Route Developer: Chris Wingrove
Starting from Chisenhale Art Place, 64-84 Chisenhale Rd, E3 5QZ
[1] Turn right out of Chisenhale Art Place along Chisenhale Road. At the end go left along Kenilworth Road and then right along Bunsen Street. Turn right along Grove Road. As you approach a roundabout cross Grove Road using the pedestrian island. Cross Old Ford Road using the zebra crossing and then enter Victoria Park through Crown Gate West.
(A) Victoria Park is one of London’s largest public parks. It was opened to the people of East London in 1845. Since then it has been used for music festivals, political rallies and even an anti-aircraft battery during the Second World War.
[2] Once in the park continue straight ahead. Straight ahead is the lake, and next to it are public toilets and a café. Stay in front of the café keeping the water to your left. Continue to keep the lake on your left – now more hidden because of shrubbery. You get to T junction with a fenced shrubbery/rockery ahead of you and Tower Hamlets/Victoria Park angling regulations board on a post to your left. Turn left here and continue along this path (another small pond can be seen on the left) you come to another T junction with one of the park’s main wider paths crossing in front of you. Turn right onto the main thoroughfare & go through the gates, over into the other part of the park.
[3] Continue along main pathway [parallel to canal on your left], as the main path turns right, take a smaller path straight on. Follow this path & it soon turns right; as it does take the small path to the left going toward a brick wall on your left and an exit onto the canal towpath – Canal Gate. Turn left here, walking with the Regent’s Canal on your right.
(B) The Regent’s Canal which was completed in 1820, running from the Grand Canal Junction at Paddington to Limehouse, where it connects with the River Thames.
[4] Walk along the towpath and under a bridge. Soon you come to Old Ford Lock. Continue on the towpath, up and down the slope and as you approach Roman Road Bridge, branch off the path and walk up to Roman Road, where you turn left. Cross Grove Road and continue along Roman Road. Take the next road on the left, Kenilworth Road. Walk to the end and then head right along Chisenhale Road to return to the starting point.