Wimbledon Park – My London+

On Monday the ‘stay-at-home’ restriction was lifted. The advice is to ‘stay local’. So, with good weather here, it was time to board a bus for the first time since December. I wanted to go into Kingston have a look in Food For Thought (health food shop) and get some sort of veggie or vegan ‘roast’ for Easter day dinner. Firstly, the Thames was calling to me.

We (I was with one of my son’s) got ourselves a takeaway hot chocolate and headed towards the river and the Queen’s Promenade where we sat down to drink. We then headed back, went under the bridge and headed towards Canbury Park Gardens and onwards to what is known as The Half Mile Tree. A slow walk back into town to pick up supplies and then back on the bus home. What we noticed was how quiet the town was (non-essential shops don’t open until 12th April), and how many shops had closed down and wouldn’t be returning. In my own town similar things have happened, and right across the UK this is one of the results of lockdown, and so many people now buying goods online. Sadly, there will be more to come.

Last time I was here, this was a Christmas set up!

The Half Mile tree is said to be about 500 years old. Removed in 1951 due to its dangerous condition and replaced in 1952.

On Tuesday I met a friend at Wimbledon Park. The last time we were here it was autumn, now it is spring. The park was very busy with tennis coaching, and school kids having lessons. Lots of mums and babies and toddlers too. The cafe was open for takeaway and it was the hottest day of the year so far, getting up to around 24c. It was a lazy day in the sunshine with a chance for a good catch up.

COMING NEXT WEEK a look at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and Westminster.

I haven’t been here since my grown up children were small, but this is an amazing park.

I’d arranged to meet a friend. There is a cafe here with an outside terrace. Ideal for social distancing outside (which is what we are allowed to do right now with one person not from our own household). We arrived at exactly the same time, though we came from different parts of London. Firstly we stopped for a hot chocolate in the cafe before we walked the perimeter of the park. As you can see from the photo above there are lots of tennis courts, but there is also a lake, running track, playground, gardens, beach volleyball, crazy golf (great to see that’s still here), toilets and the cafe.

The park has always been busy. With schools back it is mainly mums with pre-schoolers, or nursery schools with a class of tiny children wearing high-vis tabbards. Across the lake you can clearly see the All England Tennis Club which hosts Wimbledion fortnight in June/July every year (except this one, of course).

Across the lake you can see All England Lawn Tennis Club

The cafe offers hot and cold food, kids meals and a range of hot and cold drinks. The Vegetable Lasagne was delicious. My friend had a jacket potato with tuna. It only offers takeway right now, so everyhting is delivered in polystyrene with throwaway cutlery. I hate this, I really do, and I am torn between my hatred of throwaway cups etc., and supporting local businesses, which are suffering right now due to Covid restrictions. It’s a hard one. I have my own reusable mug, but no one will take them right now.

The park used to house Wimbledon Manor House and you can read about it’s history here. The nearest train station is Wimbledon and it is around a twenty minute walk from there. The underground (District Line) station of Wimbledon Park is right by the park.

Tag: Wimbledon Park

Kingston-on-Thames & Wimbledon Park

Wimbledon Park – NaBloPoMo – Day 13