Grovelands Park

Grovelands Park is a public park in Southgate and Winchmore Hill, in the London Borough of Enfield. It began life as a private estate and is now Grade II* listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. It makes a good target for visitors who want a landscaped, green corner of north London away from the centre.

Where does the park come from?

The story starts at the end of the 18th century. The mansion was built in 1797-98 to a design by John Nash for Walker Gray, a Quaker brewer, and was first called Southgate Grove. The grounds were designed by Humphry Repton, one of England's best-known landscape designers.

Gray's nephew, John Donnithorne Taylor, inherited the estate, enlarged it by roughly 100 acres and gave it the name Grovelands.

When did it become public?

Southgate council bought part of the grounds in 1911 and the park opened in 1913. The house itself was acquired in 1921 for use as a hospital. Today it is a private psychiatric hospital (Priory Hospital North London), so it is not a visitor attraction inside. The building is Grade I listed, and Historic England describes it as the finest surviving example in the London area of a late 18th-century Neo-classical villa.

What is there to see?

The park's main feature is an artificial lake with islands, formed by damming the Bourne stream. The house faces east over the water, which gives the view a typical Repton composition: lake, trees and building together. A walk around the lake is the best way to appreciate the design, and Nash's Neo-classical villa can be admired from outside.

Getting there

The park lies in Southgate and Winchmore Hill in north London, within the borough of Enfield, at roughly 51.63 N, 0.115 W. Check current public transport connections before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Is Grovelands Park public? Yes. It was created from a former private estate and opened to the public in 1913.

Can I visit the house interior? No. A private psychiatric hospital operates in the building, so the house is viewed from outside.

Who designed the house and the grounds? John Nash designed the house and Humphry Repton the landscape.

What is its heritage status? The park is Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens; the house is Grade I.

What is the main attraction? The artificial lake with islands, formed by damming the Bourne stream.

Who is it for?

It suits anyone interested in architecture and landscape gardening, visitors looking for a quiet walk in London, and those curious about the work of Nash and Repton beyond the city's best-known sites.