Danson Park is a public park located between Welling and Bexleyheath. At 75 hectares, it is the second largest public park in the borough (the largest being Foots Cray Meadows at 100 hectares), and the most used by the community. Opened in 1925, it is often considered the finest green open space in the borough.
Danson Park was the private estate lands for Danson Hill, a mansion built between 1762-67 for wealthy merchant Sir John Boyd. The grounds were laid out at the same time, designed by Nathaniel Richmond in the manner of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, with a large ornamental lake overlooked by the mansion. In 1924 the property was sold by the Bean family to Bexley UDC and in 1925 was opened by Princess Mary as a public park. The mansion is now the borough's Registry Office. There are three ornamental gardens, an Old English Garden near the Mansion, a Rock Garden at the western end and a Peace Garden in the south-east corner.
It provides a large number of facilities. Further details can be found at GC8P3HN
Set overlooking the award-winning Danson Park, this beautiful Grade I listed Palladian villa was officially re-opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in July 2005.
Built by Sir John Boyd in 1766 for his second wife Catherine Chapone, Danson House was originally designed by architect Sir Robert Taylor (who was also the architect of the Bank of England). In the twentieth century, the house fell into an almost ruinous state. In 1995 English Heritage identified the house as 'the most significant building at risk in London', signalling the start of a decade of restoration. In 2005 the restored interior opened to the public for the first time in thirty years.
Danson House is now the official Register Office for the London Borough of Bexley. The House used to be open to the public for a small fee on Thursday's. However, this is currently suspended due to Covid.
Don't forget that there is also an Adventure Lab cache to do at Danson House.