London is by all accounts, a series of reclaimed marshland, which has become wetlands over time and subsequently gentrified and transformed into some the South-East’s best open water swimming areas, public parks and wildlife areas. The best one’s are dotted around London, but are normally further way from central London.
Below are five we consider that are the best in the capital.
A fully operational 160 hectare Thames Water reservoir site, Walthamstow Wetlands is the main source of water supply for 3.5 million people. Walthamstow Wetlands is also an internationally important nature reserve, providing home and shelter to a wide range of wildlife from rare waterfowl to majestic birds of prey.
The wetland contains a range of habitats and experiences, from sheltered dense scrub-lined banks to wide windswept views towards the city. It remains the largest fishery in London. It also has a charming Engine House Cafe for refreshments built in its namesake’s original structure.
Woodberry Wetlands is a nature reserve in Manor House, Hackney that was opened to the public for the first time in 200 years in 2016. Covering eleven-hectares it’s owned by Thames Water and run by London Wildlife Trust. The site contains a boardwalk, a visitors’ centre with café, toilet facilities and a classroom.
The New River Path runs alongside the northern edge of the reservoir and forms part of a cycle route connecting to Walthamstow Wetlands, badged as the ‘Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway’. Woodberry Wetlands is a nature reserve with a rich history where wildlife is flourishing. It has a watersports centre for many activities including sailing, canoeing and open water swimming.
Set across 105 acres in Barnes, South West London, this wildlife haven has scenic walkways, lakes, pools and meadows that are home to birds, bats, water voles, grass snakes, amphibians, dragonflies and moths. Spot wildlife close-up from hides and meet their collection of rare birds from around the world and then relax in their café.
The grounds have level access and hard-surfaced paths with tarmac on main routes (and compacted gravel on minor paths) low-level viewing windows and level access to ground floor bird hides. For twitchers out there, there’s a heated bird-watching observatory in the main visitor centre and a three-storey Peacock Tower hide.
Hackney Marshes in East London, is a green space that caters to both nature enthusiasts and sports fans. It is recognised as a significant location for grassroots football, with over 80 full-size football pitches, which is one of the highest concentrations of such facilities in Europe. It’s an area of open space in London’s Lower Lea Valley, lying on the western bank of the River Lea.
It takes its name from its position on the eastern boundary of Hackney and from its origin as an area of true marsh. The marshes were extensively drained from Medieval times onwards, and rubble was dumped here from buildings damaged by air raids during World War II, raising the level of the ground. Hackney Marsh is one of the largest areas of common land in Greater London, with over 336 acres of protected commons.
