The Rose Garden, looking southeast from the Palace over London.
The Grove Garden
Alexandra Palace, seen from the west
The Rose Garden, looking southeast from the Palace over London.
The Grove Garden
Alexandra Palace, seen from the west
Alexandra Park, N22, in Hornsey, lies between Muswell Hill, Wood Green, and Hornsey. It can be reached on foot from Muswell Hil town centre to its west, and from Alexandra Palace Station to its east. The park is mostly surrounded by residential streets, except on the east side where there is a railway line, and some reservoirs and filter beds.
The park and Alexandra Palace were named after Princess Alexandra of Denmark, later Queen Alexandra, after her marriage to Prince Edward, who went on to become Edward VII of England. It is sometimes colloquially called 'Ally Pally'.Alexandra Park is situated at the eastern end of a small range of hills ('the northern heights') in north London. From here the ground drops away steeply toward Crouch End to the south, and the Lea Valley to the east. It provides the setting for Alexandra Palace, a spectacular building set in parkland, now visible for miles around.
The park contains the The Grove Garden, on the approach to Muswell Hill town centre to the west. This garden is older than the park, based on the garden of an old house that stood near the town centre. This area also contains old trees, and a number of herbaceous and seasonal beds. A newly refurbished cafe and seating area provide a central feature here, facing out on to well-kept lawns. Unfortunately there is a rather tatty entrance to the park through a covered walkway that leads to the town center of Muswell Hill.There is a rose garden on the eastern side of the Palace. This has fountains and other beds surrounding it, and has good views across east and southeast London.
A large number of trees, including many exotics, have been planted in groups and copses in recent decades. As a result, there are many small woodlands developing, including some that interrupt some of the views to and from the palace. This is not in keeping with its original layout and landscape plan, which emphasised the visibility of the Palace building, and views across London. However, the plantings are attractive, and have met with approval and assent from local communities.Much of Alexandra Park has been renovated with the aid of an Heritage Lottery Fund grant in recent years. There are conservation areas and ponds, being developed with community input. These are mainly at the foot of the slopes, and include areas around the car parks.
Alexandra Palace is for most people the primary attraction in Alexandra Park. It has been rebuilt in the 1990s, for the third time after fires. This extensive building, originally designed as a public venue, now includes a conference and exhibition centre, as well as an ice-rink, theatre, restaurant, and other recreational facilities.
Like its south London counterpart at Crystal Palace, it was made the location of a TV transmitting tower. This tower is situated over the east side of the Palace, and is visible from much of North London, and beyond.The palace is itself the biggest attraction in the park, and a number of facilities are available within it. Exhibitions, conferences, and other events are regularly held here.
Views across London from the outside of the palace are popular. On most days, most of the taller features of Central London can be clearly seen from the south terrace of the Palace complex. The TV transmission towers at Crystal Palace and Norwood, 20 km (12 miles) away in south London can usually be seen clearly.There is a boating lake and a playground in the northeast of the palace. .
An animal enclosure with deer is located beyond the playground, on the north-east side.There is a pitch and putt golf course on the southeastern slope towards Wood Green. Football and cricket facilities are provided at the foot of the hill, in several places.
A garden centre (Neal's Yard, a commercial venture) operates in part of the park grounds, with its own car park.The public opening of both of the park and palace date from 1873. The park consists of almost 90 hectares of landscaped grounds, surrounding the Palace which is on a hilltop viewpoint. The palace and park (often called Ally Pally, and sometimes referred to as the 'People's Park') were originally seen as North London equivalent of Crystal Palace and Crystal Palace Park.
Alexandra Palace and Park were originally meant to be operate as a money making venture, as a pleasure ground with paid entry. Because the park did not prove to be a commercial success, parts of the parkland were sold off in the latter 19th century to pay for maintenance. As a result the park is now only about two-thirds of its original extent. The housing developments and streets that almost reach the palace from its northern side are due to some of the sales.The park was designed by Alexander Mackenzie, in an informal style. It has been altered since, but most elements of the original layout can still be seen.
The palace has been damaged or destroyed by fire several times, including shortly after its opening, and also most recently in 1980.A railway line was built up to the north side of the palace, connecting it to Highgate station. This has long since been closed down.
The whole complex was finally taken into public ownership in 1901, and was taken over by the London Borough of Haringey in 1980. It is now managed by a trust that is owned by the borough of Haringey.Alexandra Park can be reached on foot along the Parkland Walk, a leafy footpath and cycling connection between Finsbury Park , passing by Highgate Woods, to Alexandra Park. This walk is based partly on the disused railway line that used to run to the palace.