Beloved by West Londoners and city residents alike for its ample green space, Gunnersbury Park is one of London’s best kept secrets when it comes to summer. Boasting wide open lawns, stunning formal gardens and a lake, it is home to a plethora of birds including thrushes, finches, and sparrows plus several rare and protected species protected under UK and EU wildlife conservation laws.
The 178 acre Grade II listed estate formed part of the private country estate of Princess Amelia, daughter of George II and later was home to Baron Lionel de Rothschild and his family, before becoming a public park in 1926. As well as the park, Gunersbury Park & Museum is home to a renovated museum celebrating West London’s multicultural history, and a vibrant events program.
Need more convincing? Here are five reasons to spend summer at Gunnersbury Park & Museum…
1. Gunnersbury Park has two ponds and a lake!
Boasting not one, but two ponds and a lake, Gunnersbury rivals London’s great parks when it comes to spectacular bodies of water. At the Round Pond, visitors can join in the monthly ‘Pedalos in the Park’ throughout the summer or simply take in the splendor of The 19th Century Temple which flanks the waters edge. Keep wandering around the former private country estate of Princess Ameila, daughter of George II, to discover the Horseshoe Pond framed by The Orangery and Potomac Lake complete with Gothic Tower.
2. Get Close to Nature
An oasis of calm in a concrete jungle, Gunnersbury Park is the perfect place to spot some local wildlife or to take a peaceful stroll. Stay close to the Museum and you’ll find beautifully manicured gardens bursting with roses and hydrangeas as well as the newly renovated Italian Garden with its ornate wisteria pergola.
Head further into the park, and you’ll be stepping into the wild side, with over 177 acres of orchards, meadows and long shady walks.
If you’re not sure where to start, don’t miss Love Parks week, from 28 July – 1 Aug, where there will be free craft activities, wildlife spotting sheets and guided tours.
3. The summer holidays are sorted
Answering the age old question asked by every parent as August hits – “How are we going to fill the summer holidays?” – Gunnersbury Park is the perfect family day out for a plethora of reasons, starting with two outdoor play areas and ending with its very own ‘Bug Hotel’.
On particularly hot days, there are plenty of ancient trees for shady family picnics or why not venture inside the museum and check out one of the interactive exhibitions such as Peoples Unite! How Southall changed the country.
Gunnersbury also runs ‘Relaxed’ openings of the museum designed for families, neurodiverse children and young people with sensory processing, physical or learning disabilities, who would benefit from a quiet, relaxed and welcoming environment.
For the little ones, there’s a regular play group for under 5s called Little Flamingos, with songs, stories and mini soft play
4. Join the weekly Park Run
Taking place every Saturday morning from 9am, running enthusiasts or amateur joggers alike can join the community-led Park Run at Gunnersbury Park. Free to join, the group take a fast or slow paced run through the park’s stunning Grade II* listed grounds.
Once the hard part is over, soon park runners will be able to refuel at Gunnersbury Park’s brand new cafe Pure in the Park – complete with alfresco dining area to soak up the summer sun.
For those that would rather take a leisurely walk with the dog, Gunnersbury Park’s extensive open spaces offer the ideal roaming ground for furry friends.
5. Catch Shakespeare’s As You Like It
Gunnersbury Park & Museum is home to plenty of outdoor events but one to stick in the diary for summer is As You Like It. Part of the roaming East London Shakespeare Festival, expect contemporary London culture mixed with the Bard’s wit, romance, and secret identities.
Designed to please the whole family, follow Rosalind, Orlando, and a vibrant cast of characters as they navigate love and self-discovery in a Forest of Arden reimagined as a lively festival of music, cabaret, and revelry.
