Priory Park Crouch End: A Family Guide and Workout

Every parent in N8 has a “default park”, the one you end up at when you have an hour to fill and the kids need to run off some energy. For a lot of families, that is Priory Park, Crouch End. It has a playground, a paddling pool in season, a café, tennis courts and enough open grass for a proper run around. This Priory Park Crouch End guide covers what is there, when the paddling pool is likely to be on, how to get there from Archway, and how to use the space for a quick workout of your own while the children play.

Priory Park Crouch End: the facts

The park is on Middle Lane, London N8, between Crouch End and Hornsey. It is run by Haringey Council, is open 24 hours, and gets more than 25,000 visitors a year. It has held a Green Flag Award, a national mark of a well-run park, every year since 2003. According to the council’s Priory Park page, facilities include:

• A children’s playground and a disability play area
• A paddling pool
• A café and toilets
• Tennis courts for adults and children, bookable online, with free tennis coaching advertised for all ages
• A basketball court, table tennis table and pétanque court
• The philosopher’s garden, a dog-free picnic area

There is some lovely local history too. The land was bought by the Hornsey Local Board in 1891, and the big granite fountain, unveiled in 1909 and made from 50 tonnes of Cornish granite, now serves as a planter. Four heritage trail boards around the park tell the story, which makes a nice “find all four” mission for primary-age kids.

Paddling pool season

The paddling pool is the big summer draw. Haringey publishes paddling pool opening times on a separate page, and the dates depend on the weather and maintenance each year. At the time of writing the council said it was having minor repairs and would open soon. My advice:

• Check the council’s paddling pools page before promising it to the kids.
• Expect it to be busiest on hot weekend afternoons. Weekday mornings in the school holidays are calmer.
• Pack water shoes, sun cream, hats and a towel, and keep a close eye on toddlers, even in shallow water.

For a wider list of options when it is shut, see my round-up of paddling pools in North London.

Getting there from Archway

The 41 bus runs between Archway and Crouch End, which makes Priory Park a short bus ride for Archway families. If you are feeling energetic, walking up via Hornsey Rise and Crouch Hill is a good hilly warm-up, though it is a fair distance with small children. With a buggy, the bus is the sensible choice.

A 20-minute parent circuit at Priory Park

Pick a bench where you can see the playground. Do each exercise for 40 seconds, rest for 20, and complete 3 rounds. Every move has an easier and harder option.

1. Bench squats: sit down and stand up from the bench without using your hands.
   Easier: use your hands. Harder: lower slowly for 3 seconds.
2. Incline push-ups: hands on the bench back or seat.
   Easier: hands higher. Harder: feet on the ground, hands on the seat, slower.
3. Reverse lunges: step back, lower, return. Hold the bench if you need balance.
   Easier: smaller step. Harder: no support.
4. Bench step-ups: only if the bench is stable and not wet.
   Easier: use a low kerb or step instead. Harder: drive the knee up at the top.
5. Grass bear crawl: hands and feet, knees just off the ground, 5 steps forward and back.
   Easier: hold the position still. Harder: go further.

Finish with a 2-minute brisk walk around the edge of the park and a calf stretch against a tree. If you are newly postnatal, wait until your GP has given the all-clear, usually after your 6 to 8-week check, as explained in the NHS guide to your 6-week postnatal check. Stop if anything hurts.

Family games for the open grass

• Heritage trail race: find all four history boards. Everyone walks fast, nobody runs on paths near little ones.
• Tennis ball relays: carry a tennis ball on a racket or spoon to a tree and back.
• Table tennis rounds: bring bats and balls. Loser does 5 squats.

Where a bootcamp class fits

Park circuits are a good habit, but it is hard to push yourself while also watching the paddling pool. My bootcamp gives you 45 minutes of coached training where your only job is you, and it is a short hop from Crouch End. I wrote more about it in my guide to a bootcamp for Crouch End parents. If you fancy something different, my SYP Box Fit beginner boxing class (no sparring, ever) is a favourite with parents who want to hit something after a long week. For another local park nearby, see my guide to Stationers Park in Crouch End.

FAQs

When does the Priory Park paddling pool open?

It opens seasonally in warmer months, but dates vary each year. Check Haringey Council’s paddling pools page for current opening times before you go.

Does Priory Park have a café and toilets?

Yes, there is a café and public toilets in the park.

Can you book tennis at Priory Park?

Yes. The tennis courts can be booked online, and free tennis coaching for all ages has been offered through the park’s tennis programme.

Are dogs allowed in Priory Park?

Dogs are allowed in the park, but the philosopher’s garden picnic area is dog-free.

Book your first class

If you want a weekly workout just for you, SYP Bootcamp runs 45-minute small-group classes indoors in a church hall in Archway N19. There are at most 10 people, it costs £15 a class, and every exercise has easier and harder options. Book your £15 class here or call or WhatsApp me on 07301 512215. Mums who would like extra one-to-one support can read about my personal training for women in Archway.

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.