Victoria Park

Much of the park was originally part of Colby's Farm, where Charles Dickens wrote part of Martin Chuzzlewit. In 1887 Henry Stephens proposed converting the fields to a public park to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, but it was not opened until 1902, a year after Queen Victoria's death. It was the only public park in the former Borough of Finchley until 1914. The park is mainly grassland, with playgrounds, fine trees and ornamental gardens, playing fields, six public tennis courts, Finchley Victoria Bowling and Croquet Club with two lawns and a clubhouse, and a café open seven days a week. There are entrances on Ballards Lane, Long Lane, Etchingham Park Road and Park View Road.