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Victoria Park
Victoria Park is located within the Bow East and Bow West Wards
of Tower Hamlets. The whole of the park lies within Tower Hamlets,
but the park is bordered on its northern boundary by the London
Borough of Hackney. It serves a large residential population in
both boroughs and is the largest park within Tower Hamlets.
The park is the most popular outdoor visitor destination for
borough residents and it also attracts many tourists and visitors
from outside of the borough. It has many fine features including
superb trees, avenues, lakes and floral displays. A wide range of
formal and informal sports, sponsored activities, events and
festivals take place throughout the year.
Victoria Park is a key link in a green corridor that stretches
from the River Thames at Limehouse, along the Regents Canal and
through Mile End Park. Beyond Victoria
Park to the north and east is the Lee Valley Park, along with the
newly emerging Olympic Park.
Victoria Park was created in the 19th century. Parliament passed
an Act for the development of the park in 1841 following an outcry
about the lack of parks in the East End, and fears that disease
would spread from the stinking industries and slum population of
400,000. The Government bought poor quality land that had been used
for market gardens, grazing and gravel digging. The land was flat,
with poor soil and little water but was cheaper than an alternative
and larger site nearer the Thames.
The park was designed by James Pennethorne. It was an
instant success, with local people using the park as early as 1843,
before works were completed. The site was extended 1872 when land
originally set aside for residential development was incorporated
into the park.
The park has passed through a number of managing organisations:-
from the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1887, transferring to the
London County Council in 1889, then the Greater London Council in
1965, then to Tower Hamlets in 1986 (initially with the borough of
Hackney through a joint management board), becoming the sole
responsibility of Tower Hamlets in 1994.
Many of the original features of the park have been lost or have
deteriorated. Many parts of the site were bombed during WW2 and
have not been restored. In heritage terms the park is still of
national importance as signified by its inclusion as a Grade 2 park
on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special
Historic Interest.
We have a vision that Victoria Park should be restored and
improved to be a highly-acclaimed, iconic landmark urban park;
revealing its rich heritage and presenting an innovative and
exciting recreation and leisure experience for the local and wider
community.
Take part in our parks improvement survey and have your say:
Become a volunteer in Victoria Park
We are looking for people who would be interested in
volunteering in Victoria Park. You can do as little or as much as
you want with volunteering opportunities available such
as joining Friends of Victoria Park, maintenance work,
planting, weeding, working with wildlife through to involvement in
restoration project, conducting guided tours and stewarding at
events.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer fill out the
Victoria Park volunteering form.
Tree Walks in Victoria Park
For more information please contact the Parks & Open Spaces
Service on 020 7364 2494 or email parks@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Victoria Park is 86.18 hectares in area size and falls under
LAP area 5.
Grove Road
Bow
London E3
Accessibility information
For information on the accessibility of Victoria Park, please see
DisabledGo.
Please note that while the improvement works are ongoing there
may be some changes to accessibility and facilities at the park
that will not have been noted by DisabledGo.
Nearest underground station: Mile End
Nearest rail stations: Cambridge Heath/Hackney Wick Station
Contact us
For more information please contact the Parks & Open Spaces
Service on 020 7364 2494 or email parks@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Nearest underground station: Mile End
Nearest rail stations: Cambridge Heath/Hackney Wick Station