Here comes summer
- Lee Valley
- Jun 30
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 29
What better signal that summer has arrived than a picnic in a park, an afternoon of outdoor theatre or a school holiday wildlife spotting expedition?
Lee Valley Regional Park has got you covered for all the above and more.
Jump to the section best for you!
National Picnic Month
Whether you want wide open spaces, a spot by the water, the backdrop of a historic site or a feast with a view, we’ve got some lovely locations in Lee Valley Regional Park to roll out your blankets and enjoy a picnic in the great outdoors.
If you missed National Picnic Week in June, fear not, July sees the start of a whole month when people are encouraged to embrace the picnic tradition - National Picnic Month!
Lee Valley Regional Park has 10,000 acres of open spaces to explore – here are our Top 15 locations to stop for a picnic this July…. and August.
Share your favourite picnic spot in the park with us on social media. Post a picture and tell us why you love it. Use #LeeValleyPicnics. We can’t wait to hear about your top spots for al fresco dining.
Our volunteer Caroline Leonard, shared her favourite place for a picnic in the park.
“This hidden gem is tucked in the north of River Lee Country Park in Nazeing. The first field is a lovely spacious area with picnic tables shaded by oak trees
Following the path into the next field, there is a large lake with numerous waterfowl living on it. There are benches to sit and admire the view and nearby is another picnic area. Many birds nest at Clayton Hill and the uncut meadow areas are a fantastic place to spot a variety of butterflies, moths, dragonflies, damselflies and many other insects. Clayton Hill is a wonderful place to walk, play games, picnic and enjoy the wildlife.”
Get Active in Lee Valley
Love Parks Week (26 July-4 August) is the perfect opportunity to indulge the senses and try something new. Our Get Active programme of free and low-cost activities is tailored to those adults who are inactive or need support for physical and mental wellbeing. The programme is rolling out over the summer and has something for everyone – whether your priority is gentle exercise, health and wellbeing, social or sensory, you’ll find a session that’s right for you. Below is a taster of what’s on offer, but a list of opportunities is on our Get Active in Lee Valley page.
Lifewalks – Free Guided walks of different lengths several times a week. Explore a new or much loved area of the park and stop for a coffee and a chat afterwards.
Cold water swimming – Run by Mental Health Swims, these weekly wellbeing sessions are coming soon to the lake at Lee Valley White Water Centre, Waltham Cross. Run by trained volunteers, the sessions will refresh and rejuvenate participants in a supportive environment to aid mental wellbeing.
Nordic Walking – great for mobility and general exercise, Nordic walking’s enhanced technique uses poles to work your upper body as well as your legs. Weekly in River Lee Country Park, Herts.
Cycling for Health – A programme of weekly guided rides on traffic free routes at a sociable pace, designed for riders wishing to regain fitness and confidence in a friendly environment. July start locations include Gunpowder Park, River Lee Country Park and Clayton Hill Park Visit the Cycling For Health page for more info.
East London Festival of Nature
This event has now passed, but there’s always more to explore!
Want to discover upcoming nature events? Head over to our What’s On page and use the ‘nature’ filter to see what’s coming up.
There’s still time to get involved in the grand finale of our 10 day East London Festival of Nature. Join our ranger team on Walthamstow Marshes on Saturday 5 July for a citizen science bioblitz combined with fascinating walks and talks on birds, butterflies and grasses on the marshes. Volunteers helping with the bioblitz will visually record the plants and wildlife on this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in one day. Event details are here.
School’s Out for Summer!
“So much to do and so little time….” said no parent ever at the start of the school summer holidays!
Come rain or shine, we have more activities in Lee Valley Regional Park to entertain the whole family than you can shake a poostick at this summer.
You’ll find our lists of great walking routes and cycling routes that can be tailored to suit your needs – whether it’s by distance, accessibility, routes near facilities or public transport or suitable for dogs too, you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for you.
No bike? No problem. Bike rental is available at various locations throughout the park and you’ll find a list of places you can hire bikes and helmets in our June cycling blog
Treasure hunting
If you’re children love to be immersed in nature, we’ve got 26 miles of parkland where they can look for lost treasures.
Every year hundreds of children visit the park with their schools to learn whilst having fun. Here are some top recommendations from our Learning and Engagement team on activities to do with the kids this summer.
I spy with my little eye
However you choose to explore Lee Valley Regional Park, there’s always something to see. Print out one of our I Spy sheets and see how many different species you and your little ones can spot.
Natural Art
If they fancy getting creative, our activity sheet has eight free and easy ideas to make something arty. From dreamcatchers and journey sticks to mud faces and fairy houses…. it’s amazing what you can make from fallen sticks, leaves and flowers on the ground when the imagination runs wild.
Sculpture Trails
There’s an abundance of art in the north and south of the park to enjoy and to make it easy we have created sculpture trails for you to follow. Perfect for all ages and add intrigue and play stops to any walk. Pick one here
Self-Guided Orienteering
No Google maps here! Help children learn this useful skill of finding their way from A to B with only a map and compass to guide them (and perhaps an adult). Pick your start and end points in the park and away you go.
Follow an Ostrich
Pick up an Ossie pack at the Bowles Tea Rooms and let the little one’s hunt for unusual artefacts in Myddelton House Gardens, Enfield. But who is Ossie the Ostrich? They’ll find out on their search…….
Open Air Theatre
Last chance to book your tickets for the ever-popular open air theatre productions taking place in the park this summer.
Dot Productions return once again to Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield with a family favourite matinee performance of Robin Hood on Saturday 26 July (This event has now passed). After a quick costume change the cast are back in the evening to perform Jane Austen’s classic Sense and Sensibility (This event has now passed). Later in the summer fans of Alice in Wonderland are in for a treat. This historic site will provide a fabulous backdrop for a special adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic. Through the Looking Glass (and What Alice Found There) performed by Quantum Theatre
At nearby Waltham Abbey Gardens, Essex, Quantum Theatre group will perform The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck. You can see this classic tale with our tail feather friends in the background.
Try something new
This event has now passed, but there’s always more to explore!
Want to discover upcoming sport events? Head over to our What’s On page and use the ‘sport’ filter to see what’s coming up.
Save the date! We are privileged to have some of the world’s best sport and leisure venues in Lee Valley Regional Park so why not kickstart your summer over the weekend of 19-20 July with free access to our venues where you can take part in fitness classes, yoga or gym sessions for free.
And for no more than £1 try:
* kayaking at Lee Valley White Water Centre
* cycling experience at Lee Valley VeloPark
ice skating at Lee Valley Ice Centre (£3 skate hire fee applies)
* pony experiences at Lee Valley Riding Centre
* fitness classes at Lee Valley Athletics Centre
* tennis and pickleball at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
Start summer with a new or memorable experience at a Lee Valley venue.
Community group funding
To help make the park accessible to everyone, community and wellbeing groups in London, Essex and Hertfordshire can apply for our Community Access and Grant Funding, which help pay for coaching, venue hire or travel. We provide experiences that help people be more active, support health and wellbeing and opportunities for underserved communities to try new activities.
If you’re part of a community or wellbeing support group – for example a scout group, school, support young carers or wellbeing through the NHS – our funding support could help create memories that last a lifetime. Find out more about our funding opportunities here
