Explore this restored historic green space featuring a children's playground, wildflower meadows, and wildlife features in central Waterloo.

Old Paradise Gardens is a beautifully restored city park located near Lambeth Palace in Waterloo, offering families a peaceful retreat with plenty to discover. Originally a burial ground established in 1703, the site was transformed into a public garden in 1884 and underwent major restoration to become the welcoming green space it is today. The park earned Green Flag Award recognition for its cleanliness, safety, and appeal. Families visiting with children will find a dedicated children's playground, grassy mounds perfect for exploration, and comfortable seating areas throughout. The park's unique features include species-rich wildflower meadows, pollinator-friendly gardens, and spring flowering native bulbs that add seasonal colour. Managed in partnership with the internationally renowned Garden Museum, the site showcases biodiversity improvements and offers opportunities to engage with local food-growing initiatives. The park is suitable for all ages and welcomes dogs and pushchairs, making it an inclusive destination. Open from 7:30 am until 15 minutes before sunset, Old Paradise Gardens provides a free, accessible outdoor space where families can enjoy nature, history, and quiet moments together while being part of Lambeth's 'Green' project to create greener, safer communities.

Venue Details

What this place offers

Toilets

Public transport nearby

Accessible toilets

Free WiFi

Baby changing facilities

Food available

On-site parking

🐕Dog-friendly

Parking nearby

Pushchair friendly

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Chaim Noy

9 months ago

A small and for us inspiring garden, with an interesting, if morbid, history of the neighborhood (Lambeth). We passed by it accidentally, on a beautiful sunny December morning, and highly recommend it. Just to take your time there. There's also a small community garden, with healthy plants and so on. They have there what they can "insect hotel" (seriously), which is a winter heaven for local insects (we didn't see any though). So you see that it's quite something else. A gem, actually.

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Claudiu

a year ago

A nice little park, a place with an old history, which should be respected as a place. In the past it was a local cemetery but later it was developed as a park. Mornings are great, having your pockets full of bird and squirrel snacks. It is also beautiful at night.

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Daniel D. Reimer

2 years ago

Small but lovely hidden away green space with lots of old tombstones marking the outer walls.

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ghgi81

8 years ago

Lovely quiet park, but also very close to Westminster and central London. 5-10 minutes walk from Westminster station and about the same amount of time from other public transport. The park has a water feature that runs in the summer, a small kids play park and numerous benches and other places to sit. I wouldn't say it's ball game friendly as the park is quite small but also hilly and bumpy giving it not much flat space to play on. (Will post photos on next visit)

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Kyle

9 years ago

A nice little park that is dog friendly. It has a small children's park and a bit of greenery to run around on. There are plenty of seats available.

Reviews last updated: 29 September 2026