Spring has officially sprung so it’s a great time of year to get outdoors and explore your local parks. We’re lucky to have a huge variety and number of parks in the Borough of Hounslow but did you know that 21 of them have been given a Green Flag Award? This award celebrates amazing spaces by recognising good maintenance, proactive contributions to the community and a range of recreational facilities. Our Green Days Out Group has come up with their top 15 local award-winning parks to visit and why, so if you’re looking for the best Hounslow parks for walking, cycling, running, playing or picnicking, look no further!
Beaversfield Park, Hounslow
Hounslow’s Beaversfield Park is where you want to be if you are looking to enjoy a lovely green area while the kids go off to play. The park is mostly flat, has a large open grass field, a perfect spot for picnicking with the family, with a playground nearby for the kids to run off their excess energy While walking around you may stumble across the historic mound and sign which explains the history of the park that was opened on 8 June 1935 and how it was used during the Second World War.
Location: Rosemary Avenue, Hounslow, TW4 7JF
Bedfont Lakes, Feltham
If you would like to immerse yourself in the true beauty of nature locally then Bedfont Lakes is the place for you.
This park is on the edge of Greater London, dominated by lakes and green spaces. In addition to woodland, reedbeds, ponds, lakes and meadows, it is home to a wide range of managed habitats. Children’s nature educational activities are frequently offered by park rangers, and children’s parties are available upon request. The park supports a variety of bird life and other fauna. It’s no wonder the park has won multiple national and regional awards, including a Millennium Marquee and the London in Bloom Wildflower and Environment trophy.
Location: Clockhouse Lane, Feltham, TW14 8QA
Bridge House Pond, Feltham
If you are a fan of pond dipping you’ll be sure to want to visit Bridge House Pond in Hounslow – an activity made possible thanks to the improvements carried out by Friends of Bridge House Pond Feltham together with Hounslow Council. While the park is relatively new, having been established in 2015, Bridge House Pond enhances the local environment as well as celebrating Feltham’s rich heritage and market gardening past.
Location: Crendon Court, Feltham, TW13 5DF
Chiswick Back Common
If you are looking for peace and quiet in Chiswick, Chiswick Back Common could be the park for you. Most of the park is laid to grass, criss-crossed by paths. Around the edges are mature trees, with beech hedging near the playground. At the east apex is a 19th century fountain which was provided by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain Association. Chiswick Back Common is bounded on the north side by a railway embankment.
Location: Chiswick Common Road, London, W4 1RZ
Dukes Meadows, Chiswick
Looking for a beautiful park where you can both enjoy nature and play sports with your friends and family?
Dukes Meadows in Chiswick comprises of 187 acres of parkland, running all the way to the Thames riverside, with the added bonus of a wide range of exceptional play and sporting facilities. These include tennis courts, football and cricket pitches, rowing boatyards, golf courses and a health club.
Since 2000, the Dukes Meadow Trust has raised over £1 million to create fabulous play areas and planted hedgerows, wildflower meadows and an orchard to increase the biodiversity of the park, perfect for enjoying a nice picnic in the sun.
Location: Dan Mason Drive, London, W4 2SH
Feltham Green
Another park for pond lovers, Feltham Green has a large pond fed by water from the Longford River. The south corner of the green has a drinking trough which was donated to the park in 1899.
The Green is also great for walks and running as it has recently seen restoration with gravel paths and seating, a low wood railing and new trees including oaks and ornamental species.
Location: The Green, Feltham Common, TW13 4AF
Heston Park
Heston Park is one of those parks ideally suited to playing games or sports with your friends.
The park has a wide range of play and sports facilities on-site. Follow the marked jogging trail, check out the activity stations, or let the kids have fun on the park’s trim trail. Youngsters can also enjoy exploring the natural stone, timber and plant-filled setting.
New, multi-use hard courts have been built in the park for various sports including netball, basketball and tennis. Two batting nets also provide the opportunity for regular cricket practice. Heston Park also has high-specification all-weather five-a-side pitches, with floodlights for use in the evening.
Location: Hounslow, TW5 0LG
Hounslow Heath
If you are looking to enjoy a nice quiet stroll through a park with plentiful bird watching and the opportunity for some pond dipping, Hounslow Heath is the place for you.
Hounslow Heath is a local nature reserve comprising lowland heath, dry acid grassland, woodland, scrub, natural grasslands and wetlands. This all results in a wild, rugged country setting, complimented by a large network of paths enabling the heath to remain accessible through all seasons.
Hounslow Health gained its Green Flag Award in 2021. It has a newly re-designed, free, car park which has set a standard for future car park renovations in the borough. The new car park has been resurfaced with a recycled plastic eco-grid material – a permeable surface which allows water to pass through it thereby preventing damage to surrounding areas.
Location: Hounslow, TW4 5EB
Inwood Park, Hounslow
Hounslow’s Inwood Park will make you feel like you’re out in the countryside while you’re still in town. While the western end is much like your typical urban park, with flowerbeds, shrubberies as well as play and sports facilities, including a tennis court and basketball court, the eastern end is managed along a more natural line.
Inwood also has a large area of meadow, filled with clumps of broom and wildflowers such as common knapweed, meadow buttercup and oxeye daisies, as well as a forest area planted with native species. Providing an excellent mix of habitats, the park now attracts many uncommon birds and butterflies for you to discover.
Location: 103 Inwood Road, Hounslow, TW3 1XA
Jersey Gardens, Osterley
If you are looking for a park to enjoy an early morning walk, why not try Jersey Gardens in Osterley?
Jersey Gardens was created from a disused gravel pit after the land was purchased in 1927 and was opened to the public in 1931.
Its alpine rockery is a unique feature in London and perhaps in the whole of the southeast of England.
The gardens have recreational facilities including a play area, playing field and tennis courts.
Cycling is unfortunately not allowed in the park but the park does connect to a surrounding area with designated cycle paths.
Location: St Mary’s Crescent, Osterley, TW7 4NA
Lampton Park, Hounslow
Lampton Park has a large area of grassland crossed by formal pathways with a mix of beautiful mature trees. As well as being perfect for a pleasant walk, why not bring the kids down to take advantage of the large playground providing fun for all ages or play a game of tennis on the hard-standing courts.
Two main areas make up Lampton Park, its playing fields to the north and the more formal park to the south, laid out with winding paths. When you walk through the western entrance, you’ll come across Harte Road, a gorgeous pedestrianised street that is maintained for nature conservation.
Location: 40 Harte Road, Hounslow TW3 4LD
Redlees Park, Isleworth
Isleworth’s Redlees Park is the place you want to be when looking to relax while the kids go off to play sports.
Built in the early 20th century, Redlees Park has a collection of facilities including a children’s playground, football pitches, cricket, bowling green, grass and hard tennis courts and an 18-hole putting green.
There is also a trail that runs along the park which is good if you are simply looking for a walk or a jog through the park.
Location: Worton Road, Isleworth, TW7 6DW
St Dunstan’s Park, Feltham
St Dunstan’s is another fantastic place to take the kids on a sunny day out.
The recreational ground which opened in 1951 now includes a 40ft zip-wire for older kids and a toddler area for the much younger.
The park also has a fitness trail with different apparatus to balance on, climb and step across as well as a sports court for football and other activities.
Parking is on-street only and there are no toilets or food facilities on site.
Location: Feltham, TW13 4JX
St John’s Gardens, Isleworth
The playground at St John’s Gardens gives local residents a chance to enjoy nature at its finest with the family. This park is decorated with many cultural sculptures and is a good location for a picnic, outdoor celebration or simply a place to take the kids.
The park is also great if you want to go for a walk or even cycle around, all while enjoying the amazing collection of flowers and trees.
Location: Linkfield Road, Isleworth, TW7 6QN, UK
Thornbury Park, Isleworth
Thornbury Park has seen some lovely refurbishment lately with a new track that has been paved across the park – perfect for people who are looking for a place to go for a run. The park features a small skatepark, children’s play area and an outdoor fitness gym..
You can also bring your family and friends to the sports court which supports both basketball and football.
Location: 75 Woodlands Road, Isleworth TW7 6JX
Turnham Green, Chiswick
Chiswick’s Turnham Green is a popular open space which is split into two halves. Bordering Chiswick High Road, one half has a beautiful church, poppy memorial and a large open area with places to sit down.
The other half has more benches and areas for you to sit under either shade or sun in the summer, perhaps enjoying a nice cup of coffee or lunch from one of the local shops or cafes. The green is very accessible but there are no toilets available.
Location: 388 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 5TF
These are just a handful of the great parks in our borough – there are of course many more! Are there any we have missed out? We’d love to hear about them. If you would like to nominate your favourite park, let us know, or why not join us as a contributor to our Green Days Out Group?
