Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park

Images of Britain: Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, London, England, UK. — World Garden sign, Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park in the London Borough of Southwark in south London is the park that surrounds the Imperial War Museum.

The nearly 16 hectares of land which the park covers was once the location of the former Bethlem Royal Hospital building, also known as Bedlam.

The park is named after Geraldine Mary Harmsworth, the mother of the wealthy newspaper proprieter, Harold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere, who bought the land and donated it to the 'splendid struggling mothers of Southwark.' It opened in 1934.

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, London, UK. — Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park

Within the park is a Soviet War Memorial unveiled in 1999 and a Tibetan Peace Garden also opened in 1999.

A World Garden contains alpine, desert, as well as tropical and Mediterranean plants. These include examples of aloe vera, bamboo, banana, cactus, fern, hornbeam, palm and yucca.

Sports facilities include an outdoor gym, tennis courts, five-a-side football, basketball and netball pitches.

Address: Lambeth Road, London, SE1. There are entrances at St Georges Road, Lambeth Road, Kennington Road and Geraldine Street. Elephant and Castle and Lambeth North are the nearest stations.