Opportunity for ice cream and mobile café concessions in parks

Tower Hamlets has many beautiful parks and open spaces used by both residents and visitors to the borough.

We have a great opportunity for local businesses to trade in our parks for the summer season in 2024.

We are seeking to license:

- ice cream vans and

- mobile café operators at fixed pitches. 

We have opportunities in parks across the borough for vendors who have Public Liability Insurance and Food Hygiene Certificate.

If you are interested in applying, please email parks@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Leisure

Victoria park

The HUB Café Victoria Park

The newly re-opened Hub is the cafe at the heart of Victoria Park, right next to the children's playground, skate park and pools play area. The Hub brings together the local community to create a friendly and welcoming place to Eat, Play and Smile.

Run by two local mums, The Hub serves healthy homemade food at reasonable prices, with grab-and-go options available. Great Italian coffee and a selection of cakes and pastries is available. A play area with toys and books caters to younger kids.

Food and suppliers are sourced from the local community where possible. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating makes The Hub a great place to enjoy a coffee or lunch, come rain or shine.

Opening times: 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm.

Please follow us on instagram @thehubvictoriapark.

Family friendly, dog friendly, community friendly - a true home from home with Victoria Park as its glorious garden.

DisabledGo link logo 

The Pavilion Café

The Pavilion Cafe is open 8.30am–5pm Monday-Friday and  8.30am–6pm Saturday during the summer. In the winter it's open 8.30am–4pm daily.

Read Time Out's review. Time Out has included it on their recent list of London's best park cafés and says "The café is still probably London's best place to enjoy a perfectly brewed coffee alfresco... the fry-ups are well known in the neighbourhood and beyond, and the cakes splendid".

The cafe is inside the park by Crown Gate West, on the corner of Old Ford Road and Grove Road, E9 7DE.

www.victoriaparkvillage.com/victoria-park-cafe.html

Regal Boat Hire

After 30 years Regal Boat Hire has returned rowing boats and pedalos to Victoria Park. Our fleet of 40 boats are available to members of the public to hire (opening hours vary; contact links below for more information). A great way to burn off that picnic, or just enjoy a peaceful afternoon on the lake. To find out more visit:

www.regalboathire.co.uk or email info@regalboathire.co.uk

Children's Play Areas

Victoria Park has two play areas for children of all ages. 

On the west side of the park near Grove Road is the V&A playground, more suitable for younger children the area is fenced off and features swings, climbing equipment, sand play and water pumps amongst all sorts of other things to enjoy.

On the east side by The Hub is the other play area, huge slides, climbing equipment, sand play and more are all next to our splashpool play area which runs from 11am to 5pm in the summer and features water jets and fountains to run and play in. The skate park is also close by, a great place for teenagers and adults to come and practise their skills on skateboards, roller blades, BMX bikes and scooters. Great fun!

Victoria ParkTree Walks in Victoria Park

Find out about events in Victoria Park.

Sports facilities

Victoria Park has many sports facilities:

  • 5 Football winter league pitches
  • 2 Football summer league pitches
  • 3 artificial cricket wickets
  • 3 Cricket practice nets
  • 4 Tennis courts
  • Bowling Green.

Football and cricket pitches can be booked by members of the public contacting our Booking Section on 020 7364 5000.

Cricket practice nets are available on a first come first served basis.  Please contact victoriapark@towerhamlets.gov.uk for details of how to book the Bowling Green.

Outdoor Gym

The outdoor gym is located next to the tennis court.  It has a variety of equipment for strength workouts, cardio, toning, calisthenics and intergenerational activity.

Equipment includes dips stations, parallel bars, cross trainers, smart energy hand bikes, benches, sprint tracks and much more!

You can log, track and share your workout on the KOMPAN Outdoor Fitness app on your smartphone. The apps are available in the app or play store

Bowling Green

Fancy trying your hand at something new? Victoria Park has a high quality bowling green located in the East Park, close to Queen's Gate. To find out about joining the team, or coming along to one of our free taster days, email victoriapark@towerhamlets.gov.uk. All ages welcome!

Bikeworks All Ability Cycling

All Ability Cycling is access to riding bikes for anyone, no matter what their physical or intellectual
ability, age or confidence level. Bikeworks have specialised in All Ability Cycling since it began using a combination of specialist equipment, qualified instructors and an open invitation to come and have a go. To find out more, including meeting times and venues, visit at the bikeworks All Ability Cycling website.

Sports Clubs

A range of sports clubs have their home in the park, or use our facilities. For questions, or to join, please contact the sports clubs directly.

Tower Hamlets Football Club

Tower Hamlets Football Club was formed two years ago to develop a Senior level club which represent the people of the Borough of Tower Hamlets. The aim of the club is to promote and encourage association football for residents of all ages, regardless of gender, disability or nationality.

Find out more and join Tower Hamlets Football Club.

Victoria Model Steam Boat Club

The oldest model boat club in the world, the Victoria Model Steam Boat Club, was founded in the park in 1904. The club is still active today and holds several Sunday regattas a year.  Email n.lara@btinternet.com to find out more and join.

Victoria Park Harriers & Tower Hamlets Athletics Club

VPHTHAC is based out of St. Augustine’s Hall in the north-east corner of Victoria Park, east London. It was formed in 2001 as a merger of Victoria Park Harriers (founded 1926) and Tower Hamlets Athletics Club (founded 1976). The club is open to all, regardless of ability, from the age of 9 upwards. The membership of approximately 400 includes track, field, road and cross country athletes, from beginners to GB team members.

Find out more and join VPHTHAC.

Victoria Park Community Cricket League

The Victoria Park Community Cricket League was formed over 15 years ago to provide a wide range of people with access to competitive cricket. Some are decidedly more competitive than others, but the aim is that games are played in a friendly and welcoming spirit.

Find out more and join Victoria Park Community Cricket League.

Victoria Park Tennis

Victoria Park has a number of tennis courts set amongst the picturesque trees and open spaces on site and numerous tennis events are held throughout the year.

Find out more about booking courts and other events