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Morden Hall Park, Morden

Companionship careMerton

Days out in Merton for an older parent

Nine places in Merton that make a good day out for an older parent, from Morden Hall Park to Morden Park. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

Morden Hall Park. Photo: Garry Knight, CC BY-SA 2.0

Nine days out across five towns

The best places to take an older parent in Merton

Eight of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one describes a step-free route, and two confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Morden Hall Park, Morden

Photo: Garry Knight, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Morden

Morden Hall Park

Morden Hall Park is a National Trust estate of parkland and former snuff mills beside the River Wandle in Morden, with a rose garden, a wetland boardwalk, the restored waterwheel at the Snuff Mill and a second-hand bookshop. There are two cafés, a garden centre and riverside paths crossed by small bridges, so you can do a short loop or a longer wander.

The main paths are a flat gravel and tarmac mix with only slight inclines up to the bridges, and there is Blue Badge parking, adapted toilets at the Snuff Mill and Garden Centre and wheelchair accessible cafés for a sit-down.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free to enter, open all year

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Morden

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour, Wimbledon

Photo: Neil Tilbrook, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Wimbledon

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour

The museum at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon tells the story of The Championships through trophies, tennis kit, film and interactive displays. The guided tour takes you behind the scenes to Centre Court and the press areas, with staff leading the group at a steady pace.

The museum has step-free level access throughout with seating in the exhibition spaces, and Blue Badge parking and Blue Badge drop-off points are described in the AccessAble guide, so a carer can drive close to the entrance.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Wimbledon

Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon

Photo: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Wimbledon

Cannizaro Park

Cannizaro Park is a Grade II* listed public garden off West Side on Wimbledon Common, laid out with a sunken garden, water garden, Italian garden, Mediterranean garden and rose garden. Rare trees, azaleas and quiet corners with benches make it a place for a slow walk and a sit in the shade.

The council lists a café and both public and Radar accessible disabled conveniences on site, and the garden is small enough for a short circuit with frequent stops rather than a long walk.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Wimbledon

Wimbledon Common, Wimbledon

Photo: Colin McLaughlin, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Wimbledon

Wimbledon Common

Wimbledon Common is over 1,000 acres of heath, woodland and ponds managed by the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators, with the 1817 windmill as its landmark. You can watch birds on the ponds, follow the wide tracks near the Windmill car park or simply sit outside the tearooms and watch the riders and walkers go by.

The Windmill Tearooms sit in the Windmill car park and open seven days a week, so a carer can park, do as much or as little of the wide level track as suits and come back for tea.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Wimbledon

Canons House and Grounds, Mitcham

Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Mitcham

Canons House and Grounds

The Canons is a restored eighteenth century house with walled grounds, a large pond and a dovecote, a short walk from Mitcham Cricket Green. The grounds have an activity trail, a growing space run by local volunteers and a community café in the courtyard buildings.

The Pawelek coffee shop in the community café gives a warm indoor stop with public toilets close by, and the grounds are level and open enough for a gentle turn around the pond before sitting down.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Mitcham

Merton Abbey Mills, Colliers Wood

Photo: Man vyi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Market town · Colliers Wood

Merton Abbey Mills

Merton Abbey Mills is the old William Morris works beside the River Wandle at Colliers Wood, now a small courtyard of craft studios, cafés and pubs with a working waterwheel and the Wheelhouse. At weekends the arts and craft market fills the yard with stalls selling handmade goods, plants and street food.

Everything sits around one flat courtyard within a few minutes of the car park and the Wandle path, so a carer can plan a short browse with a long stop for lunch, and should check stall days and toilet arrangements before setting off.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Colliers Wood

John Innes Park and Recreation Ground, Merton Park

Photo: Images George Rex, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Merton Park

John Innes Park and Recreation Ground

John Innes Park is a Green Flag award winning Edwardian park in Merton Park, with ornamental gardens, a rock garden, a bandstand and mature trees. Beyond the formal beds lie the bowling and croquet greens, tennis courts and a cricket pitch to watch from a bench.

The park is small and largely flat with plenty of benches among the ornamental beds, and the council lists parking and disabled toilets on site, which makes a short garden stroll easy to manage.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Merton Park

Wimbledon Park, Wimbledon

Photo: Cmglee, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Wimbledon

Wimbledon Park

Wimbledon Park is one of the largest parks in Merton, next door to the All England Lawn Tennis Club, with a big lake, ornamental gardens, a rockery and broad tree lined paths. You can watch the sailing and paddleboarding from the lakeside, follow part of the Capital Ring route or stop at the park café.

There is a car park, a café and toilets including NKS Radar accessible toilets, and the lakeside paths are wide and level so a walk can be as short as the bench nearest the car park.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free park, some activities charged

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Wimbledon

Morden Park, Morden

Photo: Images George Rex, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Morden

Morden Park

Morden Park is a large open space of grassland, mature trees and a low hill on the edge of Morden, with the Georgian Morden Park House at its northern end. Paths cross the open ground and there is a quiet woodland edge, a model aircraft flying zone and long views from the higher ground.

Entrances on London Road, Lower Morden Lane and Hillcross Avenue mean a carer can drive to the side of the park that suits and keep the walk short, and it is worth taking a flask since facilities are limited.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Morden

Regular groups and events in Merton

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Merton.

  • Cooking & Baking · WimbledonWeekly farmers' market in Wimbledon ParkA long running weekly market, Saturdays 9am to 1pm, with seasonal vegetables, cut flowers and other local produce. A carer can drive over, carry the bags and use the stalls to plan one cooked dish for the week rather than a whole shop.Details
  • Music · WimbledonWimbledon International Music FestivalThree weeks of concerts, talks and workshops each November, with international artists and local musicians playing in venues around Wimbledon. A carer can book an afternoon or lunchtime concert rather than an evening one, and arrange the door-to-door transport.Details
  • Dancing · MitchamAge UK Merton line dancing classA regular line dancing class run by Age UK Merton at Vestry Hall in Mitcham and Hill House Community Centre in Morden. A carer can go along for the first few weeks, help with the steps from a seated position if needed, and stay for the chat afterwards.Details
  • Fishing · MordenWandle Piscators, the river's fishing clubA mixed-species, mixed-method club founded in 2004 that holds the angling leases on stretches of the Wandle, including within the borough. A carer can sort the permit paperwork, carry the tackle and drive to a bank with a short walk in.Details
  • Painting · WimbledonArt in the Park at Cannizaro ParkA September art event in Cannizaro Park and Cannizaro House with a sculpture trail, open studios, free creative activities and an art fair showing around 50 artists. A carer can plan a short visit around the trail and the free activities, with breaks on park benches.Details
  • Reading · WimbledonWimbledon BookFestAn annual autumn festival of author talks and book signings run by a local arts and education charity. A carer can pick one or two daytime talks by familiar authors, book accessible seating and handle the travel.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Merton

At a glance

The nine places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Morden Hall ParkMordenhalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and TourWimbledonhalf a dayPaid entryYesAskAsk
Cannizaro ParkWimbledonan hour or twoFreeAskAskYes
Wimbledon CommonWimbledonhalf a dayFreeAskAskYes
Canons House and GroundsMitchaman hour or twoFreeAskAskYes
Merton Abbey MillsColliers Woodan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
John Innes Park and Recreation GroundMerton Parkan hour or twoFreeAskYesAsk
Wimbledon ParkWimbledonhalf a dayFreeAskYesYes
Morden ParkMordenan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Merton

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

Colliers WoodLower MordenWimbledonMordenMitchamMerton ParkRaynes ParkSouth WimbledonMorden Park123456789
  1. 1Morden Hall Park, Morden
  2. 2Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour, Wimbledon
  3. 3Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon
  4. 4Wimbledon Common, Wimbledon
  5. 5Canons House and Grounds, Mitcham
  6. 6Merton Abbey Mills, Colliers Wood
  7. 7John Innes Park and Recreation Ground, Merton Park
  8. 8Wimbledon Park, Wimbledon
  9. 9Morden Park, Morden

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Merton

Carers in Merton charge £19 to £20 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Merton has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Merton

Morden Hall Park in Morden, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour in Wimbledon, Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon, Wimbledon Common in Wimbledon, Canons House and Grounds in Mitcham, Merton Abbey Mills in Colliers Wood, John Innes Park and Recreation Ground in Merton Park, Wimbledon Park in Wimbledon and Morden Park in Morden. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour describes a step-free route. John Innes Park and Recreation Ground and Wimbledon Park have an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Morden Hall Park, Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon Common, Canons House and Grounds, Merton Abbey Mills, John Innes Park and Recreation Ground, Wimbledon Park and Morden Park. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 29 of the carers with a rate near Merton drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Merton shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Merton

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Merton

Days out in the areas around Merton

Companionship care by town in Merton

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Merton

See carers near Merton who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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