Dulwich Park

College Road, SE21

Dulwich Park covers 29 hectares and is packed with historic features, exciting facilities and perfect picnic spots.

Refurbished in 2006, the Green Flag Award winning park offers a large children's playground, an excellent cafe and a popular cycle hire outlet. The Francis Peek centre has a varied programme of activities to suit everyone.

View the trail map of Dulwich Park.

General facilities

• Toilets: Located by the main car park and in the Francis Peek building
• Boating Lake: Offering children and family-sized pedalos and traditional rowing boats. Open weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, 10.30am - 5pm (weather permitting) April - October. Children are £2 each, adults are £4 each, for a duration of 30 minutes. No bookings required. Boating inquiries only: 07902 258301   
• Cafe: The Pavilion Cafe is open daily, from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 5.30pm Saturday and Sunday. Tel: 020 8299 1383
• Dog walking area: Dogs can be exercised at the north end of the park
• Francis Peek Centre: The centre is available for hire and is ideal for parties and other events. With panoramic views across the park and plenty of space. For further information, tel: 020 8693 8635  
• Cycle hire: Available every day including bank holidays from 10am to 5pm or dusk if earlier, tel: 020 8299 6636
• Dry garden: The garden aims to demonstrate the wide range of plants that can be successfully grown with little water
• Winter garden: This garden has been specially planted for winter colour
• Vegetable garden: Available all year round, with vegetable beds in constant rotation throughout the year. You can get involved by joining the Dulwich Vegetable Group via the Dulwich going greener

Sports facilities

• Football: Pitches can be booked - see the bookings page for more information
• Bowling green: Run by the bowls club and can be contacted on 020 7525 2000
• Tennis courts: Free of charge, just turn up and play
• Outdoor gym: Thirteen pieces of new outdoor gym equipment have been added to the park, all of which are free for the public to use
• Outdoor table tennis: Four tables are available in the play area
• There are limited bats and balls available in the cafe, and you are free to bring your own

Activities

• Dig the park
  Volunteer programme run by the Dulwich Parks friends on the first Saturday of the month from 10am to 1pm. The activity varies - at the moment it is planting heritage bulbs. Tools and refreshments are provided and everyone is welcome. Visit Dulwich Park Friends for more information
  
• Organised walks
  Every Wednesday morning at 10am, meet inside the College Gate entrance. More information on organised walks se the Walks Programme

Location and transport

Park entrances: College Road, Dulwich Common, Court Lane, Dulwich Village SE21
Rail: West Dulwich or North Dulwich
Bus: P4 College Road, P4, or P13 Dulwich Common
Parking: Car and bike parking areas can be found at the park entrances

History of the park

Created in 1890, Dulwich Parkstarted it's life as farmland and a group of meadows known as "five fields" and many of the ancient boundary oaks survive today.

Queen Mary was a regular visitor to the park, she loved to view the American Garden, famous for its rhododendrons which are spectacular when they are in bloom in May. One of the park gates is named after her.

Friends of Dulwich Park

Get involved and join Dulwich Park Friends.