The lake inside Battersea Park

©Will Jones/Lonely Planet


These 50 hectares of gorgeous greenery stretch along the riverside between Albert and Chelsea bridges, and trails leading to surprising hidden finds criss-cross the park. Near the river is the Peace Pagoda, showing Buddha in the four stages of his life, and sculptures by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth are sprinkled throughout. The park has sporting facilities, bicycle hire and lakes with paddle boats, plus the Pump House Gallery and a small children's zoo.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Pump House Gallery

0.09 MILES

Among the water and sporting facilities of Battersea Park, this space exhibits a variety of contemporary art, housed in a Victorian industrial pump house…

2. Battersea Park Children’s Zoo

0.11 MILES

The small Children’s Zoo in Battersea Park is full of animal magic for young zoologists and wildlife tykes. Consult the website for feeding times of…

3. Peace Pagoda

0.2 MILES

Erected in 1985 by a group of Japanese Buddhists to commemorate Hiroshima Day (6 August), the pagoda in Battersea Park displays the Buddha in the four…

4. Chelsea Physic Garden

0.44 MILES

You may bump into a wandering duck or two as you enter this walled pocket of botanical enchantment, established by the Apothecaries’ Society in 1673 for…

5. National Army Museum

0.49 MILES

This inventively redesigned museum vibrantly relates the history of the British Army, from the perspective of its servicemen and servicewomen. Reopening a…

6. Royal Hospital Chelsea

0.52 MILES

Designed by Christopher Wren, this superb structure was built in 1692 to provide shelter for ex-servicemen. Since the reign of Charles II, it has housed…

7. Battersea Power Station

0.53 MILES

Battersea Power Station is one of South London’s best-known monuments, and it's now being redeveloped into luxury flats and Apple's new London HQ. Built…

8. Carlyle’s House

0.65 MILES

From 1834 until his death in 1881, the eminent Victorian essayist and historian Thomas Carlyle dwelt in this three-storey terrace house, bought by his…