London’s best local parks
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By Time Out editors
Posted: Fri Aug 29 2008
Clissold | Springfield | Battersea | Ravenscourt | Gladstone | Brockwell Finsbury | Victoria
Clissold Park
Clissold Park, N16
When the sun peeps out in Stoke Newington, you won’t catch locals diving into their hatchbacks and racing to the coast. Stroll down Church Street towards Green Lanes and you’ll see them sprawled in Clissold Park, with Wayfarers or children clinging to their faces.
From its wildlife-filled ponds to its smattering of sports facilities, it boasts enough outdoor delights to entice even the most agoraphobic urbanite. Its compact 54 acres allow ample space for hipsters to hang out undisturbed, but it’s big enough to get lost in. And an £8.9 million restoration grant from Hackney Council and Lottery funds will be used to improve facilities in 2009.
Getting in 6/10
Clear-cut paths lead to Clissold’s seven gates and are suitable for wheelchair users and cyclists alike. Cyclists and joggers can also use the bark-strewn athletics track that circles the park. Manor House tube is about 15 minutes’ walk and buses stop along adjacent Green Lanes.
Feature continuesAdvertisementHistory 8/10
Clissold House, the park’s Grade II-listed building, was built for Joseph Hoare, a Quaker merchant and anti-slavery campaigner, in the 1790s. The park was his front lawn, and the stretch of water that winds around the house was once part of the New River, a canal that supplied London with clean water from Hertfordshire.
The estate eventually fell to Reverend Clissold; when he died in 1882, developers closed in, but activists John Runtz and Joseph Beck convinced the authorities to open it as a public space in 1889. A fountain was erected in 1890 commemorating these heroes; later, the park’s two wildlife ponds were named after them too.
Park life 9/10
The park has a cute mini-zoo nestled in its centre, with rabbits, chickens, goats and deer. The butterfly tunnel and aviary next door aren’t open as often as you’d like, but when they are, they’re worth a look.
For light refreshments, head to the House’s café (www.clissoldparkcafe.com), which serves fairly priced nibbles from paninis to Sunday roasts. Run by the owners of Church Street’s New River Café, it has a terrace for outdoor dining and a view of the New River.
The loos aren’t half bad either, provided your water bomb-dodging skills are up to scratch. There’s also a kids’ adventure playground and a paddling pool.
Fun stuff 8/10
After work, bagsy the murky football court with its slightly bent goalposts; this and the neighbouring basketball court are slated for a makeover this year. The tennis courts are popular, so book your slot (www.hackneycitytennisclubs.co.uk); there is under-12s football and under-17s cricket on Saturdays. Ultimate Frisbee (www.clissoldultimate.wordpress.com) welcomes all ages and has just started a women’s squad. For families, there’s the popular One O’Clock club for babies, toddlers and parents from 1pm to 4pm every weekday. Sadly, music bonanza Stokefest is not happening in 2009.
Landmarks 5/10
Clissold House is the park’s most striking architectural feature; next year’s restoration project will, with luck, bring it back to its eighteenth-century heyday. Kate Hutchinson
Total: 36/50
Clissold Park, Green Lanes/Stoke Newington Church St, N16 (020 7923 3660/www.clissoldpark.com) Manor House tube or 73, 106, 141, 341, 393 bus.
Clissold | Springfield | Battersea | Ravenscourt | Gladstone | Brockwell Finsbury | Victoria- Add your comment to this feature
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13 comments
As part of the £8.9 million restoration grant from Hackney Council and Lottery funds. Hopefully the football Goalposts will be fixed, and the basketball hoops sorted.
Actually why dosn't the Council ask the community what they would like to see improved in the park?
Is this too far fetched. An outdoor Sculture on the form of a type of rock looking surface that doubles as an outdoor freeclimbing rock for children and adults to climb around. It has movable climbing holds. Oh and outdoor ping pong tables like the one in London Fields?
Your thoughts.
the squatters, on the contrary, cleaned up the place that has been mismanaged by hackney council for a number of years allowing prostitutes, junkies and graffiti kids to trash it at their will.
they've put a lot of energy into clearance and planting stuff around and been evicted for no purpose and all their hard work trashed to leave place to, once again, a bare, uninviting picture.
i hope michael dixon, mark white and other hackney parks officials burn in hell long and nice.
Can anyone tell me the circumference of Clissold?
The squatters in the house on the edge of Clissold park were doing no harm, it added some colour and variety to the palce.
I really have no idea wat you are trying to say. I won't use sarcasm again as it's clearly been lost into oblivion...
you are very right opinion Mr. Mark I agree with your comments becuase in all the conjested atmospher its caused the pure groom health for the human being thats why i love vic part and also you said right thing, but whilst trends die, quality lives on. its so nice of you
Thanks for that Shami, we get a really good idea of your opinion from that post.
Technically not a park, but Hampstead Heath has to be the nicest outdoor space in London. Okay not as 'trendy' as Vic park, but whilst trends die, quality lives on.
no like the victoira park and i hope it wil win and you Sophie dont has perfect information and i love this park toooooooooo much as you think about it
I loooooveeeeee Vicky Park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
very nice magazine which keep in touch with the culture of the london city its os beautifful for me
Vic Park wins.
Yes!!!!!
What about Waterlow Park, Highgate?
Hi - re the Parks, specifically Battersea Park's description.
I'm sure "Getting In" to Battersea Park is better than 4/10, more like 8/10, and being almost flat it's very accessible. Public transport - not just the trains from Waterloo and Victoria (and Surrey and Middlesex) plus the London Bridge route and the 137 bus but several other buses pass the park or along Battersea Park Rd from the 452 from Kensal Green and Kensington, the 344 from Liverpool St, and there's the 156 from Wimbledon. Even the 360 bus (South Kensington to Elephant & Castle) stops just over Chelsea Bridge so the visitor gets a short walk across Chelsea Bridge with fabulous river views with the Power Station, or you can catch one of the 3 buses that cross the bridge, including the 44 (Tooting-Victoria).
As far as fun goes - it's a wonderful place to learn to rollerblade especially near the Pagoda (lessons and group skating) and what about the bike hire place which hires out all sorts of bikes for all ages?
Lastly, Battersea Park's famous annual November firework display is brilliant and excellent value.