[1] Leave the centre and turn right along Russia Lane. Turn right into Robinson Road and walk to Approach Road. Cross to the opposite side and then continue down to Old Ford Road. Turn left along Old Ford Road with St James Avenue shops on your left.
Look over to your right and at the end of a small triangle of grass there is a tiny house – just a front door & one window above - house no 196b.
[2] You soon come to a rise in the road where the bridge takes you over the canal. As you get to the other side of the bridge there is a blue gate on your left, take this and go down the steps to the towpath. Turn right at the bottom of the steps and walk along the canal. You very quickly come to Old Ford Lock. At the end of the brick wall on your right is a gate into Victoria Park – Arcade Gate. Take this gate into the park. Follow the path to the right, keeping the pond on your left. Head toward the glass & blue ‘Pavilion Cafe’. There are public toilets just behind the cafe to the right.
[3] Stay in front of cafe keeping pond to your left. Continue to keep pond on 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.
[4] 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. Go through the gate and turn right onto the towpath (keep a lookout for cyclists and runners).
[5] You soon walk under Mare Street Bridge and then the railway bridge.
(A) On the far side of the canal you can see the old Victorian Gas holders. These were once a common sight in every town across the UK. They were originally used to store coal gas that was used in lighting London’s streets. Some were converted to natural gas in the 1960’s and some are still in use today
[6] Continue along the towpath to just before the next bridge & take the steps up to your right & at the top turn left. Turn left again and walk over the canal bridge, past The Perseverance public house and turn left at the traffic lights along Pritchard’s Road. Walk along Pritchard’s Road and cross to the right hand side of the road when safe to do so. At the end of Pritchard’s Road you want to go straight across Hackney Road into Temple Street- use the zebra crossing just to your right to safely cross Hackney Road. Continue straight along Temple Street.
As you are walking along Temple Street, there is a small road on your right called Winkley Street, a short way along on the left is a very unusual shop- selling all things Mexican- pottery, chillies, glass, baskets and much more!
[7] At the bottom of Temple Street, turn left & use the zebra crossing to cross over Old Bethnal Green Road. Once across the road, turn right & take the path on the left through the open green area. Follow the path & at the end turn left into Canrobert Street. Walk to the end of this street and turn left into Bethnal Green Road. Continue along to the traffic lights just after going under the railway bridge.
The big church facing you is St John’s on Bethnal Green built in 1826 and designed by Sir John Soane, who also designed many other famous London buildings, including no 11 Downing Street and The Bank of England. To your left just before the junction is a small park and row of houses, the blue plaque on no.3 Paradise Row is commemorating Daniel Mendoza- pugilist of 1764-1836. He lived here whilst writing his book ‘The Art of Boxing’
[8] Using the traffic lights cross straight over Cambridge Heath Road & turn left in front of the church. Just past the entrance to Bethnal Green underground station turn right into the park & follow the path around to your left walking towards the side of the toy museum (which was originally built for the great exhibition – which may explain the mosaic pictures along the side depicting farming and the seasons on this side & manufacturing on the far side). Follow the path around to the right and exit the park through the gate onto Victoria Park Square. Turn left and walk to the end of the street, turn left. Use the zebra to cross over, turn right.
[9] Turn left into Peel Grove, cross to the right hand pavement and follow the path between the grassy area on your right and St John’s School on your left. Pass a concrete sports area on your right, and at the end turn right through gates onto a path through a small open park. At the end turn left along Russia Lane to return to the centre.