There are lots of public parks throughout the borough, both large and small.  Green spaces are accessible to virtually ever housing area with an active policy of managing these areas for public enjoyment.

The jewel in the Tower Hamlets crown has to be Victoria Park which borders Bethnal Green and Bow and forms the boundary with Hackney to the north.  Vicky Park is how the park is more affectionately known and there is, indeed, a lot of affection for this huge area of green which was the main recreational area for East End workers in the second half of the 19th century.

The Park is one of the biggest areas of open space in the London suburbs and provides opportunities for joggers, dog-walkers, football players and those who simply want a pleasant afternoon’s stroll.

The Park is currently the subject of a major make-over, benefitting from Lottery funds, and it is intended this will be complete before the 2012 Olympics are staged just a mile away.

Just to the south of Victoria Park is the linear Mile End Park which also runs along a canal, in this case the Regents Park Canal.  This is an interesting area to walk through – if you are fit have a go on the climbing wall – if you like art have a look at the open air sculptures  and the Art Pavilion.  There are also some imaginative design features – the Green Bridge is an ecological approach to tackling the problem of the Park’s fragmented nature and means you can move between the parts north and south of the Bow Road without actually crossing the road itself.

There is also a reclaimed waterworks which provides an interesting water focus and, along with other elevated features, ensures there are good viewpoints at different points within the Park.