Eel Brook Common

Eel Brook Common is a stretch of common land in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, next to Fulham Broadway. Its south-eastern edge follows New King's Road, and the green sits inside the Parsons Green conservation area. It is a local open space for sport, play and a break from the surrounding streets.

Where is Eel Brook Common?

The common lies in south-west London, in Fulham. The nearest major landmark is Fulham Broadway, and the long side facing New King's Road forms the south-eastern boundary. The administrative home is the Hammersmith and Fulham borough, which lists the site among its parks and open spaces. The area belongs to the Hammersmith and Fulham Conservation Area of Parsons Green, so the surrounding streets keep a protected character.

What is the history of the common?

For a long time the land was manorial waste, rough ground used for grazing. From 1866 there was political pressure to turn it into a public park, and it passed to the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1881. By 1894 a bandstand stood here. By 1921 the site had cricket and football pitches, and in the late 1920s two tennis courts were added. Fulham Football Club played home matches on the common in 1883 and again in 1891, which makes it a small piece of the early story of the club.

Why is it called Eel Brook?

The name has nothing to do with eels. According to the Fulham Society, it comes from "hill brook common", a hill beside a brook. That fits the odd landscape on the northern side. Musgrave Crescent stands much higher than the ground around it. Sources describe the rise as artificial: a Bronze Age mound, a defensive vantage point or a burial mound. Leave the common on the north side and you climb a steep ramp up to the crescent.

What can you do there?

• Tennis: two outdoor public courts, bookable through the council's LTA page. Free play is available to everyone from 7 to 9 am every day, with entry through a keypad on the gate.
• Playground: a children's play area, popular with local families, plus multi-use games areas and a basketball court.
• Dogs: a dedicated dog exercise area.
• Nature: a Tiny Forest, a small dense planting of native trees, and a listing as a local wildlife site.
• Facilities: a pay-as-you-enter public toilet is mentioned on a council walking route. No café or kiosk shows up in the sources.

Frequently asked questions

Is Eel Brook Common free to enter? Yes, it is a public open space. Tennis outside the free morning slot needs a booking.

How do I get there? Fulham Broadway is the closest reference point, and the common is a short walk from there along New King's Road.

Is it good for children? Yes. The playground and open grass make it a typical neighbourhood family stop.

Is the hill on the north side natural? The raised ground under Musgrave Crescent is man-made according to sources, which describe it as a prehistoric mound.

Where are the coordinates? Roughly 51.477 N, 0.195 W.