Gladstone Park Dollis Hill

London Parks: Gladstone Park

Willesden Wilderness: Gladstone Park

Gladstone Park, located in the Dollis Hill area of Willesden in northwest London is a large, historic park dating back to the early 20th century.

Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill, London, UK. — Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill, London; here plane trees shade an avenue through the park © Hiro Taniguchi

History

Gladstone Park opened in 1901 on land purchased from the wealthy local landowners, the Finch family, who had maintained the semi-rural Dollis Hill Estate. The buyers included various London councils, though the then Municipal Borough of Willesden shouldered the majority of the cost.

The park was named after former Liberal Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, who had recently died in 1898.

The 19th century farmhouse, Dollis House, that once entertained Mr. Gladstone, was demolished in 2012 after a fire in the 1990s.

The northern part of the park was kept in its pristine, heathland state, while the area to the south was developed for various sports.

Now run by the London Borough of Brent supported by the voluntary community group, Friends of Gladstone Park, Gladstone Park and the adjoining Gladstone Open Space cover a vast 86 acres in total.

Gladstone Park in Dollis Hill, northwest London, UK. — The park is a fun place for a family day out, a bicycle ride or picnic © Hiro Taniguchi

Layout

The park contains various facilities for different sports including basketball, cricket (artificial pitch), Gaelic football, rugby, soccer and tennis. There is also an outdoor gym and a children's playground.

The center of the park maintains its original wilderness feel with paths, some lined with plane trees, meandering through undulating meadows of wildflowers.

There are also areas of more formal garden including a rose garden close to where Dollis Hill House used to stand. Here, too, in the north of the garden is the pond. Here and there are scattered patches of woodland and hedgerows.

From the park's highest point are views south taking in the City of London, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Wembley Stadium, and even the Shard.

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

The northern part of the park is a heathland © Hiro Taniguchi

Cafes

There are two cafes in the park serving refreshments. Stables Cafe (open 9 am - 4 pm; closed Monday & Tuesday) in the northern sector near Dollis Hill Lane and Pavilion Café (open 9 am - 4 pm; closed Monday) near Melrose Gate, off Kendal Road.

Gladstone Park also has areas of more formal garden. — Gladstone Park also has areas of more formal garden © Hiro Taniguchi

Nearby

There are several interesting places to visit near Gladstone Park including a couple of historic churches. Around a 20-minute walk south of either Mulgrave or Bridge gates or 10 minutes from Neasden tube station is St Mary's Church.

The original church on this spot goes back as far as the 10th century and possibly earlier. The church held an image of the Black Madonna (Our Lady of Willesden) and was a popular pilgrimage site in its heyday. Unfortunately, this ancient statue was burned and destroyed during the Reformation in 1538. A 1970s replica by sculptor Catharni Stern has replaced the original.

St Mary's Church, Willesden, London, UK. — St Mary's Church, Willesden, London © Hiro Taniguchi

A further 20 minutes on foot south towards Harlesden tube is the Our Lady of Willesden Roman Catholic Church, built in the 1930s, also dedicated to Our Lady of Willesden.

A short stroll west from St Mary's Church is the Parish Church of St Andrew at the junction of Willesden High Road and St Andrews Road. Built in 1885 the church suffers from some structural problems but is a Grade II listed building.

Parish Church of St Andrew, London. — Parish Church of St Andrew © Hiro Taniguchi

Access

Gladstone Park (brent.gov.uk)
Dollis Hill Lane London
London NW2
Tel: 0208 937 1234

Hours

The walking areas of the park are open 24/7.

The nearest tube station to Gladstone Park is Dollis Hill Station on the Jubilee Line, a 10-minute walk away. Cricklewood Thameslink Station to the east is a 15-minute walk from Cricklewood Gate.

The following London buses are convenient for Gladstone Park.

The 232 bus from Turnpike Lane to Mitchell Way runs along Dollis Hill Lane on the northern edge of Gladstone Park. The 226 from Ealing Broadway to Golders Green runs along Kendal Road to the south.