Playgrounds and green gyms

Causton Street play area

The playground is situated on the north side of the Millbank Estate behind Tate Britain and is divided into two main areas. A young children’s play area for ages 3 to 7 year olds and a multi-use games area for older children. The two areas are separated by a green space planted with wisteria and other climbing plants.

The play area has disabled access and does not allow dogs.

• Address: Causton Street, SW1P 4AT

Drury Lane

Drury Lane Gardens is an attractive pocket park located in the heart of London’s Theatreland.

Divided into zones, and containing a range of facilities, this park is enclosed by adjacent buildings. A small quiet seating area, a raised play area and a multi-sport court. An attractive arbour with climbing plants divides the quiet seating area from the more active and lively play areas.

• Address: Drury Lane, WC2B 5SN

Edbrooke Road

A small local park laid to grass with mature trees and paths running diagonally across the site from each corner entrance. The paths converge and meet in the middle with circular paving and a feature. The site includes an old stone water trough and a small play area, mainly for younger children.

This park has disabled access.

• Address: 2-54 Edbrooke Road, W9 2AX

Lisson Street Gardens

A long narrow sunken leafy site separated from the adjacent road. This community garden has two entrances, with a play area at one end. There is a paved circular contemporary amphitheatre space at the opposite end which creates an interesting landscape feature.

This space is managed by a local community group mainly consisting of residents, with the help of Westminster City Council and is opposite Broadly Street Gardens.

This park has disabled access. Dogs are not allowed.

• Address: Lisson St, NW1 6SY

Millbank Gardens

This formal rectangular London Square is located behind Tate Britain in a quiet and predominantly residential pocket of Pimlico.

The Square consists of small lawns and an area of paving surrounding each lawn. The paths are aligned with seats making a great, quiet space for one to spend an afternoon reading a book. Good range of plants can be seen here.

Disabled access.

• Address: Millbank Gardens, John Islip Street, SW1P 4RG

Paddington Green

A classic historical London Square, set back from the busy Harrow Road and The Westway and adjacent to St Mary’s Church. The Square is set out traditionally with diagonal York stone paths connecting the four corner entrances and consists of grass, shrubs, and floral displays together with mature plane trees that dominate the space and landscape.

A statue of Lady Sarah Siddons (1755-1831), a famous British actress who lived in the area and whose memorial can be found in the nearby St Mary’s Churchyard, sits within the space.

This park has disabled access.

• Address: Paddington Green, W2 1NB

Paddington Recreation Ground

Paddington Recreation Ground covers 27 acres in the heart of central London.  Paddington Recreation Ground has a wide range of facilities from gyms and a fitness studio to outdoor tennis courts. Cricket fans can enjoy the pitch at the centre of the park and the four nets in which to practice, while the site also boasts an outdoor bowling green, a multi-use Tarmac court, as well as a 400m athletics track and a full-sized 3G artificial football pitch.

Paddington Recreation Ground is set behind the mansion blocks of Maida Vale and is one of Westminster’s largest spaces.

The grounds have disabled access toilets, including facilities for the disabled gym and leisure centre, a fitness trail, a Café, car park and a Wildlife area.

• Address: Randolph Avenue, W9 1PD

Paddington Recreation Ground is managed by our partner, Everyone Active.

Paddington Street Gardens South

Paddington Green South consists of a formal open space with grass areas, traditional shrub, rose and floral displays, a bandstand and children’s play area. Plentiful seating enables visitors to enjoy this space. Tall London Plane trees on the boundaries ensure shade on sunny days.

This park has disabled access, and toilets, including disabled, are accessible from Paddington Street.

• Address: Paddington St, W1U 4AL

More information about Paddington Street Gardens South

Porchester Square Gardens

An attractive, traditional London Square containing flower displays, lawns, trees and hedges and a children's play area. Porchester Square is an ideal place to spend lunch or just a  summer’s afternoon calmly reading a book or paper. The main tree species in the Garden are the London Plane (Platanus x hispanica), which define the Square but other trees including the double flowered British Native Cherry  (Prunus avium 'Plena') and red flowered Indian Horse Chestnut (Aesculus indica).

The name Porchester comes from one of the Hampshire estates of the Thistlewaites who with only two or three other families had been chief lessees of the Bishop of London's land in Paddington since before 1750.

Porchester Square was completed between 1855 and 1858 and was one of the last areas of Bayswater to be developed and built.

This park has disabled access.

• Address: Porchester Square, W2 6AN

Queens Park Gardens

Queens Parks Gardens offers something for everyone. Trees, grassy areas and a rose garden.

Facilities include a well-designed playground, multi-use (and free to use) ball court, wildlife garden, a specifically designated “dog run” area, and seating.

This park has disabled access.

• Address: 67 Ilbert Street, W10 4QH

More information about Queen's Park Gardens

St John's Wood Church Grounds

Located north of Regent’s Park and parallel with Lords Cricket Ground this large, attractive former church ground still contains various gravestones and memorials. An award-winning Park with mature trees give the park maturity and a sense of a well-established landscape. Excellent floral displays, a good range of interesting plants including a Camelia collection.

Facilities include a recently refurbished playground, formal gardens, and a nature reserve area with signage. The generous size of this site provides visitors with a choice of spaces to spend time in.

This park has disabled access, and a disabled toilet is on site.

• Address: Wellington Road, NW8 7PF

St Stephen's Gardens

This attractive, small public garden is divided into sections comprising a play area, seating area, pergola, and a grass mound with shrubberies and a circular seating area. It contains well-maintained shrub beds with year-round interest.

This park has disabled access. Dogs are not welcome at these gardens.

• Address: 40 St Stephen's Gardens, W2 5NJ

Tamplin Mews Gardens

A small pocket park with grass areas, ornamental trees, seating, and a playground for small children in one corner. It is well screened from the surrounding roads with shrub planting.

This park has disabled access.

• Address: Abinger Mews, W9 3SP

Victoria Embankment Gardens

This vibrant public park is part of the chain of open spaces along Victoria Embankment, designed by Sir Joseph Bazelgette and opened in 1865.

The park provides impressive floral schemes surrounded by manicured lawns. The “Tropical Border” is one of the finest in London during the summer months. A bandstand has a programme of events throughout the summer and visitors to the gardens can sit in deckchairs to enjoy.

This park has disabled access.

• Address: Villiers Street, WC2N 6NS

More information about Victoria Embankment Gardens

Violet Hill Gardens

This attractive and popular small traditional garden in the north of the Borough containing a good playground, seating, a lawn and shrubbed areas and flower borders and  seasonal containers surround the play area.

This park has disabled access, and there is a disabled toilet on site.

• Address: Aubrey Place, NW8 9BH

Westbourne Green Open Space

A large green space with open aspects, trees, and a playground.  The open space is an informal space offering opportunity for general recreation. The site in recent years has changed its management regimes to include an increasing area set aside for wildflowers and opportunities for pollinators and invertebrates. 

• Address: Bourne Terrace, W2 6PB