Love summer
- 23 hours ago
- 5 min read
Summer’s hit us with a bang and what better way to embrace the season than exploring Lee Valley Regional Park and all it has to offer. With hundreds of wonderful days out the Park is paced with great activities, sights, experiences and holiday destinations!
Jump to the section best for you:
For nature 🌳🦢🦋
The Park’s 10,000 acres give visitors so many different areas to explore, we’re a tapestry of open spaces and nature reserves from urban nature reserves to scenic riverside wildlife havens.
Some key spots are
River Lee Country Park. A mammoth park with has a mixture of nationally important wildlife habitats, peaceful lakes and waterways plus riverside trails. It’s extensive path network makes exploring easy.
Key area highlight: The Wildlife Discovery Centre with its accessible tower giving 360° views over the scenic Seventy Acres Lake, large bird hide and discovery room
Myddelton House Gardens. An eight-acre formal garden and ancestral home of the renowned horticulturist E.A. Bowles, explore the eclectic mix of plants that he loved so much.
Key area highlight: the wonderful diverse collection of plants plus the tea room that serves great snacks and cake
Gunpowder Park. A clue to this open space’s history is in the name – once an explosive testing ground this site has been transformed with accessible pathways, bird hides and wonderful wildlife habitats.
Key area highlight: the Osier Marsh supports a range of different wildlife. For runners - how about taking park in one of the Saturday parkruns
Tottenham Marshes. This large open space has water running through its heart and a mosaic of trees, shrubs and rough grassland which are great for the local wildlife.
Key area highlight: three great walking routes to help you easily explore the site – see all our routes >
Lea Bridge Road nature reserves. Along this busy road nestle four different open spaces that are great for exploring choose from WaterWorks Centre nature reserve, Middlesex Filter Beds, Leyton and Walthamstow marshes. From London’s last remaining wetland meadows grazed by cattle at Walthamstow and Leyton marshes to the history laden WaterWorks Centre and Middlesex Filter Beds that were used to purify London’s water.
Key area highlight: check out the Red Poll cattle that graze the marshes or visit the large bird hide at the WaterWorks Centre nature reserve
Bow Creek and East India Dock Basin. The Park’s southern gateway - these inner London sites offer urban wildlife habitats and vital open space in a built up area.
Key area highlight: exploring the wildlife that makes these urban open spaces their home – you’ll be amazed at what thrives amongst the hustle and bustle
Our top five picnic spots 🥪🧃
Here’s our top five spots:
Rye House Gatehouse. Picnic with a history Grade I listed building as your backdrop. If the house is open explore its history that dates back to 1443 – from royalty and ghosts to an assassination attempt
River Lee Country Park, Fishers Green. With open spaces peppered with benches or peaceful hideaway spots just crying out for you to relax on a rug, this is a great unwind spot. The Wildlife Discovery Centre is close by if you fancy a spot of nature watching
Waltham Abbey Gardens. Home to the ruins of an Augustinian monastery, formal gardens chock full of wonderful roses and lavender, a large open space with huge trees for shade this is an ideal location for the kids to enjoy the great outdoors
Gunpowder Park. The wide open spaces of this park are great, whether you’re looking to run off excess energy or fancy pulling out a blanket and chill with a book – this could be the place for you
WaterWorks Centre nature reserve. This dog free open space gives you the best of both worlds, great grassy areas plus some tucked away habitat trails to explore
Along the Park’s 26 miles there’s numerous perfect picnic spots – have a read of our special picnic blog to discover more >
For sport and experiences 🚴♀️🐴🌊🚴♀️
The Park has some of the most stunning sports venues around sitting in beautiful open spaces that offer walking, cycling and running routes.
Here’s just a few ideas of what you can do at our sports venues:
Watersports at Lee Valley White Water Centre. From white water rafting, kayaking to paddleboarding and an inflatable obstacle course this venue offers something for everyone no matter your age. Prices from £17.50.
Kids Star Track academy at Lee Valley Athletics Centre. Ideal activity for any budding athletes wanting to try their hand at different athletic disciplines. £26 per session.
Horse riding at Lee Valley Riding Centre. Have a go session give you the chance to get in the saddle with our well schooled horses - prices from £35. Or if the kids want some hands on time with ponies check out our Meet the Minis or Own a Pony sessions – from £17.50.
Ice skating at Lee Valley Ice Centre. The coolest place to be on a hot summer’s day! Glide through the day as you take the ice and show off your moves. Prices start from £10.
Cycling at Lee Valley VeloPark. With four different cycling disciplines on offer as well as learn to ride sessions for kids there’s no better place to get your pedals turning.
Tennis at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. With four indoor and six outdoor tennis courts, a smashing time is guaranteed for all those who play. Court hire starts from £11 per hour. There’s tennis courses too.
Three of our venues also offer Health and fitness sessions! No need to be a member, they offer pay as you go classes such as yoga, HYROX, cardio sessions and spin – or how about a game of Pickleball. Sessions available at:
This is just a snapshot of what’s on offer – to discover more about what they offer just click on their names.
For discovery ⛺🚶♀️🎭
Lee Valley campsites. With four sites to choose from this could be your home from home trip where you can unwind and make memories that last a lifetime. Whether you’ve got your own kit and are just looking for a pitch or want something already set up you’ve come to the right place – we have touring pitches, camping pods and pre-pitched tents, glamping, lodges and holiday rentals. We even have a back to nature campsite where you can cook over an open fire. Find out more >
Exploring the waterways. Our Lee Valley marinas offer moorings, quayside services, skilled engineers and a well stocked chandlery. There’s also places where you can hire electric boats, row boats, canoes, try sailing and wind surfing.
Events in the park. There’s a range of events, many of them free, that would make an excellent day out – from guided walks to bug hunting and open air theatre. Check out what’s going on in the Lee Valley >
Walking, cycling and running routes. There are miles of pathways crisscrossing the Park which you can explore at your own pace. However if you want a hand to navigate your ways through the miles of Park check out some of the routes that we’ve put together. Don’t forget about our guided walks too which are listed in our events pages. Discover our routes >
Volunteering. Looking to do something with like minded people? How about jointing our brigade of volunteers? We’re always looking for people to get stuck in and help with wildlife and conservation tasks or assist at our leisure and sports sites. See volunteering opportunities available >
Know the latest
If you want to be kept up to date with our events or wildlife sign why not sign up to our enewsletters. We have specific enewsletters so you only get sent information of interest to you. Find out more and sign up today >
