Discover Enfield: Parks, Gardens and History

More than 900 hectares of green space give Enfield a distinctly green character. An extensive network of public footpaths and permitted routes opens up a variety of landscapes. Historic gardens, estates and museums each offer their own focus. Check current route conditions before going for a walk.

Green spaces with varied features

Broomfield Park brings together garden history and recreational facilities: it is home to a rare example of an 18th-century Baroque water garden. The park also has a bandstand where live concerts take place; the concert programme may change. A model boating pond and an adventure playground add to the park’s facilities, which may be unavailable at times.

Capel Manor Gardens combines productive and ornamental gardens with other garden features: a woodland path passes spring bulbs, and a lake is home to koi carp. The gardens also offer a small zoo open to the public, with keeper talks and animal experiences. Booking requirements may change; check them before visiting.

Manor house, parkland and paths

Forty Hall Estate brings together a Grade I listed Jacobean manor house and an extensive landscape. Forty Hall is associated with Sir Nicholas Rainton and is listed Grade I. The 273-acre listed estate includes an ornamental lake, medieval fish ponds, streams and a walled garden. Several paths cross the estate and parkland, ranging in length from 1.1 to 6.3 kilometres. Path availability may change.

Forty Hall Estate is approximately a 20-minute walk from Turkey Street, Gordon Hill and Enfield Town stations. This is an estimate, and route conditions may change. This makes it possible to plan a specific walking leg as part of a visit to the estate, without treating the walking time as exact.

Trent Country Park covers more than 400 acres of meadows, woodland and lakes. Its history goes back to an 18th-century hunting park: this developed into a significant estate, which later became Trent Country Park. Trent Park Equestrian Centre offers group and private riding lessons, riding courses, riding parties and equestrian events. Programme details may change.

Whitewebbs Park offers another distinct landscape: paths wind through ancient woodland across 196 acres of parkland and woodland. Enfield therefore offers a choice of landscapes with different character—from designed gardens and historic parkland to woodland paths.

Garden culture and museums

Myddelton House Gardens is an eight-acre botanical garden and the lifelong home of gardener E. A. Bowles. The New River Lawn preserves the course of a former section of the New River within the garden. The Bowles Museum focuses on the life of E. A. Bowles, the history of the house and some of his paintings. The Bowles Tea Room serves hot and cold food and refreshments; the menu and service may change.

The Museum of Enfield holds around 20,000 objects relating to the places, people and businesses of Enfield. A permanent gallery displays highlights from the collection. The museum holds exhibitions at Dugdale Arts Centre twice a year. A mobile outdoor exhibition and events such as talks and escape rooms are also offered regularly. Exhibition themes and event programmes change.

Viticulture and seasonal harvests

Forty Hall Vineyard is London’s first vineyard since the Middle Ages. Together with Capel Manor College, it continues the winemaking tradition introduced to England by the Romans. A family-run farm offers pick-your-own produce from more than 20 crops throughout the year, including blackcurrants, tayberries, broad beans, spinach and chard. Crop availability varies by season.

When planning your stay, you can weigh up the different interests: the paths at Forty Hall Estate offer a specific choice of route lengths, while the gardens, museum collections and activities around viticulture and harvesting each provide a different focus for a visit. Bear in mind that walking routes can change; for concerts, events, animal experiences and seasonal harvests, it is worth checking the latest dates or conditions.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Enfield Town, Waltham Forest, Haringey, Hounslow, City Of London, Kensington And Chelsea, Richmond Upon Thames, Merton.

Back to the main travel overview: Greater London.