Magnificent Mansions and Glass Palaces

Beckenham Place Park to Crystal Palace Park
(Sections 8,9 and 10 of Green Chain Route Pack-see details below)

Nearest Rail Stations: Start point: Ravensbourne (London and South Eastern Railways)
End point: Crystal Palace (Southern Railways)

Ravensbourne station and Crystal Palace station are approx. 30 minutes from central London (London Victoria).

This is a walk for those who like a bit of a ramble – taking in 3 parks and covering about 4-5 miles. Alighting at Ravensbourne Station, follow the Green Chain Walk (GCW) signs to nearby Beckenham Place Park.

This Park contains one of the few remaining areas of ancient woodland in inner London and was acquired by John Cator

in 1773, who quickly restored the mansion to it’s former glory.

At the mansion house with it’s imposing portico (designed by notable English architect Sir Robert Taylor) you can enjoy refreshments in the café/bar (if you’re getting peckish by now they do a great all day breakfast). The adjoining terrace has picnic tables that offer panoramic views over the ancient woodlands and golf course.

Suitably rested and refreshed, follow GCW signs at the front of the mansion house towards Cator Park. This park was originally a private landscaped ground for the sole use of residents on Cator Estate- perhaps we should feel privileged…..

From the GCW main sign at Cator Park, follow GCW signs to Crystal Palace Park via Alexandra Recreation Ground and the village of Penge.

Following an International Trade Fair held in 1851 in Hyde Park, the building of glass and cast iron dubbed the “Crystal Palace” was moved to this spot. Although the glass palace was destroyed by fire in 1931 there is lots to see and do in the 300 acres of landscaped grounds, including nature trails and life- size dinosaurs! (Visitor Centre and dinosaur park open throughout the year, for further details telp. 020 8778 9496).

The park has featured in a number of films including the classic “Italian Job” starring Micheal Caine and Noel Coward and the “Pleasure Garden”

where “people campily pass the time in an overgrown garden full of statues, while a puritanical, funereal gentleman posts bills prohibiting all leisure activities”. Hmmm……….

If you feel you’ve done enough rambling for one day, take a well-earned rest at the park café and reflect on what you have achieved in a single day! Crystal Palace station is a 10 minute walk from the café via the dinosaur park.

Further details on the Green Chain Walk are provided in the official Green Chain Route Guide, which contains detailed colour maps of the network of footpaths and places of interest along the walk.

(Click here for details on how to purchase the Green Chain Route Guide)