Dulwich Park Dulwich Park covers a huge area and is packed with historic features, exciting facilities and perfect picnic spots.
Park Location
Park entrances
College Road/Dulwich Common/Court Lane, Dulwich Village SE21.
Getting there
Rail: Nearest station is North Dulwich
Buses: P4, 176, 185, 312, 12, 40
Car/bike parking
Parking areas can be found at the park entrances.
 Facilities
Cafe
The Pavilion Cafe is open daily from 9.00am to 6.00pm.
Boating lake and duck pond
Boats are available for £5.25 for 1/2 an hour.
Dog walking area
Dogs can be exercised at the north end of the park. The playground areas for children are dog free zones.
Gardens
There are several gardens scattered around the park including the American Garden and the Dry Garden. See the 'history' section below for more information.
Kids Playground
Dulwich Park has a large play area, with equipment and apparatus suitable for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 14 years.
Picnic area
There is a picnic area within the grounds.
Sports facilities and park activities
Bowling Green
The bowling green is run by the Bowls Club and can be contacted by using the details at the bottom of this page.
Cricket Pitch
Pitches can be booked through the Booking Hotline on 020 7525 1050. Short sessions (1/2 day) cost £27.00; all day sessions cost £52.00.
Football pitch
Pitches can be booked for the length of a match (approx. 90 minutes). Junior pitches cost £22.00; Senior pitches cost £42.00; small pitches for young players cost £16.00. Pitches can be booked through the Booking Hotline on 020 7525 1050.
Tennis Courts
Tennis courts within the park are currently free of charge and there's no booking system; just turn up and play.
Walks in the park
The walk takes place every Wednesday morning come rain or shine. Walkers meet inside the Park at the College Gate entrance. We start with a warm-up walk, followed by simple stretches for those who wish to take part. We then do at least 20 minutes brisk walking, followed by a cool down walk of at least 5 minutes. The group is well established and walkers walk at their own pace. Faster walkers might do 3 circuits of the park. Slower walkers might do one lap of the park followed by a lap of the lake. The walk generally takes about an hour and we usually visit the cafe for a drink and a chat afterwards. The walkers are all very friendly and new walkers are always welcome, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you'd like to take part. Please contact us using the details at the bottom of the page.
Disabled access
All parts of the park are accessible to wheelchair users. Ramps are provided for access to the cafe and toilets. Please use the contact details at the bottom of this page if you would like to find out more.
 History of Dulwich Park
A Special Place in Park History
Created in 1890, Dulwich Park started life as farmland and a group of meadows known as ‘five fields’ and many of the ancient Oaks, which were used as boundary markers, survive today. It is considered by some to have been the forerunner of modern Country Parks. Queen Mary was a regular visitor to the Garden and one of the park entrances 'Queen Mary's Gate' is named after her.
Famous for Horticultural Excellence
Queen Mary regularly visited the American Garden. This has one of the largest selections of rhododendrons and azaleas in South East London. The blooming season still creates a massive show of colour and is a popular feature of the park.
Wildlife Haven of Regional Importance
Silver birch trees were planted in the American Garden to provide shade for the rhododendrons. Now a feature in their own right, they are the largest stand of silver birch trees in the area. They are an important feeding stop for migrating birds. Herons, cormorants and grey wagtails also visit the lake in the centre of the park. In the summer months bats can be spotted at dusk, swooping over the lake in search of food. Occasionally in the winter months a kingfisher comes for a visit.
Dry Garden
The garden aims to demonstrate the wide range of plants that can be successfully grown with little water, except natural rain water, whilst offering visitors the chance to relax in a colourful garden. A leaflet and a plant list are available.
Art in the Park
"Divided Circle Two Forms", a sculpture by Dame Barbara Hepworth, can be found in the centre of the park and can also be seen from the carriageway. Hepworth's works were among the earliest abstract sculptures produced in England.
Contact us
Dulwich Park
Tel: 020 8693 5737
dulwich.park@southwark.gov.uk
Dulwich Park
College Road
London
SE21 7BQ
Parks team
Tel: 020 7525 2000
environment@southwark.gov.uk
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