Parks and Open Spaces in Watford
This page gives information on parks and open spaces in Watford and the surrounding area, including Bushey and Abbots Langley, which are in alphabetical order by name. Parks are open all year round, unless otherwise stated.
Bushey Rose Garden
A small enclosed garden divided into three sections consisting of the Sunken Garden (a sunken paved area with a fountain and rose beds), the Lawn (a lawn area surrounded by mixed borders), and the Rose Walk (a pathway lined with mixed borders and rose pillars leading from Herkomer Road). The facilities currently provided include a pergola, summer house, cloisters, and disabled access toilets. At High Street, Bushey, WD23 3HH.
Callowland Recreation Ground: North Watford
The recreation ground has a children’s playground, sports court (with basketball nets and football goals), outdoor gym, two football pitches with changing rooms, cricket wicket. At Gammons Lane, Watford, WD24 5HY.
Cheslyn House and Gardens: Watford
Open all year round, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day November to February – 9am to 4pm March and October – 9am to 6pm April to September – 9am to 8pm. Enjoy, Formal, open area, Semi-natural woodland area, Pond, Aviary with budgerigars, quail, assorted finches and other varieties of small birds, Wildlife and plants. At Nascot Wood Road, Watford, WD17 4SL.
Goodwood Recreation Ground: North Watford
A well presented recreation ground with open areas of grassland, picnic area, a large children’s play area, outdoor gym and woodland. At Minerva Drive, Watford, WD24 5LD.
King George Recreation Ground: Bushey
The park contains many facilities including a 250m2 splash pad, large play area, challenging play equipment for teenagers, multi sports court, kickaround goals, tennis courts, table tennis tables, outdoor fitness equipment, sculptures, meadow with copse, open grassland, a cafe and free car parking.
Car Park, Tennis Courts and Sports Courts open October to March – 8am to 4pm, April to May – 8am to 7pm, June to September – 8am to 9pm, Toilets open Summer – 8am to 6.30pm, Winter – 8am to 3.30pm.
King George V Playing Fields: Watford
Facilities include, Children’s playground, Multi-use sports court (with basketball nets and football goals), Outdoor fitness trail, Five football pitches with changing rooms, Three cricket pitches with changing rooms, Car park is access off Tolpits Lane, Chaffinch Lane, Watford, WD18 9QD.
Leavesden Country Park: Abbots Langley
Leavesden Country Park consists of walking/biking paths, a football pitch, wildlife areas, tennis courts, a children’s play area and an outdoor gym for adults. The north side of the park, which consists of two children’s play areas, three football pitches, an adult outdoor gym, a BMX track and over 20 acres of woodland area. The south side comprises of about 50 acres of typical English parkland along with a variety of apple trees, a pergola and the largest Monkey Puzzle tree in Hertfordshire. At College Road, Abbots Langley, WD5 0NX.
Mary Forsdyke Garden and Warren Lake: Bushey Heath
May to September 8am-7pm, October to April 8am-4pm. Situated in Bushey Heath opposite St Peters Church, this enchanting garden had extensive improvements carried out in the Spring of 2017. Improvements to Mary Forsdyke Garden and Warren Lake included upgrading the footpaths, planting beech hedging around the perimeter of the garden, new feature trees, adding additional plants and improving the habitat of Warren Lake by removing silt, planting around the perimeters and installing a boardwalk.
Orchard Park: Watford
Wander in and you will find a “village green” used by local children for informal and formal games. It is one of Watford’s hidden gems, awaiting discovery. The park has a children’s play area and woodland to be enjoyed and explored. At Gammons Lane, Watford, WD24 5JW.
Oxhey Park: Watford
Oxhey Park is approximately 14 hectares of parkland with a wooded dell and rolling grassy slopes. There are good tarmac footpaths through the park, at river level and at the top of the park: the two footpaths are linked by a long flight of gentle steps in the middle of the park. Childrens play area, Outdoor Gym, River Colne, with cycle and foot bridge, Grassy Slopes. There are entrances to the park on Eastbury Road (playground entrance), Wiggenhall Road (by the river) and Lower High Street (by Bushey Arches).
Prestwick Road Meadows Local Nature Reserve: Watford
Prestwick Road Meadows Local Nature Reserve has some of the most beautiful wildflowers in the district. It is a small place, taking just half an hour to walk around, but there is plenty to see. There is a seasonal pond that attracts frogs and herons in the spring. Summer is the best time to see the meadows in flower. The meadows are cut just once a year at the end of summer. Grass pathways are cut more regularly to allow people to walk easily throughout the meadows. Watford, WD19 6XP.
Woodside Playing Fields: Watford
Facilities include, Athletics – A top athletics stadium with eight lane track. Home of Watford Harriers, Indoor bowls, considered to be one of the best in the country. Home of Watford Indoor Bowls Club, Outdoor bowls, Home of OWLS outdoor bowls club. Cricket, home of Watford Town Cricket Club, Football, five adult, one junior and two six-a-side football pitches. Childrens play area, toilets.
