[1] Come out of the centre and head towards the green space ahead. Walk along the path, passing the sports pitch and left onto Peel Grove. Turn left onto Old Ford Road and cross using the zebra crossing. After crossing, turn right and then almost immediately left into Globe Road. Cross over several side streets until you reach the end of Globe Road.
[2] Turn left along Roman Road, and walk along until you reach Bonner Street. Cross Roman Road using the pedestrian crossing and then head left. Almost immediately turn right into Usk Street. Where the road stops, continue ahead past the allotments on your left.
[3] Carry on ahead into Meath Gardens. Take the tarmac path straight ahead, and follow this as it bends around to the left. Continue along the path, heading towards a building and a basketball court in the far corner. Head between the building and court to exit Meath Gardens.
[4] Head to the right of the building and follow the path until you are back on Roman Road. Turn right and cross over the canal. Shortly after the bridge turn right to head into Mile End Park.
(A) Mile End Park was once the camping point for Watt Tyler’s Peasant Army for the 1341 battle with Richard II. A long time after that in 1997 regeneration began in the park, splitting it into several themed sections
[5] Follow the path straight ahead until you reach a path crossroads. Turn right here to head up and over the Ecology Pavilion. When you are down from the Pavilion, head towards the canal. Turn left along the canal towpath, with the water on your right. The blue building on your left houses the Mile End Climbing Wall, one of the largest indoor climbing facilities in the UK. Head under the bridge, and after a short red brick wall, turn left back into the park.
[6] Straight ahead are three paths, take the path on the right. This path heads up and over the Arts Pavilion. At the top of the rise you get a good view of Canary Wharf. Follow the path ahead as it bends around the hill, heading back towards the canal. Don’t take the towpath as this point, instead keep to the path running around the hill. Ahead you will see a school.
[7] Follow the path past the school, and continue ahead up and over the Green Bridge. The Green Bridge serves as a pedestrian and cycle link between the sections of Mile End Park and crosses the busy Mile End Road. As you come off the bridge keep going straight ahead.
[8] You will pass by gardens with fountains on your right. As the path swings around to the right you will see a line of black metal bollards next to an exit to the park. As you pass these take the path to your left, running alongside the canal. Follow this path as it joins the canal towpath, and double back on yourself so you are walking with the canal on your left.
[9] The canal is the Regent’s Canal, at this point close to its end at Limehouse. Pass under the Canal Road and Mile End Road bridges. As you come under Mile End Road bridge, head up and around the lock. Continue along the towpath, ignoring the paths leading back into the park.
[10] After a short distance you will pass the front of the Arts Pavillion on your right. Head under the railway bridge, and past the blue painted building.
[11] Walk under Roman Road Bridge. You then walk up a slope on the canal path- this is taking you over the junction of the Hertford Union Canal. From here you can walk all the way to Birmingham along canal towpaths. Walk down the slope and then you come to Old Ford Road Bridge and Old Ford Lock. At the far side of the lock, at the end of the brick wall turn right into Victoria Park through Arcade Gate.
(B) Victoria Park was built between 1845 & 1850. It was intended as a clean green open space for local residents. The area had the highest mortality rate in London due to poverty and overcrowding. 30,000 residents signed a petition to the Queen urging her to form a Royal Park.
[12] Once in the park, walk along the short tarmac path to the main path; at the T junction cross the main path (avoiding runners & cyclists) and turn left in front of the pond. Follow this path to the blue fence & go through the gates. As you go through the gate- look to your right, there are 2 very bedraggled looking stone dogs on pillars; these are copies of Ancient Greek statuary.
[13] Turn left over the bridge to exit the park and emerge onto Sewardstone Road. Cross using the zebra crossing to your left, and then go straight ahead down Approach Road. Cross Bonner Road and continue along Approach Road. Turn right into Robinson Road, then at the end left into Russia Lane to return to the centre.