Tooting Common

• Athletics track
• Activity centre
• Fishing in season (membership required), horse riding
• Lake, nature trail
• Pond
• One o'clock club
• Parking
• Paved walks
• Play equipment
• Outdoor swimming pool
• Sitting out
• Sports pitches
• Tennis
• Wildlife areas
• Woods
• Youth club

Facilities and features: including walks, trails, events.  With 92 hectares (221 acres) Tooting Common is the largest of our open spaces. The common is managed with the objective of retaining much of its natural character. There is strong local involvement to help achieve this with a user group meeting regularly. 

Brief description (from the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust): Tooting Bec Common and Tooting Graveney Common, together with Streatham Green are the remains of common land that once stretched as far as Mitcham. As London's population was growing, and land was developed for housing, much of the old commonland was under threat, which led eventually to the passing of the Metropolitan Commons Act in 1866. By then the commons at Tooting had been divided by building of roads and railways, with the west end and Crystal Palace line in the north which opened in 1855, and the London, Brighton and south coast line running north - south which opened in 1861. Tooting Bec Common, comprising nearly 152 acres, was one of the first commons which the metropolitan board of works (MBW) took action to preserve following the act and in 1873 it acquired the manorial rights for £13,798. In 1875 the MBW acquired Tooting Graveney Common of 66 acres for £3,000 and also contributed £1,155 to the copyholders' expenses for resisting enclosure by the Lord of the Manor for building purposes. An avenue of trees marks the former boundary line between the two commons, now to all intents and purposes one common. Responsibility passed to the London County Council and in 1971 to us.

The landscape comprises areas which are more natural, with a number of woods and grassland, and other areas have been more formally landscaped for recreation or sporting activities. An avenue of oak trees remains along Dr Johnson Avenue that was planted in the late 16th century to commemorate a visit by Elizabeth I; other avenues include horse chestnuts planted in the 19th century, oaks planted in the 17th century by Garrard's Road, and a line of elms marked the southern boundary along Tooting Bec Road. Dr Johnson was connected with the area through his friendship with the Thrale family who lived nearby in Streatham Park. At the end of Dr Johnson Avenue is the old keeper's lodge, built in 1879. The lake was originally formed as a result of gravel digging but was created as an ornamental feature in 1895. Adjacent to the north east of the lake is a fenced area, the sanctuary, managed as a wildlife area, at the northern end of which is a fossil tree stump said to date from the age of the dinosaurs, placed here in Victorian times. Close to the junction of Tooting Bec Road and Elmbourne Road is the old yachting pond near which are now a number of sculptures created from storm-blown trees in 1987; other such sculptures are also found in Bedford Hill Woods. Facilities provided in the early 20th century include the tea house built in 1906, and the 300 ft x 100 ft Tooting Bec Lido built in 1905/6 paid jointly by us and the Central (Unemployed) Body for London. It is partly grass and partly shrubs and woods and forms an important and historic green area in this part of London despite the roads which cross it and are around it. The buildings around the common range from a Regency gothic villa, but is predominantly of the later 19th century.

Feedback and suggestions, contact us at parks@wandsworth.gov.uk