page_title: Paddington Recreation Ground
section_title: Sporting heritage
hierarchical_section_title: Paddington Recreation Ground / Sporting heritage
caption_attribution_description: English: While a medical student at St Mary's Hospital Roger Bannister prepared for the 4 minute mile attempt at Paddington Recreation Ground
context_page_description: Paddington Recreation Ground is a park in Maida Vale, City of Westminster, just north of Paddington. Its 27-acre site is the largest area of parkland located entirely within the City of Westminster. It was the first park of its kind in London, having operated since 1888. Annually, it attracts over 1.5 million users, who visit the Recreation Ground for its green-space value.
  The area covered by the park has "Conservation Area" status. It was selected in 1995 by the LEU as a non-statutory Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation.
context_section_description: Catford Cycling Club first held track races in the grounds in 1889, just one year after the park was opened to the public. It was reported in The Woolwich Gazette in 1892 that these races were attracting up to 7,000 spectators. The cycling club relocated their races to a purpose-built velodrome in 1894.
  The original running track, which was removed in 1987 to make way for the new cricket pitch, was used by Roger Bannister in the early 1950s to train for the four minute mile attempt, while he was a medical student at the nearby St Mary's Hospital in Paddington. A blue plaque was unveiled at the pavilion in September 2000 to commemorate his achievement.
  Another blue plaque at the pavilion honours the success of former professional racing cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins, who learned to ride a bike in the park as a child while living in nearby Kilburn. His father, Australian professional cyclist Gary Wiggins, also trained at the grounds in his younger days, as did former British track cyclist Reg Harris before him.
  The hockey pitch is home to Hampstead & Westminster Hockey Club, who enter teams in both the Men's and Women's England Hockey Leagues. Established in 1894, this is one of the largest adult hockey clubs in the UK.
caption: Sir Roger Bannister's blue plaque
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