Walks

A wander round Burgess Park kindly provided by Jenny Morgan

Stage 1. Peckham to The Lake

Stage 1 printable version

Starting in Peckham, go under the arch towards the library.

Take The Canal walk to the left of the library (see notice giving history of The Canal.)

You will soon be in The Eagle Wharf area.

See Whitten’s Timber Yard on your right; you may like to take a diversion to see their old photographs of the wharf, taken before the canal was drained in the 1960s.

The canal was designed by Ralph Dodd in the early 19th century, and was originally intended to go from Rotherhithe to Epsom.

See Cary’s New Plan of London and its Vicinity.

Also, see Algernon Newton’s “The Surrey Canal 1935” at the Tate Online web site.

Straight on past the allotments, under the bridges until you reach the open iron gates at Glengall Wharf.


Carry straight on at footpath intersection towards Trafalgar Avenue, where you turn right.

Turn right again (opposite Waite Street) into Glengall Terrace and into the enclosed grass area on your left. Make your way to the far end by the Walnut tree.

If you can, peep through the fence at the end into the private garden, you will just see a Magnificent Date Palm and a Cornus kousa that blooms in mid-May. Also notice the hop vine growing all over the fence.

Take the footpath to your right, and another hidden part of the park opens up before you; a pleasant spot for a picnic just feet away from the noise and traffic of the Old Kent Road.

Exit left onto Old Kent Rd, turn left immediately into Trafalgar Avenue, then right, into Nile Terrace.

At the end of Nile Terrace (Oakley Place) turn left through a rickety wire mesh fence into the park.


Take the dirt path leading into the bushes on your right. This cuts through into Cobourg Road – cross diagonally to your left and you arrive at the entrance to the Lake.

Stage 2. The Lake to Chumleigh Gardens

Stage 2 printable version

From Cobourg Rd entrance, circle right, following the edge of the lake.

On the north side, study the sculpture made in 1997 by the children and staff of Cobourg School showing the birds spotted at the time.

A little further on, close to the fountain, is a Mulberry tree. Come back to taste the fruits when they are ripe. The north side of the lake is planted with Hawthorn, Hornbeam, Hazel, Ash, Willow, Aspen and Dogwood. You will also find Sweet Briar, just crush a leaf and smell it.

Take the steps down to walk beside the lake. On the opposite shore you can see where the anglers camp overnight. They know the Crayfish and Carp in the lake so well, that they have given them names.

Leaving the lake, head south, cross Loncroft Rd and scramble up the bank onto the large, flat, grassland area.

From here, in summer, you can watch the Swifts tirelessly circling high into the clouds, and then skimming just above the ground to collect dry grasses for their nests or to catch insects. They don’t ever land as they would not be able to take off again. The only time they perch is to nest. They nest under the eaves of high buildings so that they can just drop off into the air to fly.

This area is also a good spot for people watching. Over summer weekends, families and friends of the footballers congregate, often staying well into the evening to socialise. They share food and music, bringing a festive atmosphere to the park.

To your right, you get a good view of Chumleigh Gardens, but continue on, cross Neate Street and scramble up onto an area of wild grassland. This is home to grasshoppers, butterflies & moths and foxes. You will find Hemlock, Goat’s beard, Vetch and Clover growing among the mixed grasses.


From here, you can see Canary Wharf, Guy’s Hospital, Baltic Exchange (The Gerkin) London Eye and Telecom Tower.

Walk under the bridge, back onto the canal route. Flowers around a tree mark the site where Moses Ssendawala was murdered in the early hours of 9th September 2007.


Off to the left is a quiet place to sit for a while in the lee of St George’s Church (now apartments). It is planted with plants that tolerate dry conditions including Sage, Geranium and Ceanothus.

From here, exit right and head back across the park towards a tall chimney and you will arrive at Chumleigh Gardens.

The Gardens are open from 10am – 5pm.  Have a look around the gardens and visit the Café.

At this point, you can continue on to stage 3 of the walk or leave the park for Albany Road where you can catch the 42 bus to Camberwell, or the 343 to Peckham.

Stage 3. Chumleigh Gardens to Walworth Road

Stage 3 printable version

From Chumleigh Gardens, turn back to walk beside The Heart Garden. This is tended by people recovering from serious illness.

Veer to the left towards the old Library building.

The Heart Garden This is tended by people recovering from serious illness.	The Old Library Funded by John Passmore Edwards 1823-1911 He was a journalist and MP for Salisbury. Though from Cornwall, he funded many libraries and galleries in London, including The South London Gallery, Dulwich and Nunhead Libraries. This was originally a free library and was attached to a public washhouse.	Stag Beetle Photograph taken in the locality. See the brown folded wings protruding from the hard wing cover at the tip of the abdomen segment.

Cross the road (Wells Way) and follow the path left through the picnic area. There is a steep wooded bank to your right-hand side on the perimeter of the Cycle and Go Kart Tracks.

On reaching the main path, turn right and pass a dead tree Stump, retained to provide a habitat for Stag Beetles. Rare in Britain, these have a stronghold in South London. They spend 4-6 years as larvae, gnawing their way through dead wood and emerge as adults in May or June. 


If sure footed, you can view the cycle track from the top of the bank.

Find the Lime Kiln.

Limestone and coal were delivered by barge, and then layered alternately onto an iron grid above a fire. After about a week, the lime could be slaked to make quick lime to use to make lime mortar to build local buildings. Walk around the kiln to read the information on the paving slabs. 

Now make your way towards Albany Road, leaving the park by Canal Road to view the William IV pub.



Return, and onwards towards the tennis courts and Addington Square.

Circle left around Addington Square and take the last exit towards Camberwell Road for bus stops to Camberwell and Elephant & Castle. You pass A.V. Fowlds upholstery workshop – on this site since 1870.

End of walk.