Lake Meadows

Lake Meadows is the main public park of Billericay, a town in Essex, England. Built around a man-made lake, it covers roughly 40 acres right in the centre of town, and it doubles as the place where Billericay gathers for its biggest outdoor events.

What is Lake Meadows?

It is a green space with a lake at its heart, a short walk from the high street. Locals use it for everyday walks, picnics, fishing and sport, while visitors tend to come for the open-air events. The park lies in the Basildon district of Essex, and it is one of the best-known landmarks in the town.

What is there to do at Lake Meadows?

The park offers a mix of leisure facilities in one place:

• a children's play area for younger visitors;
• an outdoor gym and tennis courts;
• a skate park;
• a swimming pool and a bowling club;
• fishing on the lakes;
• a café, which runs seasonally from April to October.

A volunteer group, the Friends of Lake Meadows, works together with local councils and the community to look after the park.

Which events take place here?

Lake Meadows is the venue for many local events. The best known is the Billericay Fireworks, described as the largest firework display in Essex. The park also hosts small-scale concerts, and as a concert venue it has a capacity of 5,000 people. If you plan to visit on an event day, expect crowds and arrive early.

How did the lake come about?

The lake did not form naturally. The land once belonged to the Petre Estate, and in the 1840s the farmland was bought by Major Thomas Spitty. In the 1870s he employed local farm workers who had no work to dig out the lake, which was finished in the 1890s. It was reportedly deeper than it is today, and part of the idea was to attract wildfowl for shooting. Later the land was owned by the Spurling family, who swam in the lake, before it passed to the local council and became a public park in the 1930s.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Lake Meadows? In the centre of Billericay, Essex, England, at about 51.634 N, 0.417 E.

Is there a café? Yes, it operates from April to October.

Can you fish there? Yes, the park has fishing lakes.

Is it good for families? Yes. There is a play area, a skate park, an outdoor gym and plenty of open space.

What is the biggest event? The Billericay Fireworks, the largest firework display in Essex.

How many people can the park hold for concerts? The capacity as a concert venue is 5,000.

Whether you come for a quiet walk by the water, a game of tennis or the fireworks night, Lake Meadows is the natural first stop for anyone exploring Billericay.