Cobourg Road, Burgess Park, London SE5 0JD

Burgess Park Lake

Lake

Source image

3.8

Wildland

1–2 hours

Time

Free

Cost

Urban historic

Feel

ParklandWalkersFamiliesWildlife lovers

Why it's Wildland

3.8

A lake at the heart of Southwark’s 56-hectare Burgess Park, set within a landscape transformed from bomb-damaged streets and former industrial ground into public open space.

The appeal here is a pocket of water and open space within a dense part of London, rather than a remote or untamed landscape. The lake sits in a large, varied public park with a marked 5 km running route, gardens and wildlife interest.

Urban historic

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Cobourg Road, Burgess Park, London SE5 0JD

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The experience

Make the lake the focus of a short visit, or use it as one stop in a longer wander through Burgess Park. Southwark Council identifies the lake, wildlife, gardens and a marked 5 km route among the park’s features. Fishing is permitted with a day ticket on half of the lake; dogs must be kept on leads and out of the water.

Things to do

Walk the marked park route

Follow the 5 km route around Burgess Park, marked with butterfly symbols on the pathway and recycled iron markers.

Check before visiting

Pause by the lake

Spend time by the lake and watch for wildlife. Fishing is allowed on half of the lake with a day ticket; check current council guidance for details.

Explore Chumleigh Gardens

Visit gardens designed around English, Asian, Mediterranean, Oriental and Caribbean plantings. Southwark Council says the gardens are free to visit and dogs must be on leads.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · 1–2 hours

A short lake-and-park wander

01
Enter Burgess Park and make the lake your main stop.
02
Take a relaxed walk in the surrounding parkland, following marked paths where convenient.
03
Look for wildlife by the water and read current signs before approaching or using the lake.

Half day · Half day

Explore more of Burgess Park

01
Start with a wander beside Burgess Park Lake.
02
Continue along the park’s marked 5 km route, identified by butterfly symbols and recycled iron markers.
03
Make time for Chumleigh Gardens, which has plantings inspired by English, Asian, Mediterranean, Oriental and Caribbean gardens.
04
Check current opening and facility information before planning around the café or other park amenities.

Verified history

Burgess Park occupies an area once home to factories, densely populated streets and the Surrey Canal. The area was badly bombed during the Second World War. The park was developed from 1943 as part of the Abercrombie Plan for open spaces and built between the 1950s and 1980s. It was named after Jessie Burgess, Camberwell’s first woman mayor, in 1973. Following an £8 million transformation, the park reopened in 2012.

Hidden details

A landscape with a former canal — The park’s green space overlays an area once crossed by the Surrey Canal and occupied by industry and densely populated streets.

Markers on the 5 km route — The park route is marked with butterfly symbols on the path and recycled iron markers.

When to go

· Check current park information before visiting.

The supplied evidence does not establish a best season.

Check local weather and current park information before travelling.

What to look for

Look for the lake’s wildlife and notice how the open parkland sits within a landscape once occupied by industry, streets and the Surrey Canal. Follow the butterfly symbols and recycled iron markers if exploring the marked 5 km route.