Streatham Common

A large area of open land at the southern edge of Lambeth, offering amazing views across large parts of South London.

Streatham Common contains areas of woodland, grassland, meadows, streams and a picnic area, as well as a large children’s playground, café, toilets and a seasonal paddling pool. It also surrounds The Rookery, a historic formal garden.

It was originally part of an extensive network of open heathland and woodland known collectively as the ‘Great North Wood’, where local residents exercised rights to graze their livestock on it or collect firewood. Over time large areas of the Great North Wood were gradually enclosed and sold off for development, but part of it was saved and designated a ‘Metropolitan Common’ in 1884 to protect it for free public access and enjoyment.

The Common is popular for walking, jogging and sports as well as an important stop on the 'Capital Ring', a long-distance circular walking route around large parts of Greater London.

Streatham Common is managed through a range of partners including the Friends of Streatham Common and Streatham Common Cooperative (SCCoop), with local people and businesses helping to conserve and manage the woodlands, the paddling pool, and the adjacent Rookery.

The Common is a key site within London Wildlife Trust’s 'Great North Wood' project. This is helping raise awareness of the original Great North Wood, as well as improving people’s access to and ownership of their local open spaces through new signage, volunteering and guided walks or talks.

Streatham Common, along with the Rookery, is a Borough "Site of Importance for Nature Conservation" (or SINC) for the London Borough of Lambeth. This is in recognition of its importance not just for wildlife, but also for people living in both Lambeth and London to enjoy access to nature.

Streatham Common is a holder of a number of awards from London In Bloom, such as ‘Common of the Year’ and ‘Large Conservation Area of the Year’. These recognise the hard work and achievements made in order to provide visitors and residents of Lambeth with a safe, welcoming and popular open space they can be proud of.

Declaration as a Local Nature Reserve 2013

Streatham Common is exceptionally rich in biodiversity as well as history, including the largest areas of acid grassland and deciduous woodland in Lambeth. This is why over 50% of the Common is designated as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

It was first declared in 2013 by the London Borough of Lambeth under powers vested in it through Sections 19 and 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, and is now one of five LNRs found in Lambeth.

Other useful information

The Rookery - The Rookery

Capital Ring Walk - Capital Ring

Friends of Streatham Common (FoSC) - Friends of Streatham Common

Streatham Common Cooperative (SCCoop) - Streatham Common Cooperative

The Great North Wood Project - Great North Wood

London In Bloom - London In Bloom

Booking tennis courts in parks and open spaces

Booking sports facilities in Streatham Common.