Beckenham Place Park Reviews Summary

Park Environment

Pros:

• "A beautiful community area."
• "Very enjoyable walk today and I will definitely visit again."
• "This is a big country park in the middle of SE London with miles of woodland paths."
• "Large, beautiful park with lots of character."
• "The park is a beautiful combination of fields and woodland. Very relaxing place to walk and dog friendly."
• "A great park for running your dogs free, and the kids. A great green London space, to fill the lungs with Fresh Air."
• "Absolutely gorgeous park with everything you could need! Lots of fields, woodlands, flower garden."

Cons:

• "I will NOT be returning, please dont waste your time on this embarrassment of an attraction!"
• "The so called lake is the size of the pond in my back garden, surrounded by temporary metal fencing and a gazebo as the entrance."
• "Most likely going to be ruined in a couple of years by council imposing its poorly consulted on plans."
• "Crying shame they turned the natural lake into a money making venture."
• "Can be better. Dogs running around unleashed though instruction is that the dogs are kept on leash."
• "Lewisham council should be ashamed of this space.....if £6m was genuinely spent on this development then some brown envelopes were passed around."
• "Previously gave this place a 5 star review, but now it's an absolute disgrace."

Facilities & Activities

Pros:

• "There are cycling routes and a skate park, there is a cycle track near rear entrance."
• "Beautiful 18th Century mansion, owned by the council I think, which hosts a wide range of activities."
• "They have a nice set of swings for children and climbing and sand pit."
• "Went today for the food festival. Have to say a massive 'thank you' to the van that did the fish and chips."
• "The new wild swimming lake is really nice."
• "There's plenty to do and see and a great café."
• "Lovely place to take children."

Cons:

• "Pity the golf course has gone and the new cafe is not up to scratch."
• "The cafe is pants now all you get in the park dog walkers who sometimes clean up after there mutts."
• "Worse experience!! There is no indication that you need to book online for a swimming session!!"
• "Had a lovely afternoon in the park, until I got back to the car, about 50 cars parked on the verge and all with tickets, including mine and the car park was totally full! Fine is £110. No warning signs."
• "New car park with nowhere near enough spaces and you can no longer park along the edge of the road."
• "The car park is nearly full on a colder day, like today, why change the parking on the grass after all these years."
• "Parking in the street outside not the best, not sure if there is a car park nearby."

Community & Development

Pros:

• "Just love this park. I've spent so much time there recently during COVID19 on my daily exercise routine."
• "We also ventured cycling in the woods which can a bit of a maze."
• "Both park and 18th century buildings are undergoing major restoration by the local authority but this doesn't stop them being amazing right now!"
• "A real natural gem in SE London - shame the ‘money men’ have moved in and, true to form are trying to exploit its beauty."
• "Love this park, great community vibe, local art and crafts, local food and the rolling hills of the countryside combined with pretty flower gardens and community vegetable growing."
• "This park has a greater variety of places of interest than are often found; a restaurant or tea room, a lake in which to swim as well as the more usual children's playground and attractive walled garden."
• "I love this park and according to locals the building and work they are doing is for residential flats HOWEVER I had a response from the park and this is not the case - they are building more parking and a swimming pond and fixing up the park and we couldn't be more excited!"

Cons:

• "Low key park in the process of leveling up."
• "Most likely going to be ruined in a couple of years by council imposing its poorly consulted on plans."
• "The cafe uses disposable cups and plates but you can save 10p and help the environment if you bring your own reusable cup."
• "There is a central car park which costs £1 per hour."
• "A real natural gem in SE London - shame the ‘money men’ have moved in and, true to form are trying to exploit its beauty."
• "Can be better. Dogs running around unleashed though instruction is that the dogs are kept on leash."
• "Lewisham's hidden ancient woodland gem. It once boasted the busiest 18 hole public golf course in Europe but as of 1 November 2016 it is closed."