Peckham Rye Park and Common

Opening times

Peckham Rye Park opens daily at 7.30am. Closing times vary throughout the year; see our opening times page for more information. The Common is open at all hours.

Location

Strakers Road, SE15
Entrances - Peckham Rye, Homestall Road, Colyton Road and Strakers Road

Map of Peckham Rye Park ^{(PDF, 137kb)}

How to get there

Tube and Train - Peckham Rye
Buses - Nunhead Lane P12, 78, 37, 484; Peckham Rye or Strakers Road 343, 484, 12; Peckham Rye or Forest Hill Road 197, 63, 363; Lordship Lane 112, 176, 185, 40, 312, P4, P13
Parking - small car park on Strakers Road with designated bike racks

Facilities and features

• The Round Cafe - open 8am to 6.30pm
• toilets and baby changing facilities are available in the toilet block in the park near Strakers Road and near the Adventure Playground
• Friends of Peckham Rye Park - peaceful community garden
• dog free area - the arboretum is a dog-free zone
• adventure playground
• picnic area - within the Arboretum
• gardens - Sexby Gardens is a formal garden complete with rose pergolas, the Japanese Garden opened in 1908 and the Japanese shelter was restored in 2005
• nature garden - the School Nature Garden offers young people access to a variety of habitats in a local and safe space; site includes a small stream with pond dipping platform, stag beetle loggeries and a circle of log seating for class discussion
• Peckham Rye Park trail map ^{(PDF, 698kb)}

Sports facilities

• football/cricket - booking required; to book a pitch, email SouthwarkLeisureInfo@southwark.gov.uk
• skate park - upgraded by the installation of a metal mini ramp which is 1.5 m high, 6m long and 9m in length (result of the Cleaner, greener, safer bid by the dedicated skate user group
• outdoor gym - recently renovated in 2023 by Fresh Air Fitness. new state of the art equipment designed to keep you active (located by the skate park and children's playground)
• find out about Peckham Rye Park and Common activities ^{(PDF, 1.5mb)}

About the park

Peckham Rye Park and Common comprises a Victorian Park and historic common and provides a pleasant refuge for both the local community and wildlife. Featuring ornamental gardens, flowing streams, woodland and a lake, the park is an ideal location to relax and partake in a gentle stroll. The park was awarded the Green Flag award in 2007.

History of the park

Peckham Rye Park has a long and engaging history. It is recorded as being cultivated before the Norman Conquest in the 11th Century.

Three successive phases have defined the park's structure:

• Phase 1 - pre-1894 to 1906, the railed enclosure included the open stream, the man-made lake, the woodland walk, and open sports fields
• Phase 2 - 1906 to 1915, annexing the woodland, the avenue, bowling green, Old English Garden or Sexby Garden, American Garden, Japanese Garden and arboretum
• Phase 3 - 1915 to 1965, following the 1920s clearance of buildings in the north west of the garden, including Charlton House; improvements such as a new main entrance and oval bedding area, a rockery and a water garden; paving and pergola structures in the Sexby Garden were upgraded, and the bowling pavilion was replaced and relocated on a new stone paved terrace

Friends of Peckham Rye Park and Common

Friends of Peckham Rye Park was formed in 1995 by residents to represent the views of the local community and help make a positive difference in the park. This includes campaigning and fundraising for improvements and organising community events. The group meet regularly to discuss issues that arise and keep members informed through a quarterly newsletter.

It's funded by Southwark Council's Cleaner Greener Safer programme, the Friends of Peckham Rye Park and the National Lottery Community Spaces Programme. The garden is maintained by the Friends of Peckham Rye Park during their monthly maintenance days and is an area of tranquillity with sensory summer planting, a winter garden, bug towers, a beehive, a pond, raised beds for community fruit and vegetable growing and a shaded meadow area with a loggery and seating. This is a beautiful oasis of peace amidst the bustle of life in the city. The entry gates were specially commissioned and designed by Heather Burrell.

You can check the park notice boards for meeting dates or email foprp@aol.com. You can also contact the park manager on 020 8299 0861.

Page last updated: 06 October 2023