Walthamstow Marshes

One of my favourite spots to moor on the Lea. Just the other day just seeing a kestrel(?) hovering was a joy. Even seeing the multiple flypasts from the flock of noisy parakeets around dusk is a sight worth waiting for. A place of refuge from the smoke :)

Fabulous place the walk or run. Large open and generally overlooked. There are cow and horse in the stables to wonder across. It’s quiet and very generous on the eyes in the sun. A “hidden” gem. You feel like your nestled in the countryside.

One of the few places in London where you can really get away from people. Lovely place to lie in the summer, and there usually aren't many people around. You can walk around, lie down, look at horses and cows, or learn to ride horses.

this is a great place if you love "the great outdoors". Plenty of wild life, beautiful scenery, great for bird watching, walking and fishing. If you don't ever investigate the 27 miles that is the Lee Valley, you will be missing the real "gem" of London
also check out Fishers Green a little further along the river Lee and canal.

One of the best places to ride a bike without having to cope with the noise, smell and downright stupidity of some drivers, Walthamstow Marshes are special indeed.
Part of the Lea Valley Regional Park, they include a number of attractions, including a horse riding centre, an ice rink and more than a few places to watch wildlife. I have seen red kites and other raptors, herons abound, and the nearby reservoirs attract swallows and swifts in huge numbers every summer. I personally miss the old pitch and putt golf course - it was great fun to play, but it got taken over as a campsite for the 2012 Olympics and has never been restored.
Don't miss the chance to visit the Anchor and Hope on the far bank of the river - an old-fashioned pub that has great beer and a barbecue every weekend in the summer