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Walking in East London

With hundreds of parks and green spaces, and miles of riverbanks and canals, East London offers plenty of interesting walking routes. Even if you have lived in the area for years, going for a walk can give you a fresh view of the neighbourhood. So why not take a look at some of our published walks. Here are some of our favourite places to walk:

Mile End Park and the Regent's Canal
Running like a green spine through the East End, Mile End Park is packed with variety. There’s an ecological park, art pavilion, terraced flower gardens and children's play areas. And once you’ve explored the park, you can follow the Regent's Canal to the north, past Victoria Park, Broadway Market and round to Islington.

The Greenway
When Victorian civil engineer Joseph Balazgette extended his huge sewerage system out East, he probably didn't envisage the embankment above it becoming a popular walkway. But these days, as you stroll along the Greenway, you get a fabulous view of the Olympic developments. After a coffee at the View Tube, follow it on, past Abbey Mill Pumping Station, and through the arboretum at Beckton District Park, to reach the Thames.

Lea Valley Walk
Walking beside water can be very calming. We especially like walking the Lea Valley from Tottenham Hale to Limehouse. It takes in Hackney Marshes, offers glimpses of the Olympics, wanders past the atmospheric Three Mills, and finally heads to Limehouse Basin. And you can pop into a Narrow Street pub afterwards.

Enfield Lock and Epping Forest
If you're feeling in need of some fresh air and sweeping views, then follow this section of the London Loop. After skirting the Lea, past the old rifle-testing works, you climb up to a great view of King George's Reservoir, before heading down through the fringes of Epping Forest.

Thames Path
With each twist and turn the Thames Path gives you a fresh view. A firm favourite of ours is to join it by the Tower of London, and head eastwards through Wapping, Limehouse and round to Canary Wharf. Take a break, just past Wapping Pier Head, at the Turk's Head Café. And with your batteries re-charged you'll stride on, by Limehouse Basin, King Edward's Park, Ropemaker's Gardens and so to the glistening towers on the Isle of Dogs.

So what are you waiting for? Get your shoes on and let’s get walking.




Walking in East London"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive at where we first started
And to know the place for the first time."
From Little Gidding, a poem by T S Eliot
© Walk East CIC