The best things to do in Crystal Palace

The statues of dinosaurs in Crystal Palace Park have been one of London's best-known attractions for centuries. Famously anatomically inaccurate, the Victorian creatures are hidden among the greenery on the southern end of the park and can be viewed on foot or by pedalo. The photos and descriptions really don't do them justice – they're incredibly impressive in person and well worth a visit.

On the north-eastern end of Crystal Palace Park, you'll find the Bowl, a concert stage that goes back decades and has hosted some of the biggest bands in history – Bob Marley & The Wailers played their last and biggest London gig here in 1980, while Pink Floyd delivered a legendary gig almost a decade prior. Set within a lake, it's a unique outdoor venue distinguished by excellent acoustics – catching a summer gig is a joy.

It only runs on Wednesday mornings, so catching the Crystal Palace Car Boot Sale might be tricky if you aren't local. If you do manage to make it, however, you'll be able to browse a vast and varied assortment of second-hand goods, with professional and more casual vendors selling everything from antique furniture and vintage jewellery to vinyl records, instruments, and all sorts of trinkets.

Crystal Palace Wine Club is a laidback wine bar right next to the park, stocked with more than 150 bottles from around the world. It treats everyone as a member, aiming to make wine accessible and enjoyable to all, and runs weekly wine tasting sessions to that end. Join them for an informative and entertaining evening where you'll learn about wine, sample intriguing vintages, and meet like-minded people.

Part of the bedrock of UK skateboarding culture, Crystal Palace has been home to the first skateboarding pool built in London for 40 year since 2018. Experienced skaters can hit the pool, bowl, or other elements, while those still starting out can stick to the more mellow section. The free skatepark is open to everyone, and you can also book skateboarding lessons here.

Crystal Palace FC is a solid mid-table Premier League club, and its fans are known for being among the most passionate supporters in the division – on match day, the atmosphere at and around Selhurst Park Stadium is electric. You can book a tour of the stadium to go behind the scenes and learn more about the club and its home ground – it's more than 100 years old, so it's seen a lot of sports history.

Situated within the historic grounds of Crystal Palace Park, this charming city farm offers a unique glimpse into life on a working homestead. Visitors can meet the resident menagerie, ranging from inquisitive pigs and goats to gentle rabbits and poultry. While entry is free of charge, you can support the ongoing care of the farm animals with a voluntary contribution.

We've mentioned quite a few of Crystal Palace Park's attractions already, but it bears mentioning that the park itself is well worth a visit as well. The sizeable plot of land is bursting with greenery, and there's something interesting to discover down every path, from a hedge maze, fishing lake, and, er, gorilla statue, to a lovely café, a weekly food market, and more.

If Crystal Palace Park is a tad too orderly and civilised for your nature fix needs, head north to Sydenham Hill Wood, 10 hectares of land covered in new and ancient woodland. You can wander among the hundreds of species of trees, plants, fungi, insects, birds, and mammals who call it home – there's even a disused railway tunnel that's now a registered bat roost.