Outdoors
A remarkable 25% of Southwark is open space including interesting parks, tranquil gardens, river walkways and top-class sporting facilities. Take a calming visit to the Tibetan Garden of Contemplation and Peace near the Imperial War Museum or to the Lavender Pond Nature Reserve and Russia Dock Woodland, an ecological park in Rotherhithe. Spend the day relaxing in historical Dulwich Park or for something stimulating try your hand at windsurfing, canoeing or rowing at the Surrey Docks watersport centre.
Parks
Southwark has a wide range and variety of parks to choose from, each with varying facilities. Some of the biggest and most well known are Southwark Park in Bermondsey, Dulwich Park and Peckham Rye Park and Common. Features of these parks include boating lakes, children's playgrounds, open games areas and both Southwark Park and Dulwich Park have cafes available. Burgess Park in the middle of the borough boasts a cycling track and a new tennis centre.
Some other smaller parks in the area include Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, Potters Field Park and the Russia Dock Woodland, an ecological park constructed in an old dock in Rotherhithe.
Gardens
Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park is home to the Tibetan Garden of Contemplation and Peace which was opened by the Dalai Lama in 1999. In the middle of Burgess Park you can visit Chumleigh Gardens which contains a world garden and also a range of smaller multicultural gardens. Brenchley Gardens is home to some of Southwark's most fabulous flower beds and also features a sunken garden.
Thames Path
The Thames Path in Southwark stretches from the Oxo Tower in the west around to Surrey Quays in the east. Along the way the path is signposted and features many interesting sights. Some highlights include Tate Modern, HMS Belfast, City Hall, Tower Bridge, Brunel Engine House and Surrey Docks Farm. The Thames Path is a great place to run, cycle or just take a relaxing walk by the river.
Sports Facilities
The Surrey Docks Watersports Centre offers a range of activities including windsurfing, canoeing and rowing and is situated in Greenland Dock. Southwark Park Sports Complex has athletic facilities for all track and field events as well as a full size AstroTurf football pitch. There is also football pitches available at Burgess Park and Peckham Rye. Bowling greens can be found at Dulwich, Southwark and Peckham parks, Basketball courts in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth and Peckham Rye, a cricket pitch in Dulwich Park and tennis courts available in Dulwich Park, Southwark Park and the new tennis centre in Burgess Park.
Please see Outdoors in each individual village for more details.
