Let’s Draw Crystal Palace Park

Saturday 19th September 2026

Led by Alvin Cheng and Lis Watkins

In September, we head to Crystal Palace Park in South London. The park was created in the 1850s after the Crystal Palace was moved from Hyde Park, where it had housed the Great Exhibition of 1851. Alongside the Palace, a range of attractions were developed to draw visitors to the area, including the dinosaurs, hedge maze, aquarium and the Crystal Palace Bowl.

Although the Palace was destroyed by fire in 1936, the Grade II* listed park still has plenty of places to discover and sketch, especially following the refresh completed this summer.

Let’s Meet Here

Our 11:00 am meeting point is outside the Brown & Green Life Cafe, near the Penge Gate park, entrance on Thicket Road.

The cafe is around a 7-minute walk from Penge West station, served by the London Overground Windrush line, with services towards West Croydon.

Alternatively, you can reach Crystal Palace station, served by the Windrush line and National Rail services from London Bridge and London Victoria. The walk to the meeting point is slightly longer, at around 10 minutes, but takes you through the park.

What to Sketch

Crystal Palace Park is full of nature and architecture thanks to its history, so there is plenty to sketch. It is worth spending 10–15 minutes walking through the park first to explore the different areas and, if you can, looking for different perspectives by going up and down the park.

What’s New

• Dinosaur Playground – a prehistoric-inspired play space.
• Crystal Palace Dinosaurs – the sculptures have recently been refreshed.
• Visitor Centre – the centre has been rebuilt, with a small shop and an illustrative exhibition inside.
• Terrace – the terrace has been refurbished, and the sculpture of Joseph Paxton, the architect of Crystal Palace, has been moved there.
• Park paths – some paths have been resurfaced to improve access and ease of walking.

Within a 5-minute walk from the meeting point

• Crystal Palace Dinosaurs – the world’s first dinosaur sculptures, with more than 100 years of history. They are Grade I listed and have recently been refreshed.
• The lake next to the Brown & Green Life Cafe, with birds and boats available for visitors to hire.
• Brown & Green Life Cafe – the cafe and its surroundings, or views from inside while having breakfast.
• Visitor Centre – the rebuilt centre and the telephone box outside, previously used for showcasing artists’ work.
• Grand Centre Walk – people relaxing on the grass and the surrounding park.
• Dinosaur Playground – the playful structures and activity around them.
• Crystal Palace Triangle, officially called Westow Hill – shops, streetscape and views towards central London.

Walking further can bring you to…

• Crystal Palace Park Farm, part of Capel Manor College, where you can see a variety of animals. It is open from 12:00–3:30 pm.
• Crystal Palace Bowl, also known as the Crystal Palace Concert Platform, which hosts concerts during the summer. There is a coffee stand nearby.
• The Maze, one of the largest mazes in London.
• The woods within the park.
• The sculptures on the Upper Terrace, the remains of Crystal Palace, overlooking East London towards Bromley.
• Crystal Palace National Sports Centre – the building itself, as well as the outdoor athletics stadium and volleyball courts.
• Crystal Palace station – including its architecture and ticket hall. There is another Brown & Green Cafe inside the station.
• The remains of the aquarium – the park once had an aquarium, the remains of which are now beneath the Crystal Palace transmitting station. They can be found on Old Cople Lane from Upper Terrace.
• Crystal Palace bus station – including the buses and the charging station currently being trialled for route 358.

Rain Cover / Hot Weather Options

• Brown & Green Life Cafe inside the park has views over the surrounding area.
• Crystal Palace station has a spacious ticket hall and a small shelter outside. The Brown & Green Cafe inside the station is another option.
• Visitor Centre has a small exhibition about the park, which could also provide shelter for a quick sketch.

Practical Information

Transport

London Overground – Windrush line

You can travel to either Crystal Palace station or Penge West station.

From Canada Water, take a train towards Crystal Palace or West Croydon, depending on which station you are using. From Whitechapel, services also run towards Crystal Palace and West Croydon.

For the meeting point at Penge Gate, get off at Penge West on a West Croydon service. Other services will not take you to the park.

National Rail

Crystal Palace station is served by trains from London Victoria and London Bridge.

Bus

• 176, 227 – Penge Gate
• 157, 227, 358, 363, 410, 417 – Crystal Palace Bus Station
• 157, 249, 358, 432 – Crystal Palace Station

Car

There are four car parks within Crystal Palace Park, with access from Thicket Road, Anerley Hill and Crystal Palace Park Road. For opening hours and charges, please check the [Crystal Palace Park Trust website].

Toilets

• Public toilets next to the Information Centre near Penge Gate
• Brown & Green Life Cafe inside the park (the station cafe does not have toilets)
• Crystal Palace Bowl
• Crystal Palace Park Farm, available between 12:00 and 3:30 pm

Food & Drink

There are various food and drink options in different parts of the park, with more choice around the two Brown & Green cafes near Penge Gate and Crystal Palace station.

• Brown & Green Life Cafe in the park
• Brown & Green Cafe inside Crystal Palace station
• Snacks and drinks from the Dinosaur Playground kiosk
• Ice cream van along Grand Centre Walk
• Concert Platform Cafe next to Crystal Palace Bowl
• Coffee stand on the Upper Terrace

Accessibility

Crystal Palace Park is built on a hill, so some paths can be steep. Most paths are step-free, and a number have recently been resurfaced to make walking easier.