Opened in 1845 after a 30,000-strong petition was presented to Queen Victoria, East London’s first public park was eventually named after the Empress of India, and Victoria Park (towerhamlets.gov.uk/victoriapark) now attracts nine million visitors a year.
There’s a fabulous kids adventure play park, skatepark, splash pool and cafe surrounded by wide pathways ideal for cycling and jogging. This, combined with a diverse Sunday foodie market that pops up near Bonner Gate, is probably the reason it's East London’s most popular green space.
It’s also home to a piece of the original London Bridge and an ornate Grade II–listed drinking fountain.
