Wanstead Park

Wanstead Park is a municipal park of about 140 acres (57 hectares) in Wanstead, in the London Borough of Redbridge. Once a grand country estate, it is now a green retreat on London's north-eastern edge, managed by the Corporation of London as part of Epping Forest.

What is Wanstead Park and where is it?

The park lies in east London, in Redbridge, a borough that belonged to Essex until 1965. Wanstead is also the name of the surrounding district. Entry is free, and the grounds are open to walkers, runners and nature lovers.

What is its history?

A deer park was enclosed here from the royal forest of Epping in 1545. In 1673-74 Sir Josiah Child bought the estate of roughly 300 acres and began large-scale garden works. John Rocque's 1735 map shows a chain of ponds south of the house, including the Heronry, Perch and Great Lake ponds.

John, the second Earl Tylney, inherited in 1750 and built the Temple and a grotto with a boathouse, completed by 1764 on the bank of the Ornamental Water. Humphry Repton worked on the grounds in the early 19th century, but the estate sank into debt. The house was auctioned in 1822 and demolished in 1824. In 1882 the Corporation of London bought part of the land and opened it to the public as part of Epping Forest.

What is there to see?

• The Temple - an 18th-century building that escaped demolition because the estate's steward lived in it. It opens on selected weekends, at set hours, in summer and winter.
• The Grotto and boathouse - the grotto outlived the house but burned down in an accidental fire two years after the park opened to the public. The boathouse has since been restored.
• Ornamental Water - a decorative lake with an island that once held a sham fort.
• Heronry Pond - used for regattas and swimming galas from the 1920s to the 1940s.

Can you fish here?

Yes, seasonal fishing is available on Perch Pond and the Ornamental Waters.

Frequently asked questions

Is Wanstead Park free to enter? Yes, there is no entry charge.

Is the original house still standing? No. It was demolished in 1824, but the Temple and the restored grotto boathouse survive.

When did the park open to the public? In 1882, after the Corporation of London bought the land.

How should I plan a visit? It suits a relaxed walk along the ponds. If you want to see inside the Temple, check opening times first, as it opens only on certain weekends.

Who is it for?

Anyone looking for quiet and history in London without paying: the lakes, the traces of the former estate and the closeness of Epping Forest make it a good half-day outing away from the centre. The managers favour conserving the existing landscape over restoring it, so some of the old layout is visible only in outline.