Wanstead Park

Wanstead Park is a 57-hectare park featuring multiple ornamental lakes, landscaped gardens, and ancient woodland areas connected by a network of paths. The landscape combines open water surfaces with denser wooded sections, creating varied terrain throughout the site.

The park originally developed as grounds for Wanstead House in the 18th century and became public space when the City of London Corporation purchased it in 1880. This shift from private to public ownership shaped how the site is managed and accessed today.

The Temple from the 1760s now serves as a visitor center with exhibitions about the park's history and local environmental features. This building is where visitors gather to learn about the site's importance to the surrounding community.

The park has multiple entrances with the main access on Warren Road and additional points leading to the Glade and Ornamental Pond. Visitors can choose different routes based on which areas they want to explore.

The park contains centuries-old trees including a 346-year-old European oak and numerous ancient yew specimens throughout the grounds. These established trees shape the woodland character and give visitors a sense of continuous growth across generations.