The huge glass and iron structure that was the original Crystal Palace was built in Hyde Park in 1851 to house the Great Exhibition.

After the exhibition finished the palace's designer Sir Joseph Paxton arranged for the structure to be transferred to Penge Place Estate, Sydenham, now called Crystal Palace Park.

Crystal Palace was reopened in 1854 by Queen Victoria. It stood on its new location until it burned down in 1936.

The remains of the palace are now Grade II* listed and can be found at the top end of the park nearest to Crystal Palace itself. They include terraces, sphinxes and a huge bust of Sir Joseph Paxton.

The park is also famous for its children's farm, boating lake, maze and its display of life-size dinosaur statues together with other prehistoric reptiles and mammals. The dinosaurs were built at the lower end of the park, near Penge, and remain there today, together with geological exhibits. Sports events and concerts are still held in the park.

The Crystal Palace Museum is on Anerley Hill and is staffed by Crystal Palace Foundation volunteers. The museum is open Sundays and Bank Holidays from 11am to 5pm.

Park opening details: Daylight hours

Tel: 020 8778 9496

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