Raphael Park
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Romford
What it’s like
A free 44-acre park with a big fenced play area, twelve tennis courts and a lake to walk round until dusk.
The play area is the reason most people with kids go. It's fenced, it's in the north of the park, and it's a proper size rather than a corner with a slide in it. Tennis is the other big pull, with twelve courts to work through, so if your lot are old enough to hold a racket that's a full afternoon on its own. Otherwise it's the lake and the ornamental gardens for a wander, and sports pitches if someone's brought a ball.
Entry is free, which for 44 acres and a play area of that size is hard to argue with. The park opens at 8am and runs to dusk, and they don't lock up, so nobody's coming round to move you on at a set hour. Dusk still decides when you leave in winter though, and that comes early from November. A couple of hours covers the play area and a lap of the lake; add tennis and you're there most of the day.
There's a café and restaurant on site plus a kiosk in the park, so you can eat without leaving. The car park is the one faff: it's pay and display and it sits across the road by the Main Road entrance, not on site. If you've got a buggy it's a flat enough walk in from there.
Tennis courts are the thing to book ahead for if you want them, and they get taken on summer weekends. The play area is busiest straight after school and on dry Saturday mornings.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Pay and display car park across the road by the Main Road entrance
- Food
- A café/restaurant plus a kiosk in the park
- Worth knowing
- Free entry to a 44-acre park. No lock-up so you can stay until dusk
- Entry is free; the car park across the road is the only cost
- Car park sits across the road from the Main Road entrance, not on site
- The park isn't locked at night, so dusk is your leaving time
- Twelve tennis courts, but they go early on summer weekends
- A café, a restaurant and a kiosk in the park, so no need to pack lunch
Plan your visit
How much does it cost to get in?
Nothing. Entry to the park is free, and the only thing you'll pay for is the car park if you drive.
What time does it open and close?
8am to dusk, every day. They don't lock the gates, so it's the light that ends your visit rather than a closing time.
Where do we park?
Pay and display, across the road by the Main Road entrance. It's not on site, so you'll cross the road with kids and bags.
What is there for children to do?
A large fenced play area in the north of the park, plus a lake, ornamental gardens and sports pitches. Twelve tennis courts if you've brought rackets.
Is there anywhere to eat?
A café and restaurant in the park, and a kiosk too. You don't need to bring a picnic, though plenty of people do.
How long should we allow?
Two hours does the play area and a walk round the lake. Tennis or a proper game on the pitches and you'll be there most of the day.
Can we stay after dark?
No. The park runs to dusk, and in winter that's mid-afternoon, so plan around the light rather than the clock.
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