Albany Road, London SE5 0AL, United Kingdom
Burgess Park
Parkland
Place photograph
4.9
Wildland
1–2 hours, Half day
Time
Free
Cost
Family-buzz
Feel
Why it's Wildland
4.9Burgess Park’s broad lawns and lake sit over a landscape reshaped by wartime bombing and post-war redevelopment. The park was developed from 1943 as part of the Abercrombie Plan, then built between the 1950s and 1980s.
Burgess Park is a substantial green space woven into inner south London, with a lake, varied gardens and a marked 5km route. Its story is written into the landscape: parkland replaced streets, factories and part of the former Surrey Canal.
Family-buzz
Find your way
Open mapAlbany Road, London SE5 0AL, United Kingdom
Opening map…
Know this place a little better?
The experience
Explore Southwark’s largest park on foot, take in the lake and Chumleigh Gardens, or follow the marked 5km running route. The park also has sports facilities and play areas.
Things to do
Follow the marked 5km route
Walk or run the park route, marked by butterfly symbols on the pathway and recycled iron markers.
Explore Chumleigh Gardens
Visit the gardens, which the council describes as featuring traditional English, Asian, Mediterranean, Oriental and Caribbean plantings. Dogs must be kept on leads here.
Visit the lake
See the park lake. Fishing is permitted on part of it with a day ticket; check current rules and ticket details with the council.
Discover the park’s changing landscape
The council describes an area once occupied by factories, densely populated streets and the Surrey Canal, badly bombed during the Second World War and later transformed into parkland.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · 1–2 hours
A short park-and-lake visit
- 01
Enter from one of the council-listed entrances.
- 02
Explore the park’s open spaces and lake.
- 03
If time allows, visit Chumleigh Gardens.
Half day · Half day
Make a half day of Burgess Park
- 01
Follow the marked 5km route, using the butterfly symbols and recycled iron markers.
- 02
Explore Chumleigh Gardens and its range of garden styles.
- 03
Pause at the lake, then visit the park’s play or sports areas if they suit your group.
- 04
Check current café and facility details before travelling.
Verified history
Burgess Park was developed in 1943 as part of the Abercrombie Plan for open spaces and built between the 1950s and 1980s. The area had contained factories, densely populated streets and the Surrey Canal, and was badly bombed during the Second World War. The park was named after Councillor Jessie Burgess, Camberwell’s first woman Mayor, in 1973. It reopened after an £8 million transformation in 2012.
Hidden details
Read the former landscape — The park occupies an area that once included factories, dense streets and the Surrey Canal. The council’s account connects this earlier landscape with wartime bombing and the park’s later development.
When to go
· No preferred time is confirmed in the supplied sources. Check current facility hours if planning around a specific activity.
No source-backed seasonal recommendation is available. The council notes that water-play jets at Chumleigh Gardens operate in summer.
Check the forecast before visiting; no specific weather guidance is provided in the supplied sources.
What to look for
Notice the contrast between the park’s open green spaces and its industrial past: the area once contained factories, densely populated streets and the Surrey Canal. In Chumleigh Gardens, look for the different traditional garden styles described by the council.
The story
Industry, Lost village
Best time to go
Year-round
The supplied sources do not identify a best season or time of day. The park is reported as always open; check current facility hours separately.
How long to spend
1–2 hours, Half day
Perfect for
Families · Walkers · Cyclists
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Southwark Council says the park is always open and lists entrances on Albany Road, Old Kent Road, Chumleigh Street and Wells Way. Check current conditions before visiting.
Check before visiting
Parking
The council lists parking at Albany Road from 8am to 6pm. Check current arrangements before travelling.
Check before visiting
Toilets
The council lists toilets at Chumleigh Gardens, the tennis pavilion/café at Addington Square, the sports centre, the BMX track and beside the fishing lake. Check availability before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
A café is listed at the tennis pavilion near Addington Square; check current opening arrangements.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Dogs must be kept on a lead at Chumleigh Gardens. The council also says dogs are not allowed in the fishing lake.
Accessibility
The source row reports a wheelchair-accessible entrance, car park and seating. Check route-specific accessibility before setting out.
Check before visiting
Cost
Free
Water
Lake
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Burgess Park
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
