13 Top Things to do in Battersea Park and Complete Guide
Stroll along the riverside promenade, visit the beautiful Peace Pagoda, relax in the Old English Garden, sit by the fountain, see the Albert Bridge and swing through the trees at Go Ape. These are just some of the top things to do in Battersea Park, continue reading for more!
One of our favourite things about London is how much beautiful green space there is providing an escape from the sometimes chaotic pace of the city. Although you might immediately think of Hyde Park or Regent’s Park, there are some real hidden gems when it comes to London Parks.
Victoria Park in the heart of East London with its lakes, wide tree-lined walkways and vibrant Chinese Pagoda and Battersea Park with its riverside location, Old English Garden and Peace Pagoda are absolute treasures where you’ll also avoid the tourist crowds.
Battersea Park is a 200-acre Victorian park officially opened by Queen Victoria in 1858. It’s full of history and culture, beautiful floral gardens, charming walkways, a large tranquil boating pond and much more.
In this guide to things to do in Battersea Park, we’ll share all of the best Battersea Park activities and then everything you need to know to make your visit truly memorable including the best time to visit, where to stay and how to get there.
Continue reading for the best Battersea Park activities and feel free to use the contents to navigate through the guide as required.
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Top Things to do in Battersea Park
Contents
See the Peace Pagoda
Perhaps one of the most iconic things to do in Battersea Park is visit the Peace Pagoda.
Peace pagodas are Buddhist stupas which are mound-like structures containing relics and are a place of meditation.
There are only 80 peace pagodas worldwide and they were brought about by the Nipponzan Myohoji movement founded by Nichidatsu Fujii, more commonly known as Guruji, meaning teacher, in 1917. Guruji pledged to build pagodas around the world as shrines for peace following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The Battersea Peace Pagoda was completed in 1985 and was constructed by nuns, monks and other followers of the Nipponzan Myohoji group just weeks after Guruji died at the age of 100.
The pagoda is home to four gilt-bronze statues depicting a hand gesture representing the most momentous stages of Buddha’s life; birth, enlightenment, teaching and death.
It’s open to the public and there are stairs leading to the lower tier which you can walk around. Don’t climb any higher than this as the statues are considered sacred and should be treated as such.
Our Top Tip: the UK has two peace pagodas; the second is in Milton Keynes which was the first peace pagoda in the Western Hemisphere!
Amble the Old English Garden
One of the most charming things to do in Battersea Park is to relax in the Old English Garden.
This tranquil garden was built in the early 1900s and is tucked away behind high brick walls, blocking out much outside noise.
The garden fell into disrepair, until 2012, when fragrance company Jo Malone alongside the charity Thrive and Chelsea Flower Show medal winner Sarah Price, transformed it into the beautiful space you see today.
One of the first things you’ll notice as you walk into Battersea’s Old English Garden is the calming sound of water from the water fountain. Dotted around the fountain are benches where you can sit and relax amongst the beautiful plants and flowers.
You’ll also find pergolas with vines growing on them which make for charming walkways or there are benches under them again where you can sit and relax and appreciate the beauty and tranquility of the gardens.
Today, the garden is maintained by Thrive; a charity that uses gardening to positively impact the lives of people living with disabilities or ill health, or who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable.
Row on the Boating Lake
On a sunny day, one of the best Battersea Park activities is hiring a rowing boat or pedalo to take out on Battersea Park’s Boating Lake.
Located in the southeast corner, Battersea Park Boating Lake has numerous large wooded islands and is home to a variety of birdlife; many of which change throughout the year with the weather and temperature.
On the lake’s shore sits Pear Tree Cafe; one of the best park cafes in London serving high-quality food and drinks and sourcing everything, where possible, locally or from Britain. During the summer months, there’s even live music.
Boat hire is open every day between Easter and the end of September from 10am – 6:30pm unless it’s raining. It may open occasionally throughout October if it’s a particularly nice day.
Stroll Next to the Thames
One of the best things to do in Battersea Park if you want to stretch your legs, is stroll along the riverside promenade next to the River Thames.
Popular with joggers, dog walkers, cyclists, groups, families and solo walkers, Terrace Walk sits right on the river and has amazing views of Albert Bridge and Chelsea Bridge.
There are also benches along the promenade where you can sit and relax and take in the beautiful views of the park and city around you.
Admire the Albert Bridge
Initially established as a toll bridge in 1860 by Prince Albert to connect Battersea and Chelsea, the Albert Bridge is one of London’s prettiest bridges and Battersea Park has some of its best views!
At night, the whole structure is beautifully illuminated by 4,000 LED lights and is decorated in blue, green and pink. This decor was adopted in 1992 to make the bridge more visible in foggy weather.
One of the best views of Albert Bridge is on the benches close to the west entrance of the park and overlooking the River Thames. This area is slightly sectioned off from the rest of the park so we found it to be very quiet and peaceful.
See Battersea Park Fountain
Battersea Park Fountain was originally constructed in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain which was aimed at promoting a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of World War Two.
Although restored by Wandsworth Council at the start of the century, the fountain retains its blue and orange colours from its original styling. It operates daily between 10am and 6pm with an additional display on the hour, every hour for 10 minutes.
One of the very best things to do in Battersea Park in the summer is relax around the edge of the fountain and enjoy the cooling spray that comes off it if you position yourself in the right spot.
Visit the Bandstand
Perfectly located in the middle of Central Avenue where all the paths meet, one of the most beautiful Battersea attractions is the Bandstand.
This traditional Victoria Bandstand has 360-degree views of the trees and hosts numerous outdoor events including live music, charity runs, fairs and even weddings and civil partnerships.
Be Adventurous at Go Ape
If you’re looking for something exhilarating, one of the most fun things to do in Battersea Park is the treetop adventure course at Go Ape.
With magnificent views over Battersea and the park, this outdoor adventure playground in the trees is great for adults and kids alike and is the company’s most central forest experience in London.
Make sure you have a head for heights as this treetop challenge is twice the height of most Go Ape locations!
Tickets cost £23 and can be bought online here.
Play Putt in the Park
Putt in the Park is one of the most enjoyable Battersea Park activities that’s fun for all ages.
Sitting directly underneath Go Ape, try not to let the adventurers swinging through the trees distract you as you weave your way around the obstacles, water features, rockeries and slopes on the golf course.
Putt in the Park has its own on-site restaurant serving snacks, wood-fired pizzas and drinks, making it the perfect lunch spot after a round of golf.
See the Wildlife at the Zoo
If you have little ones, one of the best things to do in Battersea Park with children is to visit the Battersea Park Children’s Zoo.
The zoo is home to a variety of wildlife including otters, monkeys, lemurs, armadillos, wallabies, kookaburras, turtles, farmyard animals and many more.
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo contributes to numerous conservation programmes and is dedicated to educating its visitors, in particular the young ones in protecting these animals. It also regularly holds workshops in conjunction with the People’s Trust for Endangered Species which aims to educate young visitors on British Wildlife and what dangers are facing it.
Tickets cost £12.50 for adults, £10.50 for children (aged 2 – 15), and £40.75 for families (2A & 2c or 1A & 3C) and can either be purchased at the zoo or on the zoo’s website.
Visit the Pump House Gallery
One of the most scenic Battersea attractions is the Pump House Gallery; a contemporary visual arts space on the shore of the Battersea Park Boating Lake.
It was built in 1961 as a pump house for the lake and is the only Grade II listed building in the park. There’s an impressive flagstone terrace in front of the gallery which overlooks the Pump House Lawn and the rear of the building overlooks the serene boating lake.
Today, the gallery features contemporary art exhibitions and you can hire it for a wide range of indoor and outdoor events including weddings, civil partnerships, dinners and receptions.
The Pump House Gallery is free to enter and is open Mon – Fri 9am – 5:30pm.
Play Sports
If you’re looking for active Battersea Park activities, Battersea Park Millennium Arena is a sporting facility with an athletics track, tennis courts, artificial grass playing surfaces, an infield for throwing and long and high jump pits, and a gym with activities including yoga, kickboxing, free weights, Tai Chi and more.
The athletics track has an impressive view of the Battersea Power Station and can also be booked for events with a capacity of 500 people.
Battersea Park Millennium Arena is open Mon – Fri 7am – 10pm and Sat & Sun 8am – 7pm. Tennis courts are £11.60 an hour for non-members and £10.60 with a membership card and need to be booked online here.
Explore the Iconic Battersea Power Station
One of the absolute must-do things to do near Battersea Park is explore the iconic Battersea Power Station!
This was once an operational coal-fired power station which, at its peak, produced a fifth of London’s power and supplied electricity to some of London’s most notable landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.
It closed in the 1980s and sat derelict until 2012 when redevelopment began to create an exciting new shopping and leisure destination.
In October 2022, the Power Station opened to the public and you can now enjoy shops, bars, restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues and beautiful open spaces.
Highlights include Control Room B which is a fabulous and unique cocktail bar in the hub of the Power Station and Lift 109 which whisks you up 109 metres to the top of the north-west chimney where you’ll be rewarded with incredible 360-degree views of London’s skyine!
We recommend booking tickets for Lift 109 online as it’s very popular and books up weeks in advance.
That rounds off our list of 13 top things to do in Battersea Park, we’ll now share everything you need to know for visiting.
Everything You Need to Know for Visiting Battersea Park
How to get to Battersea Park
Battersea Park is well-serviced by public transport and easily reachable by bus, underground and train.
Battersea Power Station is served by the Northern Line and is an 8-minute walk to Rosery Gate. Battersea Park Station, located next to Rosery Gate is served by the Overground and National Rail and is 1 stop from Victoria & Clapham Junction.
Sloane Square on the District Line is either a 15-minute walk to the park or you can jump on the 137 bus.
There are numerous buses which stop at Battersea Park including the 170, 344, 44, 137, 19, 156, 49, 319, 345, 314, 452, 239 and a couple of night buses; N44 and N137.
We recommend using the Transport for London website to plan your journey, which provides live service updates.
If you’re driving, there are three car parks in Battersea Park located at Chelsea Gate, (east) Rosery Gate (east) and Albert Bridge Gate (west). They’re all pay-and-display Monday to Sunday and are open 9am – 5pm.
Parking charges start at £2.70 an hour Mon – Fri and up to 3 hours Sat – Sun. Motorcycles can park free of charge with no time limit and blue badge holders can park up to 3 hours free of charge during the week and with no time limit at the weekend.
How long to spend for the top things to do in Battersea Park.
To experience the top things to do in Battersea Park, we’d recommend allowing for 4-5 hours. If you aren’t going to do all of the Battersea Park activities such as Putt in the Park, Go Ape and Battersea Park Children’s Zoo and you just plan on exploring and relaxing then we’d recommend around 2-3 hours.
The best time to visit Battersea Park
Battersea Park is great to visit at any time of the year.
In the autumn, the leaves turn a crisp golden colour, making the charming pathways feel like something out of a movie. In November, Battersea Park hosts South London’s biggest fireworks display!
In the winter, Battersea Park has a Winter Garden in the south-west corner of the park which is designed to peak at this time of the year with unusual plant varieties.
Spring is one of the best times to visit Battersea Park when it comes to life with candy cotton cherry blossoms lining the walkways and the Battersea Power Station chimneys in the background.
In the summer, Battersea Park is at its peak with a programme of events and endless activities including exercise and wellbeing classes, live music, circus and theatre workshops, the Battersea Park Dog show and so much more!
Where to stay to visit Battersea Park
With the newly-opened Battersea Power Station underground terminal on the Northern Line, Battersea Park is within easy reach of Central London. If you’re only spending a few days or a weekend in London, we’d recommend basing yourself more central and travelling out.
Around Covent Garden is a great area to stay for the tourist attractions, restaurants and bars and you can hop on the Northern Line at Leicester Square.
Victoria is also ideal as it’s very central and has great transport links around the city and to Battersea Park. There are also theatres, bars, restaurants and cafes right on your doorstep.
Green Park and Hyde Park Corner are excellent if you’d like to be central and within easy reach of London’s best attractions but also escape the hustle and bustle in some of London’s most beautiful parks.
Where to eat near Battersea Park
There are many dining options around Battersea Park you’ll be spoilt for choice.
In the park, there’s the Pear Tree Cafe overlooking Battersea Park Lake serving delicious and locally-sourced high-quality food. Our favourite cafe a 10-minute walk from Battersea Park is TOZI Counter; an Italian cafe bar and deli serving the fluffiest focaccia sandwiches and yummy pastries!
Other great dining options are Megan’s; a dog-friendly Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, Brindisa; a Spanish tapas restaurant overlooking the Thames, Angoletto; a family-owned Italian restaurant and Parker Cafe; a quaint cafe perfect for a quick bite to eat.
Toilets at Battersea Park
There are several toilet facilities in Battersea Park; Pierpoint (next to Battersea Park Zoo), Fountain (next to the fountain) and Beechmore (close to Sun Gate). During spring and autumn they’re open 8am – 6pm, in the winter 8am – 5pm and the summer 8am – 10pm.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide to the top things to do in Battersea Park. If you have any more, we’d love to hear from you so leave a comment below.