Tottenham Marshes

Watermead Way, N17 0XD

Never sleeps, open 24 hours a day

A great open space in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest and Haringey made up of three main parts

info@leevalleypark.org.uk

03000 030 610

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Facilities

Picnic spots

There are benches by the car park on Clendish Marsh which are perfect for enjoying a meal alfresco

Walking, running and cycling routes

All the paths are circular so you will find them easy to follow You can cycle around the marshes but some of the paths are not paved so proceed with caution during the winter and on wetter days.

Things to do

There are some wonder sculptures to find on the site so make sure you keep an eye out. The River Lee Navigation runs though the site, and it is a good walking, running and cycle route that links Hertford, on the River Lea, with the Thames in the south, where you can travel off road, for near to 30 miles. Just south of Clendish Marsh, is The Paddock, and Walthamstow Wetlands, which are two other wildlife areas, which are within walking distance from Clendish Marsh's Ferry Lane entrance.

Café

There is The Waterside Café by Stonebridge Lock is situated middle of the marshes, by the river.

Toilets

There is no public toilet on site. There is one toilet in the Waterside Café which opens with the café.

Things nearby

The Waterside Café

Enjoy a coffee by the waterside at Tottenham Marshes

Lee Valley Athletics Centre

You can try your hand at a range of athletic activities all in one place

The Paddock

Small open space in Tottenham with great community events

Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, Edmonton

Camp in the capital with this north London campsite with great connections to the centre

View over the marshes with two people walking in a field

Walthamstow Marshes

Discover the different wildlife and habitats in the capital in this wonderful open space

Lee Valley Golf Course

Test out the greens on this tricky but fun golf course in north London

Tottenham Marshes have a diverse history. Originally they would have been part of the natural floodplain of the River Lee. In the 1920s there were tennis courts and an open air lido on the marshes, fed by water from Pymmes Brook for a short spell. Later the site was used as a place to deposit building waste from bombed-out parts of London, which in some parts have raised the levels by two metres.

Now it's one of the largest open spaces in Haringey, and a very well-loved open space for dog walkers, nature lovers and people who simply want to unwind in a safe space. Tottenham Marshes straddles the border between the London Boroughs of Haringey and Waltham Forest. The marshes are situated just six miles from Central London and has three main parts Wild Marsh West, Clendish Marsh and Wild Marsh East. The sites are managed to encourage easy and welcoming access, with the majority of users walking, jogging and cycling and enjoying this open space close to Tottenham.

Tottenham Marshes has a wonderful community of wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers. Friends of Tottenham Marshes who do a bird count every month, who then share they’re wonderful sightings for everyone to enjoy and also form part of our recording. You can send in your sighting and join our gallery.

Spring

You will see many migrating birds coming to the valley, the meadows will be full of colour, from the wildflowers and in some places you can observe Bee Orchid too. On Wild Marsh West in the spring all the Cherry Plums are flowering and it’s a real spectacle when they are out. There are lots of butterflies that are present including Brimstone and Comma Butterfly. On Clendish Marsh, Kestrel can be observed hovering over the meadows in early spring and throughout the summer. The abundance of voles and mice are contributing to their diet.

Summer

When the meadows have finished flowering you will get all the grasses flowering and we have a good population of Common Toadflax on Wild Marsh West, which will turn the meadows yellow. They are particularly good for the Toadflax Brocade Moth. In the summer the Blackberries will ripen, and also the Cherry Plums, and they make good eating for the wildlife around. There are a few wooded sections that the walkers are particularly fond of during the summer, as they provide a shady walk

Autumn

Some of the meadows are cut and you will get some really nice autumn colour on the poplars and willows on site. The Rowan and Hawthorn will berry up and will be food for the many birds on the marshes in the winter.

Winter

In winter Stonechat are usually present and Linnet numbers increase, they can be seen feeding on seed heads of Teasel, dock and thistle. There are always a few winter visitors in the valley, such as Britain's smallest duck, Teal, you can observe if you are lucky, along the watercourse that intersect the marshes