Days Out: Crystal Palace Park
It was a gorgeous summery day so Kenz and I took the “kiddos” for a morning exploration around Crystal Palace Park. Why not, as it is a short 11-minute hop from Brockley to Crystal Palace on the East London Overground. We started with a wander around Crystal Palace Park from the southern edge of the park and ended with lunch in the “Triangle.” I had forgotten how hilly Crystal Palace is especially now with a kid in tow in her Bugaboo Bee. But with the hills come with stupendous views of London’s iconic landmarks. The views are lovely from this little corner of southeast London, with the best views inside Crystal Palace Park.
A Victorian Leisure Park with Dinosaurs
Grade II historic park, Crystal Palace Park located in southeast London takes its name from the famous Crystal Palace Exhibition built for the 1851 Great Exhibition in Hyde Park. After the Expo, the Crystal Palace was then relocated to what we know today as Crystal Palace Park, a Victorian leisure playground. This 200-acre park has a lake and boathouse, dinosaurs, maze, sporting event centre and also a little urban farm.
Entering from the park from Thicket Road, Crystal Palace Park was buzzing with runners, outdoor yoga, and walkers all enjoying the warmth of the sun. The Brown & Green Life Cafe was overflowing with people queuing up “1 metre plus apart” for a daily dose of caffeine.
We made a beeline towards the Lower Lake to see the life-size model dinosaurs. One of Lady Yeya’s current favourite books is “Mr. Men Adventure with Dinosaurs” and of course, ecstatic to see the dozen or so scaly dinosaurs. Lady Yeya enjoyed it so much that we made two trips around the lake to “Say Hello to the Dinosaurs!,” another of her current favourite books.
The dinosaur-themed children’s playground is perfect for little ones, especially for the budding palaeontologists. Here you can “excavate” for fossils in the sandbox. There are also a few dinosaur structures, roundabout, and a central slide. There is not a lot of shade so on warmer days, be sure to bring a hat and sunscreen. Lady Yeya could have played for hours but at last, it was time for lunch.
We made our way to the “Triangle” and settled at the Westow House for a pub lunch. Bounded by three streets: Westow Hill, Westow Street, and Church Road, the “Triangle” is an eclectic mix of mid-century antique shops, cafes, pubs/restaurants, and vintage markets. It’s a perfect place for browsing for antique treasures or just people-watch from one of the many quirky cafes. It was a great day out with the kiddos. Until then it’s time to “say good-bye to the dinosaurs.” Thanks for the good vibes Crystal Palace.
Getting to Crystal Palace
You can take the East London Line or the Southern Line from London Bridge to Crystal Palace Station for step-free access to Crystal Palace Station Road. Alternatively, you can also alight at Penge West Station (not step-free) for the Thicket Road entrance.
