Route Overview

Lea Valley Walk

The Lea Valley Walk touches the Meridian Line in several places along the way and passes through a post-industrial landscape fast being reclaimed by man and nature. It generally follows the towpath of the Lee Navigation. The canal towpath can also be used by cyclists.

The towpath is managed by British Waterways and the open land either side is part of the Lee Valley Regional Park. Much of it is either reclaimed land: once marsh then used for gravel extraction and landfill and now being returned to nature. Remnants of the original marsh remains in places, notably half way at Hackney Marsh where there is a convenient pub to gaze out from. Several old sewage works have become a haven for wildlife and are managed as nature reserves. The northern section is dominated by the high embankments of a series of reservoirs holding much of London’s drinking water.

There are links with several other towpaths, such as the Hertford Union Canal and Limehouse Cut, and three of the other Strategic Walks: The London Loop, Capital Ring and Thames Path.

Walk London promotes the 18 miles (29 km) of the Lea Valley within London, from Waltham Abbey to its confluence with the Thames at Trinity Buoy Wharf meeting up with Thames Path for the last stretch round the Isle of Dogs to Island Gardens. The walk can be enjoyed in one long day or in a series of 6 shorter sections. The Walk is conveniently linked by the railway which runs in parallel.

Section 1: Waltham Abbey to Ponders End (3.5 miles / 5.5 km)
Section 2: Ponders End to Tottenham Hale (4 miles / 6.5 km)
Section 3: Tottenham Hale to Lea Bridge (2 miles / 3.2 km)
Section 4: Lea Bridge to Three Mills (2 miles / 3.2 km)
Section 5: Three Mills to East India Dock (2 miles / 3.2 km)
Section 6: East India Dock to Island Gardens (2 miles / 3.2 km)

Boroughs which the route passes through:

Enfield
Hackney
Haringey
Newham
Tower Hamlets
Waltham Forest

Interesting places on or near the route:

Enfield Lock/King George's Reservoir
Lee Valley Regional Park

Signage:

The route is well marked by signs depicting the Swan symbol.

Further information:

Tel: 01992 702200
Email : info@leevalleypark.org.uk

For information on path closures to the construction of the Olympic Park visit the website

Completed a route ? Why not celebrate your achievement by ordering a completion certificate from info@walklondon.org.uk