Alexandra Park, London

Alexandra Park is an 80 hectare, Green Flag Award and Green Heritage winning landscaped park, dominated by Alexandra Palace, in the Borough of Haringey in north London. The name is also widely used locally to describe the neighbourhood directly to the north of the park.

Alexandra Park is split between hilly terrain and flat ground. It is adjacent to Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green. It is dominated by Alexandra Palace. From 1936 to 1981, the BBC transmitted TV programmes from a tall mast built onto one of the towers of the palace. In 1980, most of the palace was gutted by a huge fire. The building has since been restored and is now a conference and exhibition centre.

The vast, tree-lined sloping hill has wide views over London, spanning the whole panorama. On a clear day, the Crystal Palace Transmitter on the far south-east side of London is visible.

An Act of Parliament in 1900 created the Alexandra Palace and Park Trust. The Act required the Trustees to maintain the Palace and Park and make them available for the free use and recreation of the public forever.

The park is named after Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII.

The park has a secondary school named after it called Alexandra Park School.

Until September 1970, Alexandra Park hosted horse racing, including many evening meetings that were televised by the BBC. The racecourse in the park grounds was nicknamed "the Frying Pan" owing to its shape, and boasted an ornate Victorian grandstand and cast-iron railings. Its most prestigious race was the London Cup.

Alexandra Park Cricket and Football Club is situated within the old racecourse providing sporting facilities for the local community.

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