Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath
Wimbledon Common consists mainly of a plateau of acidic grassland, the most notable area being The Plain.
Scarcely a crest breaks the smooth table and nowhere can you find a summit. Soils are impoverished gravels, ideal for heathland and bogs. The land falls away to the west down through the other main habitat, mature woodlands, to Beverley Brook, where the geology is predominantly London clay.
The golf course used by the two golf clubs is also a large feature of Wimbledon Common.
Continuing northwards from the Windmill up to the A3 and beyond, the plateau of Putney Heath is characterised by extensive areas of heathland, interspersed with groups of trees.
The mounds of Roehampton Hills were formed in the late 60s by spoil from the nearby A3 cutting, an ideal area for sledging when it snows! North of the A3, the Heath is comprised of woodland and a series of open glades, including The Frying Pan, a popular area for picnicking.
The Heath was once described as ‘a wide expanse of open ground, uncultivated, where large crowds could assemble, horses could be raced, troops could be exercised and reviewed, duels could be fought and highwaymen preyed on the increasing traffic along the Portsmouth Road.’
Getting Here
Driving
Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath are in South West London, divided by the A3 and bounded on the east side by the A219, Wimbledon Parkside.
Car Parks
There are car parks located around the Commons. Closure times, where applicable, are posted at the car park entrances.
We operate a Voluntary Car Park Donation Scheme in the Windmill Car Park which allows you to make a donation for parking. You can pay by card at the machine which is near the Tea Rooms entrance, or you can pay by phone - please see here for more details.
Windmill Car Park Windmill Road, SW19 5NQ (open between 7.00am and 5.30pm)
The Windmill Car Park - open between 7.00am and 5.30pm (if there is any doubt, always check the sign at the entrance to the car park).
There is no additional parking outside the car park so please do not leave your vehicle on Windmill Road or any verge.
Toilets: The toilets are open from 7am to 5pm.
Springwell Car Park (SW19 4UW then follow Sunset Road) - Open dawn to dusk
Springwell car park is open (no facilities)
Telegraph Car Park (SW15 3TU - Open dawn to dusk)
Ideal to explore Putney Heath, this car park is open (no facilities)
By Bus
Wimbledon Common
93 from Putney Bridge to Cheam, passing right alongside Parkside and through Wimbledon Village. For the Windmill alight at the Parkside Hospital stop.
Putney Heath
There is a bus terminus at the Green Man, Putney Heath and the following buses terminate here:
14 from Warren Street
37 from Peckham Bus Station
The following buses also stop here:
85 from Kingston Hill Road to Putney Bridge Station
170 from Danebury Avenue/Minstead Gardens to Victoria Bus Station
493 from St George’s/University of London to Richmond/Manor Road
By Train
Nearest stations are:
Wimbledon Mainline Station
Wimbledon District Line Underground Station