Walpole Park

Walpole Park is a historic public park in Ealing, west London, covering about 11 to 12 hectares (28 acres). It began as the grounds of Pitzhanger Manor and today offers lawns, a lake, a rose garden and a strong Regency-era heritage.

What is Walpole Park?

The park is listed by Historic England as a Grade II registered landscape. It was once the private estate surrounding Pitzhanger Manor. Ealing Council acquired it in 1899, and it opened to the public for the first time on 1 May 1901.

Where does the name come from?

The park is named after Sir Spencer Walpole, the last private owner, who sold the estate to the council. The name was adopted after correspondence between the owner and the council in 1900.

What is the link to Sir John Soane?

Pitzhanger Manor is an early 19th-century country house built between 1800 and 1804 by Sir John Soane, one of Britain's most celebrated architects. Soane bought the property in 1800. He wanted a showcase home for entertaining guests and a place to train his sons as architects. The landscape had earlier been altered by John Haverfield and was then shaped by Soane's own work. The manor itself is Grade I listed.

What can you see in the park?

• A stone bridge remodelled to Soane's design.
• A late Victorian ornamental lake (the Serpentine Lake) and ponds with waterfowl.
• A rose garden and broad lawns for walking.
• A cafe and a playground, which make it easy for families.
• Pitzhanger Manor, the historic house open to visitors within the grounds.

Pitzhanger Manor and its gallery

The house served several roles over the years, including a public library and later a museum. After a major conservation project that closed it in 2015, it reopened on 16 March 2019, presenting Soane's original design for the first time in more than 175 years. The gallery displays English ceramics by the Martin Brothers.

Restoration

Ealing Council has been restoring the park to its Regency-era planting and layout, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Events

The park hosts the Ealing Summer Festival, one of the borough's larger local cultural events.

Frequently asked questions

Is Walpole Park free to enter? It is a public municipal park open to residents and visitors. Visiting Pitzhanger Manor has its own admission arrangements.

Where is Walpole Park? In Ealing, west London, England, within the London Borough of Ealing.

Who is it good for? Architecture fans (Soane's house), walkers, families with children (playground, cafe) and anyone seeking calm green space outside central London.

When did the park open to the public? On 1 May 1901, two years after Ealing Council bought the land.