Parklands of the East: Ilford to Hackney

This is a train-assisted ride, taking the Elizabeth Line to Ilford to explore some green spaces and traffic free cycleways on the outer fringes of East London, finishing in Hackney to return by London Overground.

From Ilford Station, we ride into Valentine’s Park and then along the Roding Valley into Wanstead Park, where we view the transformation of this previously formal garden estate into a natural space within Epping Forest https://wansteadpark.org.uk/ . After riding across the strangely empty space of Wanstead Flats, we ride through East Ham to join the Greenway https://www.london-drainage.com/blog/the-secret-history-of-newham-greenway/ , a traffic free cycle path which takes us into the Olympic Park at Stratford, where we will have our lunch stop.

After refreshments, we will ride on, exploring the Olympic Park and riding around Hackney Downs, including a visit to the Nature’s Throne installation, aka the Hackney Henge . https://lookup.london/hackney-henge-natures-throne/ We return to Hackney Wick and ride across Victoria Park, to finish at Hackney Central for London Overground services.

Train-assisted ride across East London, exploring parks and traffic free cycleways.

Shared paths in parks, traffic free cycleways, quieter roads where possible, some short stretches on busier roads

Lunch stop in the Olympic Park

Money/card for travel (Elizabeth Line & London Overground) and for refreshments. Lock for your bike.

First-timers welcome!