For a loved one who enjoyed the outdoors, one meaningful and visible way you can remember them is a park bench. This can be somewhere you can sit and reflect, and is a benefit to the whole community.  

Across the UK, local councils and park authorities manage official memorial bench schemes that allow you to donate or sponsor a bench with an inscription. These are not private possessions: once installed, they become part of the public landscape and are maintained by the local authority. Usually the council/authority gives permission for a duration of ten years. 

Why Choose a Memorial Bench? 

Memorial benches: 

• provide a physical place of reflection for family and friends 

• become part of everyday community life 

• offer a beautiful, public tribute that continues to give back 

• can be inscribed with personalised text (within set council limits) 

Policies vary widely between local authorities and often change depending on space availability and park capacity, eg one London borough only replaces ‘old benches’, so assuming the duration of the memorialisation is ten years, at the end of that period the original benefactor can choose to pay to renew, or free it up for another person to use. 

The Process: Step-by-Step 

Here’s how the process usually works across UK councils: 

Contact the Park Authority First 

Every park or open space is managed by a relevant authority: 

• London borough councils (e.g., Westminster, Islington, Lambeth) 

• County councils (e.g., Medway, Walsall) 

• National or city charities for larger parks (e.g., The Royal Parks) 

Start by getting in touch with the parks team to ask whether they offer a memorial bench scheme and whether there’s space available. Some councils even close applications temporarily when spaces are full.  

Submit an Application or Request 

Most councils will have a formal process, often an online form or email, where you’ll need to supply: 

• your preferred park and location 

• the type of bench you want 

• proposed inscription text 

• your contact details (sometimes including a phone number) 

Many councils encourage you to include photos or the GPS location of your preferred spot to help assess suitability.  

Bench Availability & Placement 

Space is often limited 

Councils have limited space, so even if a bench scheme exists, your preferred spot might not be available: 

• Kensington & Chelsea currently has waiting lists for some parks such as Holland Park.  

• Lambeth Council lists some parks at capacity, like Clapham Common and Brockwell Park.  

Most authorities will try to accommodate a location request, but they reserve the right to decide the exact placement based on accessibility, space, and maintenance requirements.  

Bench Style & Inscription Rules 

Bench design and plaque styles are usually standardised to ensure they fit with other park furniture. Some councils also have rules about what can be written: 

• Islington offers engraved benches with inscriptions and generally costs around £850–£1,000 inclusive of installation.  

• Ealing Council allows wooden or Clarendon benches, with plaques and inscriptions fixed at manufacture; final text must be approved by parks staff.  

• Lambeth publishes a price range for benches (£1,000–£2,500) and plaques (£80–£280) depending on bench type and location.  

Councils often limit the character count of inscriptions and reserve the right to refuse text that’s offensive or unsuitable for a public space.  

Costs & Timing 

Costs vary significantly depending on location, bench style, and whether installation and maintenance are included: 

Some examples 

• Westminster: £1,775 including bench, plaque, installation and 10 years of maintenance.  

• Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea: £1,215 fixed cost for bench (plaque stamped separately).  

• Islington: around £850–£1,000 for benches with engraving and installation.  

• Tower Hamlets: ~£950 for bench & plaque in most parks, or £1,250 in Victoria Park; plaques alone on existing benches are also possible.  

• Walsall: around £1,848 including a new bench and plaque.  

• Enfield: ~£2,278 including bronze plaque.  

Timescale: Once approved and paid for, councils typically order and install benches within 8–12 weeks, depending on supplier lead times and council workloads.  

Ownership & Maintenance 

Once installed, the bench belongs to the local authority. They will normally maintain it as part of their parks service. However: 

• damage from vandalism might not be removed automatically 

• benches can be relocated or removed for safety or park redesign 

Councils often contact donors if a bench must be removed, but this isn’t guaranteed.  

Special Cases: Royal Parks & Large Historic Sites 

The Royal Parks (which manage big spaces such as Hyde Park and Greenwich Park) have their own dedication programme separate from borough parks. Contributions are significantly higher, from around £5,000–£10,000+ depending on park and bench style, and include personalised inscriptions and guided support through the process.  

Final Tips 

Reach out early: Applications can take weeks to process before you even order the bench. 

Be flexible on location: Many parks are at capacity, and authorities may suggest alternatives. 

Keep text meaningful but concise: Councils often have character limits and need to approve inscriptions. 

Keep contact details up to date: Most councils keep a record so they can contact you about repairs or bench removals.