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Battersea Park - London Hotels .com

Battersea Park

Battersea Park is a 200 acre park on the south bank of the River Thames in London. It has served as an outdoor marketplace since it was opened in 1858. The grounds include marshland which was reclaimed from the Thames River. One of the most interesting features of the park is the Asian themed London Peace Pagoda. Battersea Park has a famous bronze dog statue. The park also has a boating lake, small children’s zoon, a bandstand, tennis courts, a running track, and soccer fields. Battersea Park was recently renovated a few years ago and reopened on June 4, 2004. There are many hotel accommodations conveniently located close to Battersea Park, which are just a few miles south of Marble Arch.

Battersea Park was once known as Battersea fields and was a popular dueling spot. A famous duel of honor between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea took place on March 21, 1829. The Duke intentionally aimed wide and the Earl shot his pistol into the air. The Earl later apologized to the Duke.

It  was part of the Festival of Britain celebrations in 1951. New water fountains and a water garden were built, along with a tree walk. The tree walk was a series of raised wooden walkways linked together on platforms, suspended on the branches of the trees. Another popular attraction was a clock made by Guinness. As part of the Battersea Fun Fair, the park was setup with roundabouts, swings, and roller coasters. An accident with The Big Dipper rollercoaster, killing five children and injuring thirteen others led to the closure of the park in the 1970s. The site was later used for traveling exhibitions and fairs, and is now the site of the Battersea Evolution events area.

The Battersea Millennium Arena is located in Battersea Park. It has an indoor running track made from a unique Polytan WS surface. The arena is used to host various events throughout the year. On Tuesdays and Fridays, there is free live music at the Lakeside Café in Battersea Park. Battersea Park was once a popular soccer location, and the first soccer game under the Football Association rules was played there. There has been speculation that The Wanderers F.C. team may return to their home ground at Battersea Park.

The park is home to a variety of plant and animal life and can be considered an arboretum. The variety of trees in the park is much greater than what can be found in other parks in London. There is also a great diversity of the mammals, fish, insects, reptiles, and birds. The park is home to many of London’s hedgehogs and stag beetles. The Children’s Zoo has: ring tailed lemurs, meerkats, Kune Kune pigs, otters, giant rabbits, mynah birds, pygmy goats, miniature Shetland ponies, and monkeys. The Wandsworth Council and the local NHS offer free tours of Battersea Park every Tuesday morning and afternoon in the park from the Chelsea Bridge Gate entrance. Public transportation is easily available from hotels near Battersea Park.

This park is popular with athletes and includes playgrounds, a lake for boating and a children's zoo. The park is also often used for community events. Visitors can enjoy the various art fairs and puppet shows taking place here. The park has a magnificent view of the River Thames. It is also home to the Peace Pagoda, which was built by Japanese monks.

Make sure to notice the many varieties of trees, because the park is home to some of the oldest in the city. At the end of May, visitors can witness a breathtaking display of blue and purple flowers blossoming all at once.

Other nearby landmarks include the Battersea Power Station and the Battersea Dogs Home.

If you get hungry, try the nearby restaurants.  You can eat at Gordon Ramsay or try out the PJs Grill, both within a miles reach. If you want to visit a bar or a club nearby, try the Crescent, Ebury Wine Bar or the Townhouse.

The nearest hotels are the Draycott Hotel, The Pelham Hotel and Blakes London.

Tel: +44 (0) 20-8871-7530

Tube Station: Sloane Square

Rail Station: Battersea Park, Queenstown Road