Victoria Park, affectionately known as Vicky Park, is the green heart of east London, a 200-acre Victorian park that opened in 1845 as one of the first public parks created expressly for the people of a crowded industrial city. Today it is among the most popular parks in the country, beloved for its lakes, cafes and easygoing weekend buzz.
Why visit
It captures contemporary east London at its most relaxed: joggers and dog walkers, families by the lakes, and a genuinely good cafe scene. It also hosts major outdoor music festivals in summer, giving it a cultural pull beyond the local.
What to see and do
The park has two boating and wildlife lakes, formal gardens, a popular Pavilion cafe, playgrounds and wide lawns. The Sunday food and craft stalls and the canal towpath running alongside add to its appeal.
Visiting tips
The park is free and open daily. It sits between Hackney and Bow, walkable from Hackney Wick or Bethnal Green and reachable via the Regent's Canal towpath.
