Holland Park

Please note no barbecues are permitted in the park.

Holland Park is the Royal Borough’s largest park. It has the following facilities:

• 22.5 hectares of gardens
• children’s play facilities
• sports areas
• a cafeteria
• large areas of woodland abundant with wildlife

Please note dogs are not permitted inside the garden.

Holland Park also has the beautiful Kyoto Garden. This is the Japanese garden donated by the Chamber of Commerce of Kyoto in 1991.

Holland Park is also the base of the borough's Ecology Service. The Ecology Centre at Holland Park runs a series of events, activities and educational visits for schools. We also run a wildlife club for children, holiday activities, and a full programme of events for all ages.

Accessibility

The following all provide level access to the park suited for disabled people:

• North Abbotsbury Road entrance
• Ilchester Place entrance
• Duchess of Bedford entrance
• High Street Kensington entrance

Please note the entrance on Holland Park Road and Abbotsbury Road South entrance is on a steep incline and may not be suitable for disabled people.

Disabled parking is available at the car park located just off Abbotsbury Road. This entrance is not suitable for disabled people without a vehicle as it is on a steep incline.

Disabled toilets are available and are located near the cafe close to the Ilchester Place entrance as well as within the adventure playground near the ecology centre.

Address

Ilchester Place, W8 6LU

Opening times

7.30am until 30 minutes before dusk 

Holland Park Adventure Playground

The playground includes an array of play equipment for ages 5 to 14, including zip-wire, swings, slides and multi-play units, as well as accessible equipment.

There are toilets in the playground, including a baby change unit and an accessible toilet. There are also toilets in near the toddlers’ playground.

Adults must be accompanied by children and children should not be left in the playground unattended.

Included in the playground are habitat panels, new planting and rubbing plaques for the newly planted trees, these have all been included to encourage children to engage with the natural environment and help them to understand the benefits of plants and wildlife

The playground also has sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). These provide a range of benefits over conventional drainage systems, reducing flood risk and increasing biodiversity. SUDS in the playground can be seen through a series of stone channels, berms, and planted areas that will catch the rain and allow it to drain back into the ground reducing the risk of flooding. We also hope this will stimulate children’s curiosity in the natural environment as they can follow the journey of water through the site.

Book to play sports

Holland Park has facilities for:

• tennis
• football
• golf practice nets
• cricket practice nets
• netball

Health walks and other activities

Holland Park walk with London Footprints

For more information see sports facilities in parks or to book the facilities telephone: 020 7602 2226.

History of Holland Park

Holland Park is spread across 54 acres of what used to be the grounds of Cope Castle, a large Jacobean mansion hidden in the woods. Sir Walter Cope built it in the early 17th century. He became Chancellor of the Exchequer under King James 1.

It was renamed Holland House after the Earl of Holland’s wife Lady Rich inherited the property.

Holland House was badly damaged during World War II. One wing was saved and is used as a youth hostel. A section of the front terrace was saved. This is used for the park's summertime open-air theatre productions and classical concerts.

Kyoto Garden was designed and built by an eminent Japanese Garden designer and his team. It was created to celebrate the Japan Festival in London in 1992. This was a co-operative project between the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce in Japan. 

Map

Kensington High Street underground station:

Notting Hill Gate underground station:

Contact us

View the contact details for parks.