Potters Fields Park Grand Reopening

London is full of tiny little parks, lurking between roads and buildings and just longing to jump out and soothe unsuspecting passers-by. The tiny Potters Fields Park is one of them: nestled on the south bank of the Thames between the bulbous swell of City Hall and the overwrought Victorian charm of Tower Bridge, it’s just reopened after a three million pound refurbishment, and it’s worth a look — especially today or tomorrow, since the grand reopening is accompanied by free street comedy, puppets, thousands of candles, and a trapeze act.

There’s also music from the consistently delightful Orkestra del Sol, who yesterday had lured the employees of City Hall out from their offices onto the roof, to lean over the edge and listen; and there’s… something… from Dot Comedy’s dotMaze. We at the London Stopover Blog had never previously encountered a comedy maze, or even the concept, but now that we have, we approve: anything that causes us to drop our camera case in momentary amused terror must be a good thing. (And psst: the password for the topiary teacup was “vafel proizvod” yesterday, though it might have changed by the time you go).

There’s no playground equipment at the park, and no refreshment tents, and the nearby cafe charges a pound for non-customers to use its toilets, so don’t plan to spend the whole day there. If you’ve got a spare hour or two, though, it’s a nice short walk along the river from London Bridge Station, and definitely worth a glance. And now that the park’s reopened, filled with light sculptures and pretty new benches, its trees flourishing in the warm weather, it’s worth keeping in mind as somewhere to sit down in to read or talk or watch the city get dark.

Potters Fields Park Grand Reopeningnext to City Hall, Friday 18 May, 12-2 and 6-10; Saturday 19 May, 1-5.