Nearer to home, another wonderful place to visit for some autumn colour, is Cannizaro Park, beside Wimbledon Common.

Cannizaro Park are the gardens that used to be part of the house that was built here back in the 18th century. What remains of the house is now a hotel and a good place to stop for tea after your visit. The gardens used to be quite large, as they encompassed part of the adjacent Royal Wimbledon Golf Club.

Between 1785 and 1806, Home Secretary and Secretary of State for War, Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, occupied the house. At this time it was a major social centre for royalty and senior politicians (George III, Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger and William Wilberforce all stayed there regularly). Dundas organised the landscaping of the gardens, the basic structure of which remains today. Lady Jane Wood in the gardens is a memorial to his wife (words courtesy of Wikipedia). For the fuller story please look out my book, The Commoners, which I published last year.

Tucked away in the park, you can find the odd folly, like this temple.

I hope you have enjoyed this picture visit to Cannizaro Park, which is well worth an hour or two of your time and free to walk around. As with all my recommendations, do please share any images you take should you go.