Picnic in the park

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.

There are 10,000 acres of open spaces to explore so here’s our Top 15 locations to try this summer.

Rye House Gatehouse

Glen Faba

Water Vole and Silvermeade

• Rye House Gatehouse –Learn about the fascinating history of one of England’s first brick built houses, then sit by the river, or on one of the picnic benches and watch the boats go by. Open on selected days. Visit RSPB Rye Meads nearby. Easy access on public transport

  
  

• Glen Faba – A short walk from Dobbs Weir car park and café. A quiet site with a nice walk around the lake. Good for bird watching including a Heronry on one of the islands where you can watch them nesting

  
  

• Silvermeade –You may spot water voles and dragonflies or hire a canoe or bicycle to explore further. Picnic benches available in the car park or visit Old Mill Retreat café to pick up supplies. Easy access on public transport

• River Lee Country Park - walk or cycle around the park and find plenty of benches looking over the lakes for a scenic picnic spot. Great for bird watching.

  • Fishers Green picnic area: visit the Wildlife Discovery Centre to learn about the birds in the park and get great views of the lake from the hide and tower

  • Pindar / Cheshunt – visit the natural play sculptures or dog agility course nearby.  Follow one of the sculpture trail walks or explore the gravel pit lakes. Easy access on public transport

  • Fishers Green secondary car park – perfect for those with mobility issues. There are picnic benches on the edge of the car park

• Waltham Abbey Gardens – learn about the history of the site, visit the Abbey church or head through the underpass to explore Cornmill Meadows which is great for spotting dragonflies and wetland birds. Picnic benches on site

View over meadow at Gunpowder Park

Acorn Bench at Tottenham Marshes

Family picnicking at Walthamstow Marshes

• Gunpowder Park – An area of short mown grass close to the main entrance is perfect to put a picnic blanket down before heading off on the many great paths nearby for a walk or bike ride round the park.  Toilets available. On a summers day listen out for the Skylark, singing in flight from a great height

  
  

• Tottenham Marshes – Choose from picnic benches on Clendish Marsh or the Waterside Café nearby. Close to public transport

  
  

• Leyton Marsh – a hidden gem beyond the Lee Valley Ice Centre, enjoy big skies, wildlife spotting and if you’re feeling active, try out the play and exercise equipment available to borrow for FREE from our new BoxUp unit. Or, combine a picnic with a skate session. Close to toilets. Good public transport links

  
  

• Walthamstow Marshes – Enjoy your feast in the horseshoe thicket picnic area. This Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is great for wildlife spotting

• WaterWorks Nature Reserve – Visit the bird hide and take a stroll to Middlesex Filter Beds, where you’ll be surrounded by trees and the sound of rushing water – hard to believe you’re in urban London! Make a day of it with visits to nearby Lee Valley Ice Centre or Lee Valley Riding Centre and Leyton and Walthamstow Marshes. Easy access on public transport. No dogs or cycling in the nature reserve

  
  

• Coppermill – Picnic in style on the giant picnic table! Combine with a visit to Walthamstow Marshes or Walthamstow Wetlands

View over Lee Valley VeloPark at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Three mills Green

East India Dock Basin

• Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – explore the award-winning green spaces around our iconic Lee Valley VeloPark and Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre and take a stroll along the river.  Easy access on public transport. You’ll find picnic benches dotted around QEOP to take a break

  
  

• Three Mills Green – An interesting green space by the river in urban east London. Three Mills Green has flat green spaces to roll out a picnic blanket. Pick up some treats at the nearby Tesco or visit the Mill café. Enjoy a few heritage features and kids can burn off steam in the play park

  
  

• East India Dock Basin - This fabulous green space is much loved by locals for good reason. It has some of the best views of London looking out across the Thames to the O2 Arena. Take in the view from a bench or a blanket before a short stroll along the river to explore Bow Creek Ecology Park nearby.  Easy access on public transport

  
  

• Bow Creek Ecology Park – Look out for waders feeding on the muddy banks. There’s a little area to sit and escape the hustle of city life. Easy walk to Canning Town station