Welcome to
Harrow Recreation Ground
Welcome to Harrow Recreation Ground, Harrow - Green Flag Park Winner
“The Rec” is the oldest park in the Borough, created through public subscription by Victorians, who may have foreseen London’s housing spreading outwards with the coming of the railways and Metroland.
The park was opened in 1885 and extended as far as Cunningham Park in 1889. The Bowls Club was formed in 1902 and there was once a croquet lawn, putting green, ladies’ bowling green, and shooting range. The locally listed wrought iron gates at the Pinner Road entrance were installed to commemorate King George V’s coronation in 1911. The giant redwood tree in the southwest corner was planted in memory of Prisoners of War who died in captivity in the Far East 1941-45. In 2022 an oak tree was planted near the café to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
Park Facilities
Just a stone’s throw from Harrow town centre, our park provides an excellent mix of facilities including:
leisure
healthy exercise
children’s play
sports
places to enjoy nature
We are also proud of our Victorian shelters, the groves of mature trees, the tranquil Ahimsa Peace Garden with picnic area and the friendly Park Café.
Harrow Recreation Ground Users Association (HRUA)
We are a voluntary group of park users who organise around 10 free events in ‘The Rec’ each year, open to all.
We act when needed as a support and lobbying group on behalf of park users, and we aim to work in partnership with other park groups and clubs, alongside Harrow Council, to make sure that the facilities in the park can be enjoyed by all.
You can join us as a member for just £5 per year per household, to help support our work and keep the events programme free.
Also, if you are an group or team that is based in our park or regularly uses its facilities, you can join our Organisation Members section, to discuss matters of mutual interest and support each other.
Have some free time and looking to make new friends?
Why not join our friendly volunteers group to help with any of the following or other activities as they come along.
Support includes:
gardening
keeping the park clean and tidy
helping to set up and run our community events.
Events and Activities
HRUA organises around 10 events per year, centred around music, fun and appreciation of nature, and there are regular community gardening and litter-picking sessions that you can join.
Our park partners organise weekly fitness and social sessions, most of which are free – such as the popular Tai Chi for Heath, parkrun, and Fitness Boot Camp. You can also join in one of Harrow Council’s Health Walks that are based in our park.
For news and up to date information you should visit the park’s website at harrowrec.org.uk, join our Facebook group (“Friends of Harrow Rec”: the FB Group, not the “Page”), or follow us on Instagram (@harrowrecreationground)
Facilities at Harrow Recreation Ground, Harrow
Name: Harrow Recreation Ground
Location: Hindes Road, Harrow.
Entrances also from:
Pinner Road
Roxborough Road
Cunningham Park
Beresford Road
Harrow Cemetery
(click here for the full list)
Postcode: HA1 1RR (Hindes Road)
What3Words: — normal.flying.zealous
Type of Site: Park and Recreation ground with Café
Open to Public: Yes
Opening Times: Daylight hours
Special Conditions:
Disabled car park spaces available HA1 1PB
Public Transport
Bus: H14, H18, H19
Short walks from:
Harrow on the Hill (Metropolitan Line and Chiltern Rail)
Harrow and Wealdstone (London North Western and Southern Railway). Overground (Lioness Line) and Tube (Bakerloo Line),
West Harrow
Tube (Metropolitan Line).
Click on each park link below for more information
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Alexandra Park is a vital 9-hectare green space in South Harrow, shaped by gently curving paths, mature trees, and wide grassland that supports recreation, wellbeing, and local biodiversity.
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The park offers open space ideal for casual walks, informal games. as well as sport facilities including:
four tennis courts available for hire
football pitches available for hire.
There is a car park with approximately 40 spaces next to the tennis courts.
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Canons Park is listed as Grade II on the Register of Parks and Gardens. The park has several listed buildings. The King George V Memorial Garden is a walled garden in the park. It was originally part of the duke's kitchen gardens.
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Chandos Recreation Ground was awarded Green Flag status in 2025
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Harrow Recreation Ground was awarded Green Flag status in 2025
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Headstone Green Community Group (HGCG) is a local group, working together to look after the new 'Headstone Green' park, located just off Pinner View and Umpire View (previously known as St George's Playing Field).
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Headstone Manor Park is located in North Harrow. The park provides over 50 acres of recreation grounds. We completed a full park restoration in 2021. This included new wetland to help with flooding in the area. There is also a footpath which goes around the whole park.
Headstone Manor is a significant scheduled monument. It is home to four historic listed buildings and a 14th-century moat. The museum will show you how Harrow became so unique. From the Stone Age to the arrival of the railways, Headstone Manor has seen it all.
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Kenton Recreation Ground was awarded Green Flag status in 2025
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Montesole Playing Fields has a range of amenities. It is a large open space with football pitches, tennis courts, and a multi-use games area. It also has a general children's area and allotment next to it.
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Pinner Village Gardens are owned by the London Borough of Harrow, located in the borough’s Pinner South Ward on the outskirts of Pinner town centre, and have entrances from Rayners Lane, Compton Rise, Whittington Way and Hereford Gardens. They are a 10-minute walk from Pinner tube station on the Metropolitan Line and provide 6.58 hectares for informal recreation. The park is supported by the work of the Friends of Pinner Village Gardens.
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Rayners Mead is located in North Harrow. There is access from Imperial Drive and Park Drive. There are two tennis courts and a children's playground.
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Located behind the Harrow Arts Centre in Hatch End, Riverside Park is a peaceful green space with a rich mix of wildlife habitats, open grassland and family-friendly facilities. The award-winning park has achieved Green Flag status and is maintained by London Borough of Harrow, together with the volunteer group Friends of Riverside Park. The River Pinn runs through the park, creating a wetland woodland and excellent opportunities for bird spotting and nature walks.
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Roxbourne Park is located near Rayners Lane. There is a range of amenities at the park, including a miniature railway. In summer, children can enjoy train rides on it on Sundays. There is also access to Roxbourne Nature Reserve in the park.
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Roxeth Recreation Ground was awarded Green Flag status in 2025.
Located to the south of Northolt Road in South Harrow with entrances off Kingsley Road. The recreation ground provides nearly 7 hectares of open space with football, bowls and cricket facilities. The bowls green is home to Roxeth Bowling Club.
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Stanmore Recreation Ground is located in Stanmore. The park has open space with football and bowls facilities. There is also a nursery in the park called Little Avanti Day Nursery.
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Warren Lane, Stanmore, HA7 3HQ
The Belmont nature trail exists along the remains of an old railway line shut by Beeching in 1960s. Since then it has slowly re -wilded itself and has become home to an abundance of wildlife and plants. It is about a mile long and takes about 20 mins to walk it. It runs alongside Wealdstone cemetery and Byron park. These nearby open spaces and tall poplar trees attract parakeets, jackdaw and other interesting birds to this stretch. Foxes, voles, deer, hedgehogs and badgers have been seen along the trail.
Addrtess: There is a car park off Warren Lane HA7 3HQ
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Peaceful green open space lodged between Cannonbury Avenue & Glover Road featuring a plethora of flora, fauna and wildlife.
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West Harrow Recreation Ground is located on The Ridgeway. There is also a small car park and a coffee shop with a seating area. The park is the home ground for a few cricket teams and West Harrow Bowling Club. There is also a pre school in the park and a fitness boot camp.
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Peaceful linear park with a stream side walk featuring a plethora of flora, fauna and wildlife; including a section of The Willow Tree Walk stretching into Hillingdon.
