Wimbledon Park

We met at Wimbledon Park Station on a sky-of-cotton morning. Out on Arthur Road we crossed into the park and the lake greeted us like a long mirror. I love starting along the east shore—the light slides across the water, legs warm up, and London relaxes into weekend mode. We strolled south with ducks on one side and families on the other, the city humming softly behind the trees.

At the south gate we stepped out to Home Park Road and headed uphill to Church Road. Pause here—breathe—because the rise of Wimbledon Common appears ahead. Crossing into the Common feels like a scene change: sandy paths, oak glades, pockets of heather, and that quiet crackle of woodland.

First stop is Queensmere, a small, photogenic pond. If there’s a breeze, ripples write lines across the surface; if we’re lucky, a heron stands statue-still on the far bank. From here we follow the main track to the Wimbledon Windmill, a timber landmark from 1817 that looks like a film prop. Sometimes the museum opens; even when it doesn’t, the exterior is worth the detour.

Next we take the broad bridleway towards Caesar’s Camp. The name is a red herring—it’s an Iron Age hillfort, older than any Roman boots. I like circling the earthwork slowly to feel the change underfoot; with a moment of quiet, the wind sounds different up here. Then we zigzag down to Wimbledon Village—fresh bread in the air, tidy cottages, and that village-inside-the-city feeling.

To close the loop we walk back along Church Road and Wimbledon Park Road to the lake. Returning to the water always feels like the day settling into place, as if the hours found their home.

What you’ll see

• The 1764 lake: classic English-landscape views with meadows rolling into water.
• Oak woods and heather clearings on the Common, with shifting light and easy-going paths.
• Queensmere: a small mirror pond with waterfowl and clean reflections for photos.
• Wimbledon Windmill (1817): storybook silhouette; simple, memorable stop.
• Caesar’s Camp: raised earthworks and a sense of height—great for a snack break.
• Wimbledon Village: café-and-bakery energy with a village vibe.

Curiosities along the way

• “Caesar’s” without Caesar: the name stuck in the 19th century; the site itself is much older.
• The Wombles: the 1970s eco-burrowers “live” on the Common in London’s imagination.
• Tennis next door: the calm of the park sits beside the buzz of the Championships grounds.

A short history

The park was once part of a great estate, its lake laid out in the 18th century in the fashion of the day: serpentine water, soft meadows, artful planting. The Common has been shared land for centuries, which is why it still feels wild in patches—woods, heaths, and ponds woven together. The Windmill (1817) nods to an era when wind and grain mattered more than engines.

Turn-by-turn

1. Start: Wimbledon Park Underground (Arthur Road). Enter the park and follow the east shore of the lake south.
2. Home Park Road: exit via the south gate, turn right, walk uphill to Church Road.
3. Onto the Common: cross in and follow waymarkers to Queensmere pond.
4. Windmill: continue on the main track to the Wimbledon Windmill.
5. Caesar’s Camp: take the broad bridleway signposted to the Iron Age hillfort.
6. Wimbledon Village: head downhill on woodland paths to High Street.
7. Return: walk down Church Road to Wimbledon Park Road and back to the station (or re-enter the park to finish beside the lake).

Practicalities & Pub

• Route: Wimbledon Park → Queensmere (Wimbledon Common) → Wimbledon Windmill → Caesar’s Camp → Wimbledon Village → return to Wimbledon Park
• Distance: 10–11 km
• Total ascent: ~120–150 m
• Difficulty: Moderate (woodland paths; muddy after rain)
• Surface: wide tracks and forest trails
• Start: Wimbledon Park Underground Station, Arthur Road, London SW19
• Public transport: District line (Wimbledon Park or Southfields); buses 156 and 493 serve the area
• Parking: Revelstoke Road Car Park (SW18 5NW), pay-at-machine/app
• Facilities: daytime toilets in-park, playgrounds, open lawns for picnics
• What to bring: good-grip footwear, light wind layer, water; headtorch in winter if finishing late
• Post-hike pub: Hand in Hand (Wimbledon Common) — 19th-century character beside the green; a classic local for the debrief.
• Official park URL: www.merton.gov.uk/leisure-recreation-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/parks-and-recreation-grounds/wimbledon/wimbledon-park