Crouch End Playing Fields: A Guide for Families

Ask people in Crouch End where the nearest big green space is and you will get a mix of answers: Priory Park, Stationers’ Park, Highgate Wood. Fewer people mention the large stretch of grass, woodland and sports grounds tucked between Park Road, Wood Vale and Shepherds Hill. The Crouch End playing fields are a bit of a hidden gem, and they are a great place for families who want room to roam and for adult beginners who want space to run without dodging buggies on narrow paths. They also come with a few quirks you should know about before you go.

What the Crouch End playing fields actually are

This is not a typical council park with one set of gates. It is a patchwork of open space and private sports clubs. According to the AccessAble guide to Crouch End playing fields, the area includes:

• A woodland area with unmade paths
• Cricket clubs: Highgate CC and North London CC
• Tennis clubs: Hanley LTC, Georgian LTC and Wood Vale TC
• Footpaths and tarmac driveways linking the clubs

Part of the land is owned and managed by the Shepherds Cot Trust, and a local charity, Crouch End Open Space (CREOS), works to protect and improve the area for public recreation and wildlife. CREOS runs regular volunteer work days, which are a lovely way for older kids to get stuck in outdoors.

The important bit for families: the club grounds, pitches and courts are private. Stick to the public paths and open areas, keep off cricket squares, and respect any club signs. The woodland and paths are where you can wander freely.

Getting in and getting there

AccessAble lists three access points:

• Montenotte Road, off Shepherds Hill, by the entrance to Highgate Wood School, where there is a free car park
• Wood Vale, with an entrance between numbers 35a and 37
• The Greenways path, which links Wood Vale to Park Road

The nearest tube is Highgate on the Northern line, just one stop from Archway, and from there it is a walk down Shepherds Hill. Buses also stop within a short walk. From central Crouch End, the Park Road side is the natural way in.

A few practical points worth knowing before you set off with children:

• No toilets on site, so plan around that.
• Most paths are unlit, so it is a daylight destination, especially in winter.
• Surfaces vary: tarmac driveways, compact earth, wood chippings and, after rain, mud. Some woodland paths are narrow, and some entrances have staggered barriers that are fiddly with a wide buggy.
• No benches along the paths, according to AccessAble, so bring a picnic blanket if you want to sit.

Making the most of it as a family

The joy of this space is that it feels wilder than a formal park. Ideas that work well:

• Nature hunts in the woodland: conkers and leaves in autumn, bugs and birds in spring. Count how many different trees you can find.
• Watching cricket on a summer weekend from the public edges, which is a gentle, cheap afternoon out for curious kids.
• Combine it with Highgate Wood, which is right next door and has a playground, café and toilets. My guide to Highgate Wood with kids covers that side. Note that cycling is not allowed in Highgate Wood.

A beginner running plan for the playing fields

For adults who want to start running, open space beats busy pavements. You can run on soft ground, you have no traffic to stop for, and you do not feel watched. Here is a 4-week starter I give clients, done 2 to 3 times a week. Use the tarmac driveways and firm paths when the woodland is muddy.

Week 1

5-minute brisk walk, then 6 rounds of 1 minute easy jog and 2 minutes walk. Finish with a 5-minute walk.

Week 2

5-minute walk, then 6 rounds of 90 seconds jog and 90 seconds walk. 5-minute walk to finish.

Week 3

5-minute walk, then 5 rounds of 2 minutes jog and 1 minute walk. 5-minute walk.

Week 4

5-minute walk, then 4 rounds of 3 minutes jog and 1 minute walk. 5-minute walk.

After each run, add 5 minutes of strength on the grass: 10 squats, 10 glute bridges, 8 incline push-ups against a tree or fence, 20-second plank. Repeat twice.

Go at a pace where you can still talk. If your knees, hips or shins hurt, slow down or walk, and stop if the pain gets worse. If it keeps happening, see your GP or a physio. The NHS Couch to 5K programme is a good next step once week 4 feels comfortable.

Other green spaces near Crouch End

The playing fields work best combined with nearby spaces. Wikipedia notes that Crouch End does not officially have its own park, with Priory Park and Stationers’ Park as the main ones, plus the Parkland Walk running along its southern edge. I am working on a guide to Priory Park in Crouch End for families.

Where a bootcamp class fits in

Running on grass is brilliant, but when the paths turn to mud in November and the light goes at 4.30pm, outdoor plans struggle. My classes run indoors in a church hall in Archway, a short bus or tube ride from Crouch End. They are small, max 10 people, and every exercise has an easier and harder option. For new runners, my SYP Built To Last functional strength class builds the leg and hip strength that keeps running comfortable. If you live locally, my page on bootcamp for Crouch End explains the best way to get to class.

FAQs

Are Crouch End playing fields open to the public?

The paths and woodland areas are open to walk through, and AccessAble lists the area as open 24 hours. The cricket and tennis grounds are private clubs, so stick to public paths and open areas.

Are there toilets on site?

No. AccessAble lists no public toilets. The nearest public facilities are in Highgate Wood, by the café and playground.

Is it suitable for a buggy?

Partly. The tarmac driveways are fine, but woodland paths can be narrow and muddy and some entrances have staggered barriers. A sturdy all-terrain pushchair copes best.

Is it safe to run there in the evening?

Most paths have no lighting, so I recommend running there in daylight. In winter, choose a lit route or an indoor session instead.

Book your first class

If you want somewhere warm, dry and well-lit to build your fitness through the winter, come and try a class. SYP Bootcamp runs 45-minute small-group sessions in Archway N19, maximum 10 people, all fitness levels, £15 a class. The timetable is sent when you book. Book your £15 class here, or call or WhatsApp me on 07301 512215. If you would prefer 1-1 sessions closer to home later on, here is my page as a personal trainer in Highgate.

About the author

Artem Olekhnovych is a personal trainer in Archway and the founder of SYP Fitness and SYP Bootcamp. He has coached clients in Archway, Highgate and across North London for over 10 years, and runs small-group bootcamp classes for busy mums and dads. Read reviews from his 1-1 clients.