The Estates East Guide to Local Parks

There’s a big wide world of fun, right here on your doorstep.

Posted on Monday, August 15, 2022

We’re into that period that happens every year, where for about 3 weeks, everyone believes it’s Autumn. Obviously there’s the rush to get the uniforms and stationery, if you have kids, while seeing the evenings start to draw in. It can also be a time when we feel that we didn’t do half the stuff with the kids that we intended. 

Well, there’s another couple of weeks to go and once Winter gets its mitts on us, we’ll be glad we squeezed every drop of sunshine and freedom that we could out of this Summer.

There’s still time to make memories, hire a boat and go wild among the trees. And the good news is that we live in east London in an area rich in cultural history and natural wonder. Walking, cycling, boating, nature trails, sports, dining out or picnicking, whatever your brand of fun looks like, our local parks have excellent amenities and are alive with the buzz of natural green space and community spirit. 

Here’s a reminder of where our local parks are (in no particular order) and if you’ve just moved here, welcome, get stuck in.

Victoria Park

What’s it like?

Huge, 218 acres, and at 170 years old, London’s oldest public park. Lovebox takes place here, there’re also football pitches, cricket, tennis and a skatepark. And there are zen areas too, with a Chinese pagoda in the middle of the East Lake, and often people practising Tai Chi. Worth noting the Pavilion cafe does a cracking brunch. 

Nearest station?

Mile End and Bethnal Green tube stations (10-15 minute walk).

Leyton Jubilee Park

What’s it like?

There’s a fantastic play area with a good range of equipment, but oh the trees. A wide variety of species, and on London Plane, the central avenue, some of the trees are over 100 years old. The park was named to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

There’s also an outdoor gym, nature area and all-weather football with multi-use pitches including beach volleyball.

Nearest station?

Leyton, Leyton Midland Road (15-minute walk), and Lea Bridge (10-minute walk)

Hollow Pond

What’s it like?

A very special and popular area near Walthamstow and Leytonstone. There’s beautiful scenery, acres of wide open and natural green space and a boating lake where you can hire a boat and get out on the water. The area is huge, so a good way to explore the flats is by bike or by following one of the many trails. This is a notable place for bird watching too, so bring some binoculars or just kick off your shoes and enjoy peaceful picnicking at the water’s edge.

Nearest station?

Snaresbrook or Wood Street (15-minute walk).

Wanstead Flats

What’s it like?

A large area of open grassland, lovely for picnics and enjoying nature and an official Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Wanstead flats circles Jubilee Pond, a haven for aquatic plants and wildfowl including coots, mallards and moorhens, there’s also a pond dipping platform. There’re lots of nature trails to follow around the pond, and people often do the trails on bike, horse or with a dog. Wanstead Heath is also popular for bird watching and spotting meadow pipits and skylarks. Although it’s a nature filled experience, there’re also playing fields and options for easy access for the walks.

Nearest station?

Wanstead, Wanstead Park

London Fields

What’s it like?

One of the trendier parks, a 30-acre green space, good for walking, sport and sun-seekers, and where the distinctive pollarded trees cut interesting shapes. There’s also a heated lido, a cricket pitch, basketball nets, paddling pool and tennis courts, with children’s playgrounds and a new wildflower meadow. Popular for enjoying drinks, picnics and playing. No BBQs though.

Nearest station?

Bethnal Green

Lloyd Park

What’s it like?

A historic green space, refurbished in 2012 and where you’ll find the William Morris Gallery and tea rooms, William Morris designs have influenced the refurbishments but the 18th-century moat remains. There’s also an outdoor gym, table tennis, children’s play areas with sandpit and a new skate park. It’s a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by, walk, cycle or enjoy sporting events and courses that are run there. And on Saturdays, there’s a weekly market food market with high-quality farmers, producers and street food.

Nearest station?

Walthamstow Queen’s Road station

Walthamstow Wetlands

What’s it like?

500 Acres of internationally important reserve, where a collection of reservoirs have been transformed into Europe’s largest urban wetland reserve with a myriad of species of wildfowl to spot. This is where you come for big walks and to connect with nature. You’ll find good facilities including a shop and cafe, along with bird hides and a visitor centre.

Nearest station?

Tottenham Hale and Blackhorse Road stations (10-minute walk)

Epping Forest

What’s it like?

The Forest was dedicated by Queen Victoria ‘for the enjoyment of my people forever’. It’s the largest open space in London at over 6,000 acres and one of the earliest publicly accessible landscapes in England. It's somewhere you can explore open grasslands, majestic oak, beech and hornbeam woodlands, look deep into its ponds and listen to the birds and insects. It’s home to 55,000 ancient trees, and these along with its wildlife, grasslands and heaths have earned Epping Forest international conservation importance, with over two-thirds of it being designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). 

Nearest station?

Epping Underground Station, but Chingford station gets you right to the entrance.

Come on, let’s all get out there. And please check local sites for the latest information before you go.