We reckon Hackney has some of the most beautiful parks in London. So sit back, relax and enjoy our pick of photos from the top 7 parks in the borough.
- With skittish deer, languorous streams and a beautiful old house you’ll never want to leave Clissold Park
As one of Hackney’s best loved parks, it’s difficult to know where to start when exploring Clissold Park, in the heart of Stoke Newington.
Some of the major ‘aww factors’ include: a small zoo, a pond with swans, picnic areas, a recently renovated restaurant to a deer enclosure and two running tracks. The park, which has much to offer, has also held the Green Flag award – given to the country’s best green spaces – multiple times. Just take a look at this beautiful sunset…
These swans are giving us #lifegoals.
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- Visit Abney Park, Hackney’s very own ‘secret garden’
One of the ‘magnificent seven’ garden cemeteries of London, Abney Park Cemetery has stood at the end of Stoke Newington Church Street since the 19th century. If there was ever a real life ‘Secret Garden’ in Hackney this would be it.
It is a woodland memorial park and local nature reserve. Among the park’s green maze and intricate gravesites stands an empty chapel with a 120ft spire, one of the Victorian society’s top 10 endangered buildings. The park also has a rich history being the memorial site of many famous Londoners of the past.
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- Come to Haggerston Park, you’ll never want to leave…
With weeping willows and lovely lavender Haggerston Park is one of the borough’s favourite green spaces. This popular outdoor hang out has everything: an orchard and a space for food growing, multi-usage games area for tennis, football, basketball, and netball, a children’s play area and more. Haggerston park also hosts many music events including the popular Born and Bred festival in June.
- No, Finsbury Park is not just a tube station!
Finsbury Park made our list for it’s many gardens, numerous tennis courts and sports facilities. In 2005 the park underwent a £5 million Heritage Lottery Funded restoration and improvement programme. Since then Finsbury park has been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award. Look at this gorgeous photo of the park with Spring just around the corner…
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5. Welcome to Springfield (Park)
This lovely park and conservation area has a fascinating history. It opened as a public park in 1905 and is named after the grounds of three private houses, one of which still survives. This photo taken last Autumn, of the golden leaves in the cool sunshine will melt your heart.
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6. This one has a pub in the corner, it’s London Fields Park
London Fields is one of Hackney’s most popular parks, and after taking just one stroll around the sandy brown pathways it’s easy to know why. The park is classified as common land due to its history as a site for grazing animals and features large grassy spaces surrounded by London Plane trees. The popular Pub in the Park is also located here to indulge on a pint… or six.
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7. Last, but certainly not least, is lovely Hackney Downs
With a football pitch, an athletics track, basketball courts and two floodlit tennis courts Hackney Downs is a park for the athletic. Beyond the sport facilities the park received a boost after Russell Brand unveiled a new landmark in 2014. The landmark was the result of a nine month project by local volunteers who came down every week to contribute pieces towards a mosaic which now covers an old shelter in the children’s park.
