I appreciate that the London Wildlife Trust has preserved this small slice of woodland from the…read moreencroach of civilization. And it is vaguely wild - there's a decent tree canopy overhead, but very little underbrush. It's not quite large enough to really feel like you're really apart from the city - from several spots, we could see houses and hear noises from the surrounding city. It's worthwhile for locals looking for a spot to walk or run, but in my view, it doesn't justify more than a 5 minutes drive to get here.

Due to time restraints I wasn't able to explore, but the little bit of woods I saw was adjacent to…read moreCox's Walk. According to my map Dulwich Wood is some distance away, but it's what the sign said the website later confirmed my assumption that the wood stretches right across the Northern end of the golf course. I wish I'd had time to explore further what I saw was beautiful. Apparently it's the remnant of a much larger ancient wood. Lovely mature trees, not much undergrowth, views out over London between the trees. A really peaceful atmosphere.

We visited the park two days ago and we spent about three hours there, although we could easily…read morehave spent even more time. Our very favorite section was the boardwalk and the duck pond (the former traverses the latter). There's also a very nice cafe in the middle of the park; the interior is light-filled & a good size, and there are also lots of tables & benches for outdoor seating. We didn't eat there, but the food looked really good and they had lots of tempting-looking dessert items. Also, the people working behind the counter seemed very friendly. The park is quite popular with people living nearby; there were huge numbers of dog walkers, people walking with their young children, and some bike riders. Of course, it was a Saturday - but still....another nice thing is that the park is beautifully-maintained.

A very vast park with beautiful landscape and very good maintenance all year around…read more You may find additional info about the type of plant/flowers here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/dulwich

Trees always deserve 5 stars…read more We have lived North, West and South. London that is and I have to say Dulwich has been our favourite by far. Dulwich Wood and Sydenham Hill Woods, are a wonderful area of ancient woodland. Paths lead you round the rolling landscape unaltered by the flattening activities of man, well apart from all the paths, steps and the odd bridge. This area has remained green and wooded due to its ever so privileged history going back to Henry XII who seized and sold this area to Thomas Calton for just over 600 quid, those were the days. In 1605 it was sold on to Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn who created a charitable foundation, 'Alleyn's College of God's Gift'. This became the Dulwich Estate and remains so to this day. This continuity of affluent Estate's ownership has meant Dulwich looks more like the country side than part of Londons urban sprawl.

This is the only place I know in London where you can pull on a pair of wellies, trudge up a muddy…read moredirt path and find yourself in a foot of mud and in the middle of a wooded forest. When I am fed up of London and its busy stresses, a trip to Dulwich Woods somehow relieves the tension of city life. I do love London, but sometimes you need to escape, rather than a long drive into the country, Dulwich Woods will give you English country woods and still allow you to get home for dinner.

Free museum! Alpacas and goats and bunnies!…read morePicnic areas! Gardens! Crazy collections by Victorian natural history buff! Amazing collection of instruments in the basement! (Don't miss the surfboards that let you sample sounds) Exhibits suitable for the whole family! All this and a secret nature trail to explore next door- London's oldest! Full of urban Greenspans glory!

This fascinating little museum is a great day out trip from central London. They have just about…read moreany taxidermied animal that you could want on display, plus an interesting exhibit about cultures across the globe - all for free! There's also an aquarium, a butterfly house, and an extra exhibit (currently Lego sculptures) that you can pay to visit. The museum grounds are a great place to walk around. There are some really stunning views of the city center, plus a small farm, and lots of walking trails. This place was absolutely teeming with children, so it would be a great place to bring your little ones to run around. The grounds seem like a perfect place for a picnic - bring your own food or pick up something from the museum cafe.

Opposite West Dulwich station, Belair Park is a small gem. It's a popular place for local dog…read morewalkers (dogs are allowed off the leash in most of the park) and there's plenty of parking (although it gets crowded for half an hour in the morning and afternoon with parents doing the school run for DCPS Nursery on Gallery Road). There's a smallish (dog-free) childrens' playground with a large climbing frame in the shape of a ship, and there are communal tennis courts for the summer (first come, first served: no booking). The park surrounds a somewhat disappointing duck pond (avoid the rats) but in its eastern edge lies Belair House, a beautiful Grade II listed building, built in 1785 and designed by architect Robert Adam. Belair House is now home to a snazzy restaurant and bar.

I usually walk round this park, which is pretty big, but yesterday I had friends over with their…read morechildren and decided to check out the playground. It was BRILLIANT! Lots of inventive things for the kids to play on, lots of soft wood chippings for them to fall on and not get hurt. There is even some equipment for the less able bodied and a ramp that ensures access for all. We took three children aged 4,5,6 and they loved it! We were there for close on two hours and the only whining we heard was when we wanted to leave. Excellent playground!

This is another lovely section of the capital ring walk. This part isn't too long (6.4 km or 4…read moremiles-ish) so it can work well as an add-on to one of the other sections before or after it. There is a bit of a hill to wander up after Crystal Palace, but other than that it is a really easy route mostly along paths and tarmac. You could even manage this section without getting you shoes muddy. Highlights: - The views! To make up for the hills, you get some gorgeous panoramic views down into South London down to Croydon. - There are several nice parks including Biggin Wood and Norwood Grove. - As you get closer to Streatham, there are lots of dog walkers so you get to see all the cute pups. I really can't think of any bad points for this walk. You will need to download the maps to your phone as the sign posts sometimes disappear for a while.. You can find the TFL map here: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/capital-ring-section-4.pdf and the full google map here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zi2kcos2sUj8.kVWGrVC8hy7s&hl=en_US

What a park! It's huge, it's well maintained, it has…read moredinosaurs, it has sphinxes, it has a hedge maze, it has a farm and petting zoo, it has a sports centre and a café and a museum, it has everything you could want from a park! A day out at this gorgeous park is bound to be fun and exciting. I'd suggest starting with the Dinosaur lake which features huge stone dinos, complete with information panels to tell you more about them. From there you can work your way through the park, visit the hedge maze that's not too big but lots of fun to find your way through, maybe race your friends to see who's faster. Visit the ruins of the old crystal palace and the sphinxes, get a scoop of fresh ice cream at the café, or sprint along all the lovely paths leading through the park. Definitely not to be missed!

Crystal Palace Park is awesome. I don't know anywhere else in London that you'll find giant stone…read moredinosaurs, Sphinx, an outdoor concert space, a farm and a maze all in one place! It's a fine place to go for a run to get in shape, and an even better place to spend summer afternoons eating ice cream.

I'm not a big fan of the gym. I normally end up paying a stupid amount per month and not using it…read morebecause "it's raining, I'll go tomorrow" or "it's just a bit far", but the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace has changed all that. For starters, it's recently been refurbished with new machines, weights and kettle bells, a dedicated spin studio and some other machines that I'm still trying to work out what to do with. It's nice and close to my house, and being able to walk there and back is great. The staff in the gym are friendly and helpful, and they set monthly challenges for members to compete against each other. The pool by all accounts is nice, although I'm yet to use it. The only downside is the heat from the pool fills the reception area and basketball court so it always feels like walking into one of those tropical butterfly houses! It's cheaper than some more glamorous 'brand name' gyms, and it's not full of Roid 'eads. The classes are all included too!

Only recommendable for people interested in pure 50s/60s concrete architecture - an overkill in…read moregrey walls, cold/drab changing rooms and prison style showers...... One of the few 50m pools in London and thus for real enthusiasts. Endless journey from the city center.....