Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park

Kennington Road, SE1

This park provides an impressive backdrop to the Imperial War Museum and is the home of the Tibetan Peace Garden (pictured right).

General facilities

• Toilets: Located at the cafe
• Children's playground: Suitable for 12 and under
• Picnic area: There are picnic tables on both sides of the park, and by the cafe
• Art in the park: Sculptures in the Tibetan Peace Garden by Hamish Horsley. Soviet Memorial by Sergei Shcherbakov
• Friends group: The park is supported by a Friends Group which can be contacted via the Area Parks Team 
• Gardens: Other features include a small copse, a family orchard, a world garden and an Ice Age Tree trail

Sports facilities

• Sports area: Recently opened sports area caters for five a side football, basketball, netball and tennis. Contact Fusion on 020 7735 3294. There is also hard surface free play area with basketball hoops. The surface is also suitable for learning to cycle
• Basketball: The court is free of charge and no booking is required, just turn up and play

Location and transport

Park entrances: St Georges Road, Lambeth Road, Kennington Road SE1
Tube/rail: Elephant and Castle (Northern line), Lambeth North (Bakerloo line)
Bus: 3, 12, 53, 148, 453, C10, 344, 360, 59, 159
Car: No designated car parking area
Bike: There are cycle racks by the sports pavilion and at the main entrance to the museum

History of the park

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park opened in 1934. The land was gifted to the "splendid struggling mothers of Southwark" by Viscount Rothermere in memory of his mother. The park surrounds the Imperial War Museum.

The Soviet War Memorial was unveiled in 1999 to commemorate the loss of 27 million citizens of the former Soviet Union in WWII. Also, in 1999 the Dalai Lama opened the Tibetan Peace Garden in the park, creating an ideal space for contemplation and reflection.