Skip to content
Wanstead Park is grazed by our conservation herd of longhorn cattle in September. If you see our cows while in the area, please be mindful that they are livestock and not pets, keep a respectful distance, and keep dogs on leads around them.

Wanstead Park was once a formal landscape surrounding the great Wanstead House, often compared to Blenheim Palace. Though the house is gone, the Park remains and provides a perfect venue for relaxing and escaping the urban sprawl.

The Park is also home to The Temple, one of our Visitor Centres - once a rich man's folly, and now home to art and history exhibitions and the story of Wanstead Park.

Things to do and see

  • Visit The Temple on selected days to discover the story of Wanstead Park and see our latest exhibitions
  • Explore the Park with our circular Chestnut Trail 
  • Bring your bike and enjoy a leisurely ride on the Park's main paths
  • Enjoy a picnic at the water's edge, on the grass or under the trees
  • Spend the day fishing at Perch Pond or the Ornamental Waters - see our fishing page for details
  • Bring your binoculars and enjoy watching the many species of bird and waterfowl
Visit the Temple
Epping Forest map PDF (256KB)
Date submitted: 20/11/19
Chestnut trail PDF (400KB)
Date submitted: 20/11/19

Parking and travel info

By train

Wanstead Park is a 1km (0.6 mile) walk from Wanstead station or a 2.3km (1.4 mile) walk from Redbridge station - both on the Central Line.

By bus

The 66, 101, 145, 308, W12, W13 and W14 all serve the area around the Park.

By car

Street parking is available in the surrounding area. A small, dedicated disabled car park is located next to the Temple with access from Warren Road.

Water management in Wanstead Park

Visit our news page for information on how we manage water levels at the lakes in Wanstead Park.