SOUTH-WEST LONDON 239 



less before many years the tide of buildings will 

 have completely encircled and flowed beyond 

 the outermost open spaces described in this and 

 the preceding chapters. 



Within these limits we find that the South- 

 west district, besides being the least densely 

 populated portion of London, is immeasurably 

 better off in open spaces than any other. There 

 is, in fact, no comparison. The following is a 

 very rough statement of the amount of space open 

 to the public in each of the big districts, omitting 

 the cemeteries, and all gardens, squares, greens, 

 recreation grounds, and all other open spaces 

 of less than ten acres in size. West London, 

 including Green Park and St. James's Park, has 

 about 1,500 acres. North London (Xorth-west 

 and North districts), which has two very large 

 spaces in Ptegent's Park and Hampstead Heath, 

 has about 1,300 acres. East London, excluding 

 Epping Forest, Wanstead Flats, and Ham Com- 

 mon, has less than 1,000 acres. South-east 

 London, 1,500 to 1,600 acres. South-west 

 London has about 7,500 acres, or 2,200 acres 

 more than all the other districts together. This 

 does not include Old Deer Park, which is not 

 open to the public. If we include Green, 



