Regional Park: London/Eastern England

Lee Valley Park

Along the Lee Valley between east London and Ware 4,050ha/10,000 acres

A mosaic of countryside areas, urban green spaces, heritage sites, country parks, nature reserves and lake and riverside trails along one of the Thames' major tributaries, the Lee (or Lea), from its confluence at Bow Creek in the heart of east London along the boundary of Hertfordshire and Essex to Ware. 

 A number of the country parks, open spaces and walks within the Park have disabled access. Contact the Information Centre for more details.

Local Authorities Enfield, Essex, Hackney, Haringey, Hertfordshire, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest

Principal sites

  • Cornmill Stream and Old River Lea Dragonfly Sanctuary Waltham Abbey. A Site of Special Scientific Interest
  • Gunpowder Park Enfield Lock. 90ha/222-acre country park on site of former gunpowder mill testing grounds, with wetlands, parkland, woods and ponds, opened in 2004.
  • River Lee Country Park 400ha/1000 acres of lakes, waterways, countryside, paths and tracks on both sides of the river between Waltham Abbey and Broxbourne.
  • Sewardstone Marsh near Epping Forest and Chingford
  • Three Mills Island A group of historic restored industrial buildings in a fascinating setting near Bromley by Bow, surrounded by a complex of waterways, alleys and paths. Tel 020 8215 0050
  • Walthamstow Marsh Nature Reserve and Hackney Marshes Between Clapton, Leyton and Walthamstow. One of the last remaining examples of semi-natural wetland in greater London, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the extensive open spaces of Hackney Marsh, now mainly used for formal sport.

Paths and routes Better Haringey Trail, Capital RING, Harcamlow Way, Lea Valley Walk and various shorter circular walks, Leyton Loops (nearby), London LOOP, New River Path, Pymmes Brook Trail, Walk the Bid, Waterway Discovery Walks (see Lea Valley Walk)
Good paths also connect the Park with Epping Forest: see Corporation of London Open Spaces

Tourist Information Centres

See also the Park Information Centre below.

Public transport. WAGN rail services run from London Liverpool Street and Hackney Downs towards Hertford, Stansted Airport and Cambridge through the park itself, calling at Tottenham Hale, Enfield Lock, Broxbourne, Ware and many intermediate stations. Hackney Wick and Stratford are on the North London Line with Silverlink services to Richmond and North Woolwich, and there is also a Silverlink local service connecting Blackhorse Road with Gospel Oak and Barking. The southern end of the park is also served by London Underground's Central, District and Hammersmith & City Lines and the Docklands Light Railway. There are many buses. There are also some boat excursions along the Lee Navigation: ask the Information Centre for details. See our Public Transport for Walkers page for more about transport in London and how to find detailed information on services and fares.

Explorer Maps 162, 174
Landranger Maps 166, 177

Contacts

  • Lee Valley Park Myddleton House, Bulls Cross, Enfield EN2 0HG
    Information Centre         Lee Valley Park Farm, Stubbins Hall Lane, Crooked Mile
    Waltham Abbey, EN9 9EG    , tel 01992 702200
    www.leevalleypark.    org.uk
  • Lea Rivers Trust

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