[1] Come out of the centre and go straight ahead to Southern Grove. Turn left along Southern Grove, passing a pedestrian passage called Hamlets Way. Immediately after this, turn left through the gates into Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park. (Open 8am to an hour before dusk)
(A) Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park (also known as Bow Cemetery) originally opened in 1841. It was created by an Act of Parliament to provide adequate space for burials in the rapidly expanding city of London. In the first two years 60% of the burials were in public graves which had increased to 80% by 1851. These public graves were used to bury those whose families could not afford a funeral. Several persons, entirely unrelated to each other, could be buried in the same grave within the space of a few weeks. There are stories of some graves being dug 40 feet deep and containing up to 30 bodies. The cemetery closed for burials in 1966, and became Tower Hamlet’s first nature reserve in 2001. Since 1990 there has been a ‘Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park’ group who are now responsible for maintaining the 33 acres that make up the reserve. Throughout the park in spring there are many flowers some of which are scented. Also, it is possible to hear bird song and the rustling of leaves.
[2] Follow the main path straight ahead, past the large war memorial. At the crossroads, take the right hand path. After following the path for some distance you will find it splits into three at a clearing, follow the middle of the three paths. The path then rises and dips, before coming to a crossroads (you will see the railway arches ahead). Turn left at this crossroads – if you look into the distance you may be able to see the towers of Canary Wharf.
[3] As the path continues to swing around to the left you will be walking parallel to the railway which is just outside the park. (listen out for trains) You will pass a marker post on your right, follow the arrow to Hamlets Way. Keep following the perimeter path around back towards the main entrance, passing a memorial on your right, (C) to those residents of Poplar who died in the bombing raids of World War II.
Further on, on your right you will see an exit to the right onto Hamlets Way, the pedestrian passageway you crossed earlier. If anyone is finding the park paths too tough, exit the park here and continue to Southern Grove along Hamlets Way.
[4] The path continues round the cemetery to the left before you return to your starting point, outside the Soanes Centre by the entrance gates. From here, return to the main gates of the Cemetery, and then turn right along Southern Grove. After a short distance turn right back into the grounds of the Resource Centre.