Croydon Road Recreation Ground — Attraction in London

I don't often venture to leafy Beckenham, but ever since reading Lesley-Ann Jones’s excellent Bowie biography, Hero, I’ve had it on my list to visit ‘Bec Rec’ (now Croydon Road Recreation Ground), to witness the famous 'Bowie Bandstand', centrepiece of his August 1969 Growth Summer Festival, which helped launch his career. As my son was playing a football fixture in nearby Bromley, I snatched the opportunity.

I didn’t have long there, just twenty mins or so. Unless you’re a Bowie fanatic, you probably wouldn’t spend hours here. As with any pop music shrine, you just want to take it in, snap it, and move on.

The Croydon Road entrance is typical late 19th century Victorian. Behind wrought iron gates, lies that surreal spray of petunias and geraniums you so often see in parks, one of the few things at which city councils are universally adept. You instantly understand why Bowie chose this place for his spiritual gathering. I entered with a strange mix of impressions: momentousness, and mundaneness. I imagine Bowie felt similar emotions about this park, and the rather asphyxiating normality which surrounds it, while teleporting himself from suburbia to superstar.

The bandstand itself sits to your right as you enter the park, and I have to admit I missed it at first. As I approached it, I stopped short, put in my earbuds, and put on ‘Memories of a Free Festival' (the song Bowie wrote about the event). The lyrics are magical, and give a fascinating insight into his recollections of the day – almost like a lyrical diary entry.

I would give the park itself five stars, but as my mission was solely to see the bandstand, I’m giving it four. The blame for that lies with whoever has failed to maintain this cultural icon. Today, the woodwork, and ironwork are rotting away. I was also disappointed to see there is no plaque to mark its place in rock folklore.

All that said, tomorrow might be different. I am heartened to see that a group called the Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground are in the process of securing funding, and a schedule of restoration.

Once their work is done, hopefully, the memories of Bowie’s free festival will never...

Don't get me wrong, 3 out of 5 ain't bad. We went here specifically because it had paddling pool and playground. Looked good on Google and it was a red-hot day. The paddling pool is hazardous. The filter pump was running and water clear, but the pool bottom slopes down to the centre, there are no flat bits. It is slippery and kids were slipping over frequently. The joints in pool surface are broken, been repaired poorly and painted over a few times. Still, it is cool and fun as long as you take care. Great shady grassy areas around for picnics etc. and for keeping an eye out on the play. Playground has great and varied equipment, each with soft material to land on. Some quite challenging. Even good trees to climb and bushes to explore. The areas between equipment is tarmac and brick, so watch young children when they move quickly from one to the next. Also there are open areas for ball games and other fun sports.

Cafe and toilets a good walk away near tennis courts. Didn't use...

I went there for the fireworks so this review is heavily biased by that experience.

In terms of a venue for fireworks 🎆 I don't think it served well. I felt squashed and compacted. The rides were close together and the food retailers were a bit if a stretch. Very long ques which is not the best when you have children. Fortunately we went to wimpy before so leas of an issue but it would of been nice to get doughnuts.

The entrance is too narrow for major events and the serving pavements makes it a bit if a hazard as you at times need to venture out on the road in order to mobilise.

I can imagine in the day good for dog walkers. Good size playground. Parking facilities near by.

Improvements would be to landscape that land. It has these weird creator like unevenness not shure what's going on there. Have wider openings to make events...