Croydon Playgrounds and Parks for Children

The Croydon playgrounds most families head for are Park Hill by East Croydon station, rebuilt in 2024 with 25 play structures and a separate toddler area; Lloyd Park, with three hours’ free parking and its own tram stop; Wandle Park, which has a cafe with toilets; and the aeroplane climbing frame at Purley Way Playing Fields. Every entry checked against Croydon Council’s own park pages on 26 October 2026.

We have not reviewed these playgrounds and nothing here is a rating. Each entry sets out what Croydon Council publishes in its parks and playgrounds directory and its news releases: the equipment, any rebuild, and whether there is a cafe, toilets, parking or a tram stop. Where the council does not say, we have not guessed.

A borough rebuilding its play areas. The council’s Playground Investment Programme, paid for from developer contributions (Section 106) and capital funding, has rebuilt six of the playgrounds below since January 2024. In June 2026 the council named the next four: Milne Park in New Addington, Courtwood Playground in Forestdale, Rickman Hill in Coulsdon and Mayfield Road in Thornton Heath. Work is due to start this autumn, and the council says residents can comment on the designs once a contractor has drawn up plans. Mayor Jason Perry has pledged 16 new playgrounds by 2030.

Central Croydon and Waddon

Park Hill Recreation Ground

The park beside the railway between Barclay Road and Coombe Road, a short walk from East Croydon station. The council opened its new playground in January 2024 after £140,000 of work: 25 play structures “approved by children”, a separate toddler area, twice as many swings as before, wheelchair-friendly equipment and fully accessible entrances in place of the old, sometimes muddy paths. Shaded picnic tables were added after families and the Friends of Park Hill Park asked for them. The council’s park page also lists a kiosk selling ice cream and snacks, a walled garden, tennis courts and the park’s historic water tower. Barclay Road, CR0 5NS.

The Queen’s Gardens

The gardens beside Bernard Weatherill House on Park Lane, the closest playground to the shops. The council lists a playground, ornamental gardens, a fountain and a shelter, with public toilets in Fell Road. George Street and East Croydon tram stops are both close. Park Lane, CR0 1YJ.

Wandle Park, Waddon

A 21-acre park with the River Wandle flowing through it. It reopened in 2012 after a redevelopment paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the London Mayor’s Help a London Park fund and Barratt Homes. The council’s park page lists “an innovative play area” alongside a children’s playground, a skate park, a trim trail, a bandstand, a pond and tennis courts. It is the only park in this guide where the council lists a cafe with toilets inside it. The main entrance is off Cornwall Road, and the park has its own tram stop, Wandle Park, on route 3. Cornwall Road, CR0 4JR.

Waddon Ponds

Spring-fed ponds on the River Wandle with ducks, geese and other waterfowl. The council lists the Waddon Ponds playground among the completed jobs on its playground investment programme page, and ward councillors reported in February 2025 that it had opened, designed with residents, in time for the half term. Its park page says refreshments are sold from a catering van at the Mill Lane entrance and that cycling is not allowed in the grounds. Entrances are on Waddon Court Road, Lodge Avenue, Mill Lane and The Ridgeway; the nearest tram stop is Wandle Park.

Purley Way Playing Fields

The borough’s largest spread of sports pitches, beside Purley Way and opposite the old Croydon Airport. The council opened a new playground at the north end, off Waddon Way, in May 2024. It is themed on the airport, the UK’s first international airport, with a large aeroplane climbing frame and a trail celebrating the aviator Amy Johnson. The park page lists a children’s playground and skate ramp next to Waddon Way, and free outdoor gym equipment. The council does not list toilets or a cafe.

Coombe Road

Lloyd Park

114 acres of parkland and woodland beside Coombe Road, with its own stop on tram route 3. The council’s park page lists a children’s playground, an outdoor gym, disc golf, a small pond, football pitches and tennis courts run by CASSAC. Lloyd Park Cafe posts its news on Facebook and Instagram. The car park off Coombe Road gives three hours free, but you must take a ticket from the machine. 84 Coombe Road, CR0 5RA.

Norwood, Thornton Heath and Norbury

South Norwood Country Park

125 acres of wetland, lake and meadow on a former sewage farm, opened as a country park in 1989. The council’s park page lists a children’s playground, a viewing mound, a car park with bays for disabled drivers, and the Kiosk Community Cafe, open on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. Plan around two closures: the visitor centre has been shut since an arson attack, and the toilets are closed while it is refurbished. The pitch and putt is out of use indefinitely. The main entrance is off Albert Road; the nearest tram stop is Harrington Road.

Grangewood Park, Thornton Heath

Nearly 28 acres of woodland and gardens between Grange Road, Wharncliffe Road and Ross Road. The council’s park page lists a children’s playground, multi-games courts, a basketball and kick-around area, tennis courts and a bowling green, and says the park is closed at night. A council update in March 2022 set out the new playground design, which included a “You & Me” swing for an adult and child together, a shopfront playhouse and the old “heritage” springer, kept because it was a favourite. 157 Ross Road, SE25 6TW.

Norbury Park

28 acres between Norbury Avenue and Green Lane, laid out on what was the North Surrey Golf Course. The council’s park page puts the children’s playground opposite the Norbury Hill entrance in Green Lane, and lists a public car park off Grenville Avenue. Older children have a community BMX track, where the volunteer club London BMX offers bikes and coaching. 217 Green Lane, SW16 3LX.

Canterbury Road Recreation Ground, Broad Green

The council opened a new playground here in April 2024, one of two it built for around £120,000 each, with wheelchair-friendly and sensory equipment, designed with the community and the local Friends of Parks group. The park page says there are entrances from Mitcham Road and Canterbury Road, a community centre in Crosfield Hall, and that the ground is closed at night.

Whitehorse Road Recreation Ground, Selhurst

The other April 2024 rebuild, again with wheelchair-friendly and sensory equipment. The ground has been a children’s play space since the council bought it in 1891, when it was too small for organised games. The council’s park page lists the playground, a field and an ornamental garden, between Whitehorse Road and Boulogne Road.

South Croydon, Selsdon, Purley and Coulsdon

Haling Grove, South Croydon

A Green Flag park between Brighton Road and Pampisford Road, with a Friends of Haling Grove group, founded in 2009 to get more people using it. The council’s park page lists a children’s playground, table tennis, a sports field, a shelter and rose and bedding displays. A footpath runs around much of the boundary. St Augustine’s Avenue, CR2 6JG.

Selsdon Recreation Ground

Rebuilt in May 2024: the council says the new playground has a climbing frame, a slide and a mini scooter track, with a view of Selsdon Wood. The park page lists a car park, football pitches, tennis and basketball courts. Woodland Gardens, off Old Farleigh Road, CR2 8NU.

Coulsdon Memorial Ground

A Green Flag park on a steep slope off Marlpit Lane, opened in 1921, with the Coulsdon war memorial at the top of the hill. The council’s park page lists children’s playgrounds, a cafe, a putting green, tennis and basketball courts and a bowling green, with two car parks: one off Marlpit Lane and one off Nineacres Way.

Rickman Hill, Coulsdon

A 16-acre recreation ground on Ridgemount Avenue. The council’s park page lists a children’s playground, Loretta’s, a tennis court, a kick-about area and a sports ground. Rickman Hill is one of the four playgrounds the council named in June 2026 for rebuilding, with work due to start this autumn, so check before you go: parts of it may be fenced off. Rickman Hill, CR5 3DU.

How we chose

These are the Croydon playgrounds families search for, the ones the council has rebuilt since 2024, and the bigger parks with a cafe, parking or a tram stop close by, spread across the borough. The facts come from Croydon Council’s parks directory and its news releases, checked on 26 October 2026; where we use a councillor’s report, we say so. Where the council does not say whether there are toilets, we have not filled the gap, and opening times change with the seasons, so check the park page before a long trip. Run a park cafe, a Friends group, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@croydontoday.co.uk.

For more ideas, see things to do in Croydon, what’s on in Croydon this month, the four parks getting free outdoor gyms, our guides to Croydon cafes, restaurants and pubs, or browse local businesses in Croydon in our directory.

Frequently asked questions

Which Croydon playgrounds are new?

Croydon Council rebuilt Park Hill in January 2024, Canterbury Road and Whitehorse Road recreation grounds in April 2024, and Selsdon Recreation Ground and the north end of Purley Way Playing Fields in May 2024. Waddon Ponds reopened with a new playground in February 2025. The next four, Milne Park, Courtwood in Forestdale, Rickman Hill in Coulsdon and Mayfield Road in Thornton Heath, were announced in June 2026 with work due to start this autumn.

Which Croydon playgrounds have a cafe and toilets?

Wandle Park has a cafe with toilets inside it. Queen’s Gardens in the town centre has public toilets in Fell Road. Lloyd Park and Coulsdon Memorial Ground each have a cafe, and Park Hill has a kiosk selling ice creams and snacks. At South Norwood Country Park the toilets are closed for refurbishment and the community cafe opens on Saturdays only.

Are there accessible playgrounds in Croydon?

Yes. The council says the Park Hill playground has fully accessible entrances and wheelchair-friendly equipment, and that the playgrounds at Canterbury Road and Whitehorse Road recreation grounds have wheelchair-friendly and sensory equipment. The Purley Way and Selsdon designs were developed with groups including the Croydon Youth Disability Project, according to local councillors.