Records Broken at Gunnersbury Park Centenary Event
Organisers say museum had its busiest day ever
The giant Community Picnic Blanket, a 50-metre patchwork made from more than 400 individually decorated squares
May 29, 2026
Gunnersbury Park marked its 100th birthday in style over the Bank Holiday weekend, as more than 2,500 visitors gathered in blazing sunshine to celebrate the landmark anniversary. With temperatures soaring to 34.8 degrees, the park was transformed into a lively festival of music, dance and community spirit, drawing residents of all ages for a day that organisers described as the busiest in the museum’s history.
The centenary celebration brought together a mix of live performances, hands-on activities and local creativity. Visitors joined 1920s-inspired dance workshops, learning Charleston, Black Bottom and Lindy Hop routines that echoed the era when Gunnersbury first opened to the public. Musicians including Jasper Squire, the Green Ribbon Club and the Orchard Jazz Quartet provided a soundtrack that drifted across the lawns, while guided tours offered a chance to explore the park and museum’s history in more depth.
A bustling community market showcased more than 30 local makers, charities and organisations, and inside the museum, archive displays revealed rarely seen photographs and documents tracing the park’s evolution over the past century. One of the most striking features of the day was the giant Community Picnic Blanket, a 50-metre patchwork made from more than 400 individually decorated squares created by volunteers, school groups, community organisations and families. Throughout the afternoon, children and adults searched for their own contributions stitched into the vast collaborative artwork.
Local MP Rupa Huq joined the celebrations, offering warm thanks to the volunteers, artists and residents who have shaped Gunnersbury’s story over the decades. Her remarks echoed the mood of the day, which highlighted the park’s role as a shared space at the heart of the community.
Organisers also expressed gratitude to the many local businesses and creators who donated prizes to the birthday raffle, including Lynne Moulding, Crochet Bouquet, Middlesex Pride, Mahaba Café, Bonwoire, Ajubi’s Afrimart, Craft Room, Speak Out in Hounslow, Lucky Number 5, Artsi Glass, Charlotte Berridge and Kaiviti Sunshine.
Reflecting on the scale and spirit of the event, Kate Soleki, Visitor Engagement Manager at Gunnersbury Park & Museum, said it had been a joy to welcome so many people for such a significant moment. She noted the record numbers inside the museum and the crowds enjoying the park, adding that it was particularly moving to see contributors discovering their squares on the enormous picnic blanket.
The birthday party is just one highlight in a year-long programme of centenary events, with further activities, exhibitions and community projects planned throughout the summer and beyond as Gunnersbury continues to celebrate its first century as a public park.
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