Best playgrounds for kids of all ages in South London

We’ve spent the best part of 12 years in and looking for fun children’s playgrounds to entertain our kids! Here are some of the best playgrounds for kids in South East London that have things to do for kids aged 2-12. Here is a guide to South London’s most innovative and interesting children’s playgrounds and our favourite ones to keep your kids entertained on sunny days or even rainy days too and we’ve included additional information to help with planning your day out such as parking/ travel info and toilet facilities – a must with young kids! If it’s hot and sunny then you’ll love our list of Best Splash Parks in South East London to cool down on a hot day!

Best Parks and playgrounds for older kids 

Peckham Rye Park

Good size park for a walk with a duck pond and a good playground for kids aged up to 11 and a separate play area and adventure playground for kids aged 8-16. 

• Skate Park 
• Green gym 
• Adventure playground for kids aged 8-16 that’s fully accessible for wheelchair users
• Play space where there are courses for kids aged 8-16 in Gardening/Table Tennis/Badge Making/Go Karting etc….
• Two playgrounds
• Toilets with Baby Changing Facilities 
• Dog Free Picnic Area
• Japanese Garden, beautiful gardens that are fun for kids to run around too! There are sand pits, football pitches and a zip wire!  
• Free Parking on surrounding roads and a small car park on Strakers Road.
• Duck Pond 
• Closest Station: East Dulwich

Norbury Park

Norbury Park is one of the local parks you’d really only visit for the playground or BMX track. It’s quite a small field area and a short walk around the playground, but has an excellent BMX track so it makes it fun for older kids. It’s a basic playground but does have a zipwire.  

• Good fields for a picnic
• Free Parking on local roads
• Playground for Toddlers
• Exercise Equipment 
• Separate playground for kids up to aged 10
• Great BMX track. Free, wide track. 
• Closest Station: Norbury

Best playgrounds for kids in south London

Leyton Square Playground, Peckham

Leyton Square Playground is a smaller playground without much green space but it’s good for all ages, the toddler section consists of a bouncy wooden crocodile, baby swings and a small climbing frame and slide, and the big kids’ area includes a giant wooden treetop trail. It’s also been made famous as Rio Ferdinand played here as a child and campaigned for it to be updated.

• Nearest station: Queens Road Peckham
• Some off street parking but no car park
• Variety of playground equipment for different ages
• Outdoor Gym
• Natural playground

Burgess park

There are two parks/ playgrounds in Burgess Park – one is located in the middle of the park and our favourite one which is in the Camberwell side of the park near Church Road – it’s slightly separated from the main park. There is an excellent BMX track – one of the best we’ve been to. But you need to take an induction first. For more information and booking contact email thebmxtrack.london@southwark.gov.uk

• Zipwire
• Really cool slide!
• Table tennis table
• Toilet Facilities
• Picnic tables in the play area
• Free parking on surrounding streets
• Two play areas – one is on the Camberwell side near Church Road
• Good hills that are fun for scooters!
• Under 5 designated play area with mini sandpit
• Outdoor Gym
• Water Fountains in the summer
• Plenty of space for balls games
• Nearest Station: Elephant and Castle

Brockwell Park

One of the best playgrounds for kids in South London. It’s one of the best London parks with a children’s garden and water play feature A lovely, huge park that you can easily spend a whole day at. It also houses a lido and has ample picnic areas so it’s a great place to spend the school holidays. It has play areas that are suitable for older children and younger children too!

There is no parking inside the park apart from at the lido. There are streets nearby with free parking weekdays outside the hours of 12noon to 2pm. On weekends you can park on most nearby roads but sometimes finding a space can be tricky 

• Several Cafes
• Excellent playground with interesting and innovative play equipment such as a piano and  zipwire
• Water fountain and paddling pool open in the summertime. 
• Huge Sandpit 
• Duckpond
• Walled garden 
• BMX Track
• Tennis Courts
• Nearest station: Herne Hill

Battersea Park

Battersea Park is a great park to visit with kids as it also houses a zoo and the Pump House Art Gallery. This park has great equipment for a toddler but also has a play area for up to 14 year olds making it a great playground for kids of all ages. 

There is a small zoo with a variety of animals from monkeys to armadillos! To book tickets for the zoo, visit https://www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk/

The pump house art gallery has workshops for kids on a Sunday and occasionally kids exhibitions. It’s perfect for getting out of the rain if you have a downpour on your trip. 

• This playground is suitable for children 4 to 7 and a separate one for 8 to 14 years old.
• There’s a Go Ape challenge at Battersea Park
• Great place for cycling as the paths are wide. There’s also a great 2km bike ride for kids and families
• Art Gallery
• Toilet Facilities available 
• Mini Golf
• Children’s Zoo
• Car park costs £2.70 per hour near the zoo
• No FREE parking
• Nearest Station: Queenstown Road

Best parks for toddlers and kids up until age 10 in South London

If you have younger kids, you’ll be wanting to check these playgrounds out for the best play equipment for little kids!

Crystal Palace Park

The Dinosaur statues in Crystal Palace Park are perfect for little ones to spot on the lake tour and it’s something that makes this park so special (and big kids that love dinosaurs or are studying Darwin at school will also find them fascinating!) But there’s also lots more things to do at Crystal Palace Park including a maze and skate park. 

• Sandpit
• Playground
• Lovely cafe! 
• Toilet facilities
• Small Farm
• Maze
• Plenty of free parking (there are two car parks)
• Boating Lake with pedaloes in the summer 
• Skate Park

Greenwich Park

Huge park in the centre of Greenwich, well known for its observatory and amazing views across London, it’s brilliant for those warmer months as it has lots of shady trees. It works well for different age groups as there’s plenty of space for ball games, picnics and the hills make for brilliant scooter rides (if a little hairy at times!) Greenwich has a market, the Cutty Sark, Maritime Museum and tons of things to do. It’s a perfect place for a weekend of exploring and the park makes a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of Greenwich Centre.

• Rose Garden 
• Pavilion Cafe
• Toilets and Baby changing facilities
• Tennis Courts
• Large sandpit area
• Lovely maritime themed natural playground with wobbly bridges for aged up to 12 
• Picnic Tables 

Southwark Park Play Area

Southwark Park is a nice park which is close to Surrey Docks farm, making it a good choice for a day out. 

• Closest Station: Canada Water or Bermondsey tube stations, as well as Surrey Quays Overground station.
• Pavilion Cafe with mini art exhibitions 
• Big Slide
• Climbing structures 
• Toddler area

Dulwich Park

A lovely park with a nice playground and perfect for a picnic that’s perfect for teaching kids to ride their bikes as it’s flat with wide paths! It has basketball courts and a lovely toddler playground for young children.

• Lots of trees to climb
• Toilet Facilities available 
• Nice Cafe
• Good sized playground with a variety of equipment
• Open air cinema during the Summer months
• Tennis Courts with free booking
• Table Tennis Tables (bring your own bat and ball)
• Cycle Hire
• Boating lake – offering children and family sized pedalos and traditional rowing boats. 
• Free Car Park with free parking on surrounding roads also
• Nearest Station: North Dulwich Station

Danson Park

This is not strictly in South East London but as it’s only just outside in Bexleyheath – it’s worth a mention if you’re looking for a different park to visit in South East London. Danson Park is designated Grade II on the English Heritage register because of Danson House and an over 200 years old oak tree. It has a good children’s playground and water pumps and a splash pad making it a great way to cool down on a summer’s day!

• Boating Lake with water sports
• Large playground with mini trampolines, tunnels and large climbing frame. 
• Lots of varying equipment for kids up to aged 12.
• Pub/ restaurant
• Toilets 
• Parking costs £3 for the day, there is some free parking on surrounding roads
• Water fountains in the summer 
• Formal gardens 

If it’s splash parks you’re after – here’s some of our favourite splash parks in Essex and East London.

Kelsey Park

Much smaller park than others mentioned already but good for a wander round the lake and decent playground.

• Free parking on surrounding roads but watch the parking restrictions. 
• Playground for up to 10 years old
• Cafe
• Dog free picnic area
• Mini Golf
• Tennis Courts
• Good trees to climb!
• Duck Pond 
• Toilet Facilities available 

Salter’s Hill Playground, Norwood Park, West Norwood

Smaller park than others on our list but kids aged 11 and under will like the pirate ship themed playground with a sandpit and water area. 

• Outdoor Gym
• Free parking on surrounding 
• Pirate ship style play area
• Sand
• Good slide! 
• Water pump in summer months 
• There are public toilets but they’re very basic

Map of the Best Playgrounds in South London

Hope this guide keeps you and your kids entertained and helps you visit the best London playgrounds and London’s parks!