Peckham Rye Park
where blake saw a tree of angels
A common and ornate park rolled into one in south London, free, where the young William Blake said he saw a tree full of angels, with a Japanese garden and an Edwardian sunken garden.
Free to visit · Peckham · Peckham Rye · SE15 3UA
Opening: Daily · dawn to dusk
Peckham Rye is two green spaces in one, a broad open common and, beside it, a more ornate Victorian and Edwardian park, all free. It is the beating green heart of a corner of south London that has become one of the city's most creative neighbourhoods.
It carries a famous story. As a young boy the poet and artist William Blake is said to have wandered out to the Rye and seen a tree filled with angels, a vision that stayed with him for life. Whether or not you believe it, it gives the ordinary grass a touch of magic.
The park half hides several lovely formal gardens, an Edwardian sunken garden, a Japanese-style garden and the Sexby Garden, along with a lake, a cafe and sports pitches. Combined with the buzzing bars and galleries of Peckham nearby, it makes a brilliant free day in the deep south of the city.
Getting there: A short walk from Peckham Rye station, south of Peckham's busy high streets.
Best time to go: Summer for the formal gardens in full bloom, or any clear day for the open common and the local cafe culture nearby.
Insider tip: Seek out the hidden formal gardens tucked inside the park, the Sexby Garden and the Japanese garden especially, which most people crossing the open common never find. Then head up to Peckham for its rooftop bars and galleries.
Official site: https://www.southwark.gov.uk
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide