Latchmere Recreation Ground & Play Space

This park is an interesting one. Built centrally in one of London first planned areas of social housing that still remains (though these days the little Victorian houses seem to be more privately owned), the park is a lovely throwback to Victorian city planning. It has the feel both of a village square and a little of a country park. Even though it’s just off both Battersea Park Road and Latchmere Road, you wouldn’t know it. It feel isolated in a the loveliest of ways.
The ground is split into 3 main sections: one end is a green, tree-​filled area with turf mounds and a little pergola which is popular with dog owners; the central area is a wonderful playground with sections for both very little and older children; the other end is paved over — for what historical purpose I don’t know — and the crowning beauty of a huge willow tree presides over the whole spot. The park on that end abuts a former neighbourhood school which is now converted to flats.
This whole area of Battersea seems a little bit like a page out of history. In some ways, I feel Latchmere Recreation Ground has been left there in that a lot of the gates and (beautiful) cast iron fencing need repair and the green space is sometimes not super tidy. All that being said, the playground is very up-​to-​date and it’s not as crowded as any other local park. Quite a lovely, slightly hidden, spot to enjoy some time under a beautiful tree with a book, to walk your dog, or take your kids for a little adventure!