Barbecues:

Due to Covid19 barbecues are not currently permitted in Camden parks and open spaces.  To find out more please see our latest information and advice on coronavirus in parks. 

Barbecues are not allowed on Hampstead Heath, Regents Park and Primrose Hill.

Alcohol:

Camden is a controlled drinking zone. 

We allow alcohol as long as it is not available to under 18s and not being sold (you need a licence to sell alcohol). 

If you intend to hold an event with more than 20 people, with promotion, music, sale of food or alcohol read events in parks.

You’ll need a licence for entertainment and the sale of alcohol. Depending on participant numbers, you’ll need either a Temporary Event Notice or a Premises Licence.

Apply for a licence

Picnics:

Picnics are permitted in our parks and open spaces.  It is important that you do not gather in groups of more than two with people from outside your household, and ensure that you are social distancing.  To find out more please see our latest information and advice on coronavirus in parks. 

Ask for permission if you’re:

•    expecting more than 20 people
•    bringing structures - for example gazebos, tables and chairs
•    playing recorded or live music – you will need a temporary event notice

It is not possible to give picnics private use of a space. You should respect the park and its wildlife, plants and trees. Tidy up, take your rubbish away and have fun.

Allotments:

All our allotments are full and waiting lists are closed.  Nearby councils have a greater number of allotments - you can check if plots are available in Barnet and Brent.

Allotments managed by associations are:

•    Antrim Grove - 29 plots of various sizes
•    Branch Hill - 27 plots of various sizes.
•    Fitzroy Park - 88 plots of various sizes.

For information on any of these allotments:

•    email parks@camden.gov.uk
•    call 020 7974 4444

Camden also manages Westcroft Estate which has 50 plots of various sizes.

For information about this allotment:

•    email housingcustomerservices@camden.gov.uk
•    call 020 7974 4444

Community food growing:

Capital Growth encourages people to start food growing projects on unused land and to get involved with existing growing spaces. They give advice on sustainable food growing too.

If you’d like to start a food growing project in your local park, email parks.officers@camden.gov.uk. To find out about food growing projects on our estates, email groundsmaintenance@camden.gov.uk.
 

Benches:

You can request to dedicate a bench in one of our parks. The design matches other benches in the park. A stainless steel plaque is engraved and etched with an inscription of your choice.

To make a request to dedicate a bench please email parks.officers@camden.gov.uk or call us on 020 7974 4444 and ask for Park Rangers.

We are not currently accepting applications for Waterlow Park, Queen Square, or Tavistock Square.

We don’t manage Hampstead Heath, Regent's Park or Primrose Hill. For benches here, contact:

    City of London (Hampstead Heath)
    Royal Parks (Regent's Park or Primrose Hill)

Costs

A bench costs:

    £1,607.00 in Russell Square
    £1,560.00 in all other parks

Artworks and memorials:

Before applying to place artworks and memorials in a Camden park, read the guidance document.

Your proposal must include details of how the cost will be covered and how future management and maintenance costs will be met. We will only consider detailed proposals.

Apply to place an artwork or memorial

Camden is investing in its green spaces to help create inviting and exciting spaces for all residents. Projects include new play equipment and sports facilities, wildlife friendly planting schemes and improvements to make spaces easier to access and manage. You can find out about recent and upcoming projects on this page and how you can have your say on improvements to these sites.

Current projects include:

Alf Barret Play Area

Broadhurst Gardens Play Area

College Gardens 

Swiss Cottage Green Infrastructure Survey

Projects that we have engaged on include:

Greening Pheonix Road

The health benefits of parks and green spaces both on mental and physical wellbeing are well documented. In Camden visitors to our quality parks and green spaces can improve their health and wellbeing in numerous ways. For example:

Our Green Spaces are the perfect place for peace and quiet, to escape the bustle of the city and to learn about nature. We have peaceful woodlands and nature reserves including Adelaide Road Nature Reserve, Russell Nurseries and Belsize Woods, and Westbere Copse. Why not take some time to visit, relax, and notice the changing seasons and unique features of each site.

We have food growing projects and community gardens within our parks and green spaces. If you’re interested in finding out what is in your local area then please see the allotments and community food growing section above.  If you would like to start a project in your local park or green space then please contact us.

If you’re interested in increasing your physical fitness then why not visit one of our parks and green spaces. No matter your level of fitness, there are spaces where you can be active outside. Across Camden we have free to use outdoor gyms, multi-use games areas, a skate park (Cantelowes Gardens), and Petanque (at Waterlow Park). We also have tennis courts, netball courts, and a MUGA (at Kilburn Grange Park) that can be hired. If you would like to learn about being more physically active in a Camden park or green space then please see the sports section on this page. To find out more about keeping active and healthy please check out our sports and leisure pages.

If you’re interested in combining physical fitness with improving your environment or local community then why not check out Camden Green Gym or the Good Gym in Camden. Or alternatively find sports and physical activity in Camden.

You can also obtain general advice on health and wellbeing services in Camden by following this link

Whether you’re into football, tennis, running or basketball there are a number of great locations in our parks where you can indulge your passion.

Free to play sports facilities:

Facilities that are available for free do not require booking, use is on a first come first served basis. Please check out our outdoor gyms, skatepark at Cantelowes Gardens, basketball court in Argyle Square, or our free to play multi use games areas.

Bookable play sports facilities that require booking:

Tennis: Book a tennis court at Lincolns Inn Fields, Kilburn Grange Park or Waterlow Park.

Netball: Book a netball court at Lincolns Inn Fields.

MUGA: Book the multi use games area at Kilburn Grange Park.

There are a number of ways that you can volunteer in Camden’s parks and green spaces.

Parks and gardens friends' groups are voluntary groups of local residents, workers or visitors who dedicate some of their time, energy and effort to caring for and improving their local park, garden or open space. Anyone can join a friends group and give as much or as little time as they want. Friends groups always need new volunteers, whether it's to help organise an event, get stuck in with some planting or just to attend meetings to contribute to plans for the local park.

We value our friends' groups input into the management of Camden's parks and green spaces. Such partnerships work to help make our parks safe, clean and well-maintained popular assets to the community. We aim to build trusting relationships with community groups and engage in effective regular communication. Find out if there is a Friends of Group in your local area that you can join.

To set up a friends' group in your local park, please contact the Park Services Team.

If you would like to get involved with practical conservation volunteering to improve your local environment then why not join Camden Green Gym.