Description
King George V donated the site to the National Playing Fields Association in June 1927 for use by local children. It now houses the borough's first skateboard park following fund-raising by a keen group of local skaters, which opened in June 1998.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | The King's Field |
|---|---|
| Site location | Church Grove, Hampton Wick |
| Postcode | KT1 4AE |
| What3Words | ///under.risky.rich |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Richmond |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | Mon - Sat: 7.30am - dusk/Sun & Bank Hols: 9am - dusk. Skate park 10am-dusk, check website for current charge per session |
| Facilities | Skate park (Access Pass required), tennis courts, playground, cricket/football pitches, café |
| Public Transport | Rail: Teddington, Hampton. Bus: 281, 285, 465 |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The park is walled to the main Hampton Court Road, and to the north the boundary with Bushy Park (q.v.) consists of chain link fencing. There is a pavilion on the corner of Church Grove/Hampton Court Road.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ173693 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 4.15 |
| Site Ownership | LB Richmond |
| Site Management | Environment Planning & Review, Parks and Open Spaces |
| Dates | 1927 |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Richmond |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Situated between Kingston Bridge and the entrance to Hampton Court's Home Park is the Hampton Wick War Memorial Garden. The Memorial commemorates casualties of both World Wars, 47 of whom fought in WWI. It was unveiled on 3 May 1921 with the Church Lads Brigade and a bugler from the East Surrey Regimental Depot at Kingston in attendance. In 1933 the Memorial was floodlit using gas from the Hampton Wick Gas Co. The Memorial Garden is not only the venue for the annual extremely well attended Remembrance Sunday service but also a tranquil place to visit all year round.
Hogsmill River Park is a linear park created in the 1980s that continues the link to other open spaces through the borough along the route of the Hogsmill River, which flows north through New Malden and Berrylands to the Thames just by the Guildhall. Evidence of bronze and iron age settlements have been found by the river, which was called the Hogsmill relatively recently, and was previously known as the Malden River, and in 1439 as the Lurteborne.
Walnut Tree House is a substantial early C18th house with a garden that leads down to the river. In the garden is an early C18th gazebo.