the residents of the Mill Hill Park Estate, a leafy upmarket development built from 1877 by William Willett and his son, also William. This had been the Acton estate of Richard White, who had purchased the land here in 1809 and lived in the mansion he built, Acton Hill House, until 1849. Residents of the new Mill Hill Park Estate established lawn tennis and cricket clubs from the early 1880s, and the grounds were managed by a committee of residents. At one time there were 4 grass tennis courts, areas for croquet and golf putting, and social events were held here. In the 1960s the ground was taken over by Ealing Council and opened as a public park named Mill Hill Gardens.

Northolt was once known as Northall, complementing neighbouring Southall. The area was primarily agricultural until the Paddington Canal was built in 1801, stimulating excavation of brick-earth. The parish was originally 3 hamlets, of which only Northolt Village recognisably survives, its Memorial Hall and surrounding greens held under Trust by the villagers following a trust deed set up in 1927. A few buildings remain from the old village and the Green has some prominent trees and a canalised stream running through it. Near the parish church, Northolt Village Rest Garden is laid out with flower beds and lawn, overlooked by the old Willow Cottages.