It is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea. It used to be known as a popular spot for dueling. It is also famous for having hosted the first exhibition of football played under the rules of the recently formed Football Association on 9 January 1864. The park is host to a small zoo, all-weather outdoor sporting facilities including tennis courts, a running track and football pitches; a boating lake, as well as being the site of the London Peace Pagoda. In 1985 a replica of the bronze statue of a dog that was the focal point of the historic Brown Dog affair was erected in this park.
