It was a glorious bank holiday, so we visited Victoria Park in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, East London. It’s an impressive park that spans 213 acres and dates back to 1845. Victoria Park has remarkable highlights, including a pagoda, bandstand, lakes, gardens, statues, outdoor sporting facilities, children’s play areas and cafes. If you’re looking for the best London parks to explore, things to do in East London during the summer or a free day out with the kids, visit Victoria Park.
Victoria Park Highlights
The park is split into two (East and West) because Grove Road runs through it. Access the west side via the Victoria Park Canal Gate off Regent’s Canal or the Victoria Park Gates on Gore Road.
Look out for the two Dogs of Alcibiades statues that guard the Bonner Street entrance of the park next to Regents Canal. These marble sculptures of Molossian Hounds were given to the park by Lady Aignarth in 1912.
The Victoria Park Market is on Sundays from 10 am until 4 pm selling food to take home or eat in the park. Take your pick of seasonal fruit and veg, organic meat, freshly baked bread, small batch cakes, artisan cheeses, flowers, ice cream, natural wine, craft beer and street food. I’ve been to the market and it’s excellent so make sure you visit soon.
I love the Chinese Pagoda, a replica (2010) of the original (1842) from the Hyde Park Chinese Exhibition. It stands on a reinstated island with a bridge that echoes the same design and colour as the park’s architect Sir James Pennethorne’s initial creation.
At the West Lake, you’ll notice the Bird and Skyscraper sculptures by Erno Bartha commissioned by the Romanian Cultural Institute as part of the Cultural Olympiad (cultural activities across London in 2021 for the London Olympics). The sculptures are made from hay with reinforced steel frames, and the birds love them! They are neatly positioned, with the fountain taking centre stage.
By the edge of the West Lake are ducks waddling around, looking to be fed with some bread and posing for pictures!
If you’re feeling adventurous, you might want to rent a boat and row across the lake with your friends or kids.
Look across the lake, and you’ll spot the Pavilion Café, which serves lunch from 11 am until 3 pm. On the day we visited, a Sri Lankan Breakfast, English asparagus and goats cheese omelette and grilled kimchi cheese were on the menu.
We stopped at this cafe for cold drinks while we admired the lake. They have toilets nearby although the queue was very long and I had to wait around twenty minutes!
If you have children with you, they may like the V&A playground is next to Grove Road. However, if you cross over to the park’s east side, the main playground is outstanding and worth a visit.
The large playground is next to the Hub Café, which serves huevos rancheros, BLTs and more.
The east side of the park has some exceptional features, including the Grade II* listed Burdett-Coutts drinking fountain named after Angela Burdett-Coutts, a Victorian Philanthropist.
Check out the Victoria bandstand, which is close to the fountain.
My favourite part of the east side park is the old English Garden brimming with delicate flowers in pretty colours.
The Victorian Park orchard is tranquil and less crowded.
The East Lake is worth viewing while you are in this part of the park.
The amenities include a football pitch, cricket pitch, race track, skate park, and tennis courts if you’re into sports.
These are just some of the highlights from Victoria Park. At the entrance, locate a park map and take a picture on your phone as a guide. Enjoy your visit!
Victoria Park Information
Please visit the Victoria Park Website and the Wikipedia Page to find out more information. The address is Grove Road, London E3 5TB, although you can access it via various gates. Cambridge Heath, Bethnal Green, London Fields, and Hackney Wick stations are within walking distance. Please check the official website for opening and closing times. While you are in the area, you may want to read some of my previous posts about other things to do in the vicinity:
Eat At Victoria Park Market On Sundays
Ten Things To Do In Victoria Park Village Hackney
Aldgate to Limehouse Basin Walk
Before heading home, we ate pizza and tricolour salad at El Parco, 136 Lauriston Rd, London E9 7LH. You’ll find this restaurant in an area called Victoria Park Village. I’ve also eaten at My Neighbours The Dumplings and the Fish House which I can recommend.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.
