Hylands Park

Hylands Park is a public park in the northwest of Hornchurch, in the London Borough of Havering, close to Romford. It covers roughly 4.6 hectares (about 11 acres) and works as a classic neighbourhood green space for east London: a place for walks, sport and time outdoors. It is owned and run by Havering London Borough Council and holds Green Flag Award status, a mark given to well-kept parks.

How did Hylands Park come about?

The park has an unusual past. In the 1920s the land was a trotting and racing track for horses. Hornchurch Urban District Council bought it in 1927 and turned it into a public park, which was formally opened on Saturday 1 June 1929.

You can still see traces of that earlier life. The old track now forms a broad circular walkway that runs around about half of the park. It makes an easy loop for a relaxed stroll, a jog or a walk with a pushchair, and the circular shape means you can judge your distance without retracing your steps.

What is there to do in the park?

Hylands Park is built around activity and recreation. It offers:

• six tennis courts,
• cricket and football pitches,
• a large children's play area,
• an outdoor gym,
• a multi-use games area (MUGA).

That mix suits families with young children as much as people who want a game of tennis or a workout in the fresh air.

Is there any history to see?

Yes. The main entrance on Osborne Road has stone gate piers with wrought-iron gates. They came from Grey Towers, a 19th-century castellated mansion built by Colonel Holmes of Langtons. The mansion is no longer part of the park, but its gates survive as a distinctive feature of the entrance.

The park also has a Second World War story. In October 1940 a Spitfire from nearby RAF Hornchurch made an emergency landing in the area. The pilot crash-landed in a gap between two houses, which sliced the wings off the aircraft, but there were no casualties. Local history sources mention the episode in accounts of the park and its surroundings.

How do you get to Hylands Park?

The nearest Underground station is Hornchurch on the District line. The nearest rail station is Romford, from where you can continue by bus. Bus routes 193 and 294 serve the park. Hornchurch lies on the eastern edge of the city, so allow a good stretch of travel time from central London and treat the visit as part of a day away from the main tourist areas.

Who is it for?

Hylands Park is not one of London's headline sights, and it has no grand palaces or museums. It suits visitors who want to see everyday London life: football training, cricket matches and walks around a former horse track. If you live nearby or are visiting friends in east London, it is a good option for an hour or two outside.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Hylands Park? In the northwest of Hornchurch, in the London Borough of Havering, near Romford.

How big is it? About 4.6 hectares, or roughly 11 acres.

Who manages the park? Havering London Borough Council. The park has Green Flag Award status.

Is this the same Hylands Park as the one near Chelmsford? No. In Essex, near Chelmsford, there is a different and much larger park with a similar name and the neo-classical Hylands House. The park described here lies within Greater London.

What is there for children? A large play area, an outdoor gym and a multi-use games area.

Why is there a circular path? It follows the former track where horses were raced in the 1920s.