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Incredible Days Out: Lee Valley Regional Park
Visiting London and looking for something different to do?
Interested in sport, history, camping or wildlife?
A huge park spanning nearly 30 miles across London and beyond, Lee Valley is home to a truly incredible number of things to do and see.
If you’re interested in sport, history, camping or wildlife, then Lee Valley is somewhere you should have on your radar.
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Things to do in Lee Valley
The beauty of Lee Valley isn’t just the scenery, it’s the variety of activities that are strewn across the park. You can get involved in loads of different sports, from cycling to frisbee golf.
Or you can enjoy a walk in the countryside, visit a castle, go ice skating, fishing, the list goes on. It means that as a place to visit, you can tailor your trip to almost anyone.
From nature reserves and gardens to historical sites and museums – Lee Valley is packed with opportunities to get out and explore. You can find a complete list of all the attractions, parks and walks at Lee Valley on their website here.
Some highlights include:
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East India Dock Basin
One of the most southern parts of the park, the East India Dock Basin was originally a trading and merchant hub, but since the end of World War 2, the area has been turned into a beautiful wildlife sanctuary that you can visit, take in stunning green spaces, watch wildlife and still have a fantastic view of the 02, Canary Wharf and the rest of London along the Thames.
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Waltham Abbey Gardens
This stunning mansion traces its history back over 1000 years to when there was a church on the site. The house and gardens have changed over the years but have become a fabulous place to explore with the family and a perfect venue for events within the park.
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Lee Valley White Water Centre
If you’re looking for something a bit more active, then the Olympic Park area is for you. Home to multiple facilities, one of the major standouts is the White Water Centre, built for the 2012 Olympics this is a great day out, where you can try everything from kayaking to white water rafting.
There’s even a café and a bar so you can relax afterwards too.
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Even more to choose from
With so many events and activities, you might feel spoiled for choice, but if you need help deciding what to do, looking at the list of events that are taking place across the whole park might be a good starting point. There are events all year round, perfect for day trips, half-term activities or weekend adventures.
You can look at the full list of events here.
Make a weekend of it
London has no shortage of hotels, but the beauty of Lee Valley is you can even camp out in the park and then travel into the capital from there.
Different campsites can accommodate different things, whether you’re in a small tent, a converted van, or a camper there are pitches available. If you’re inexperienced, or if you want to camp but don’t have any of the gear you can even hire tents, lodges and camping pods so you have less to worry about bringing with you.
Pitches like this are often much cheaper than staying in a hotel too, so you could travel into London on a budget and combine the best bits of a city break and a country retreat into one trip.
If you are going to head into London, your best option is to visit the campsites at Edmonton and Sewardstone as these are the ones closest to the city.
Where to park
There are car parks across Lee Valley, meaning you can always get to where you need to easily. You can pay for your stay using the Evology Parking app
There is affordable parking on-site and because of its location, it can also be visited from across London and beyond using public transport.
Lee Valley also has several EV chargers across the park, making it easy for people to top-up their battery while they explore.
During busier months, such as around the school holidays and when the UK enjoys some brighter weather, the park can get busy – but because of its location, you could pre-book parking further away and walk into the park. If you need to do this, you can find more parking through the Evology Parking app.
Looking for even more to do across London? We can help.