Discover more at Morden Hall Park
Find out how to get to Morden Hall Park, where to park, the things to see and do and more.
Things to do at Morden Hall Park
Open all year, Morden Hall Park is an urban oasis – an opportunity to escape city life, enjoy the open green space and discover wildlife and nature. As you walk through open meadows crisscrossed by tree-lined avenues, wooded riverside and wetlands, you see hints to the park’s heritage including the Rose Garden and Snuff Mill. There’s a natural play area for our younger visitors and cafés and a garden centre to make the most of your visit.
Explore the park
Don’t miss out on seeing some of the favourite spots in the park. Pause to enjoy the sounds of the rushing river or spot wildlife in the wetlands. Admire the views across the bridges to the historic buildings.
Rain or shine, the park always looks inviting and magical especially if you get here early in the morning before everyone else. Many of the buildings aren’t open to the public as they’re tenanted to raise valuable income for the park.
Here are some of the special spots you won’t want to miss:
- Look back from the white bridge to the restored waterwheel
- Peer over the folly bridges to see Morden Hall
- Watch the sun come up over the meadows
- Take to the trails: find out about exploring on foot or by bike
If you would like to discover more about the history of the park, join our knowledgeable tour guides for a leisurely stroll around the park. Our free history tours run every Sundays at 11am and 12.30pm. There's no need to book, just turn up. You can find more about this and other events taking place at Morden Hall Park by clicking the button below.
Go orienteering
Add an extra challenge to your walk or run through Morden Halk Park and have a go at orienteering. Whether you're walking with family, exploring an area or going for a run, download the map and look for the 14 posts in the park. Your challenge is to find the quickest route to each of the posts.
The route has been created by Mole Valley Orienteering Club and you can download the map from their website or the Go Orienteering website.
Summer in the park
Morden Hall Park bursts into life in summer - wildlife in the wetlands, leafy avenues and the fragrant and flower-filled rose garden are all waiting to be discovered or revisited. Bring a picnic and outdoor games, or book a ticket for some outdoor theatre and make the most of those long summer days.
The Rose Garden
Bring a picnic and lose yourself in the wonderful smells and sights of the Rose Garden. In mild years the roses continue to flower into the autumn, but the Rose Garden is at its fragrant and beautiful best from mid-June to mid-July.
The South Park
Make the most of the wide-open spaces in the South Park: picnic among the wildflowers, play outdoor games, walk the dog, go for a run or a bike ride.
The River Wandle in summer
Wander along the riverside in the cool shade of the trees and play a game of Pooh sticks from the iconic white bridge.
Swimming and paddling in the river
It’s tempting to paddle in the river when it's so hot, but we don’t encourage swimming or paddling in the water in Morden Hall Park as, though we do our best, we can’t guarantee it’s safe.
The park's historical buildings
Spot all the old estate buildings that made up the Hatfeilds’ country estate. Morden Hall sits majestically in its own private garden, the white bridge tempting you to get a little bit closer.
Morden Cottage, set perfectly in Mr Hatfeild’s rose garden, boasts fond memories of many registry office weddings.
The restored Stableyard welcomes you inside to discover the exhibition centre hosting a changing programme of community exhibitions.
The River Wandle
Once powering over 100 mills, the Wandle meanders throughout the park. The restored waterwheel gives a glimpse back to the park’s industrial history. The wheel no longer turns, but behind it you can see the modern waterwheel, a hydro-electric turbine.
Enjoy the sounds of the rushing water over the weir, race your sticks under the many historic bridges or simply explore the channels that network around the park.
For a longer walk, follow the Wandle Trail to the Thames passing Merton Abbey Mills or up to its source in historic Carshalton village.
Fishing at Morden Hall Park
To allow fish to breed in peace in Morden Hall Park we enforce the traditional closed season for coarse fishing from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. You can view more information about fishing in the park here.
Staying safe around water
Whilst the river might be inviting, it is not safe to enter, either for paddling or swimming. It is fast flowing, varies in depth and has unseen hazards that may result in serious injury or death. In addition, the water quality is unsuitable. Your cooperation in staying out of the water also helps us to protect the river wildlife and avoid damage to the banks.
Watching wildlife in the wetlands
At the north end of the park discover the wetlands fed by the Wandle. Take to the boardwalk to watch and listen for a variety of wildlife visitors, from the squawk of the invading green parakeets to the blue flash of native kingfishers.
The viewing platform on the boardwalk is a great place to get close to waterfowl such as mallards, herons and seasonal visitors including the little egret.
Woodland beauty
One of the most beautiful aspects of Morden Hall Park is the sheer number of trees. Head in any direction you like to discover magnificent specimen trees and pockets of woodland.
The adventure play area
The natural play area is all about fun - with a zip wire, play fort, stepping stones, bucket swings and climbing posts. Whether your youngsters are into imaginative play or physical challenge, there’s something for them to enjoy here.
Family facilities at Morden Hall Park
Baby-changing facilities are available in the Stableyard toilets, Snuff Mill, and Potting shed café. Pathways around estate are level and accessible for pushchairs. There is a toddlers and children book section available in our second-hand bookshop.
Thank you for your support
Morden Hall Park is open to everyone throughout the year for free. The cafés and garden centre help raise money to keep the park looking splendid. Every coffee you drink and gift you buy helps look after this lovely place.
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Morden Hall Park is a three pawprint rated place. There are 125 acres of beautiful parkland, paths and riverside for you and your dog to explore here.
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Enjoy freshly prepared tasty snacks and cakes at a choice of two cafés and pick up the perfect read at the second-hand bookshop, all supporting the National Trust’s work.
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