Home Leisure and culture Parks and open spaces The London Borough of Tower Hamlets - Parks rules
Opportunity for ice cream and mobile café concessions in parks

Tower Hamlets has many beautiful parks and open spaces used by both residents and visitors to the borough.

We have a great opportunity for local businesses to trade in our parks for the summer season in 2024.

We are seeking to license:

- ice cream vans and

- mobile café operators at fixed pitches. 

We have opportunities in parks across the borough for vendors who have Public Liability Insurance and Food Hygiene Certificate.

If you are interested in applying, please email parks@towerhamlets.gov.uk

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Parks rules

These rules for using our parks are supported by our park byelaws.

These rules apply to all parks and open spaces managed by Tower Hamlets Council.

Opening times

Members of the public must not enter or stay in parks when they are closed.

Protection of the ground, wildlife and the public

  • Do not remove barriers, posts, seats or any structure from the ground
  • Do not remove stones, soil, turf, plants or trees or pick flowers
  • Do not walk, ride or drive over any flower beds or plants or land being prepared for planting
  • Do not erect any structures including barriers, posts, rides, swings, inflatables, gazebos or tents without permission from the council
  • Do not climb walls, fences, trees or any other structures. Do not attach line, rope or other equipment to trees
  • No grazing of animals
  • Do not kill, injure or disturb any animal. Do not hunt or set traps or snares for any animal
  • Do not feed any animals
  • Keep vehicle access gates closed
  • No camping
  • Do not light fires or barbeques, or cause fires to be set
  • Do not throw objects that could cause injury
  • Do not tamper with any lifesaving equipment

Horses, bicycles and vehicles

  • Unauthorised horse riding is not permitted
  • Bicycles only to ridden on designated routes and in a way that does not endanger other park users
  • Unauthorised cars, motorbikes, trailers or motorised vehicles are not permitted in parks.

Play areas, games and sports

  • No skateboarding, roller skating or sledging except in designated areas
  • Ball games must not prevent others using that part of the park, cause danger or annoyance to other park users or put trees and plants at risk of damage
  • Cricket is to be played in designated areas only
  • Golf, archery javelin, hammer, discus or shot are prohibited in parks.

Waterways

  • Bathing and swimming in ponds, lakes or any other waterway is prohibited
  • Stepping onto any frozen waterway is prohibited
  • Model boats are not to be used on any waterway
  • Boats, canoes, inflatables or any other types of crafts are not to be used on any waterway
  • Fishing is only allowed in designated areas. All anglers must have a rod licence. Rod licenses are available from the Post Office and the Environment Agency website.
  • Blocking or diverting of any waterway is prohibited.

Model aircraft

  • Taking off, controlling the flight, or landing of any power-driven model aircrafts is not permitted. This includes drones.

Other regulated activities

  • No services, for which a charge is made, are to be offered without the permission of the council
  • Park users must not shout, sing, play musical instruments, use a radio or play amplified music in a loud, continuous or repetitive way which causes annoyance to others, unless they are taking part in events held with council permission
  • No shows or performances are permitted without council permission
  • No take-off or landing of any aircraft, hang gliders or hot air balloons
  • Kite flying must not cause danger or annoyance to any other park users
  • Metal detectors can only be used with the permission of the council.

Miscellaneous

  • Council officers or contractors must not be obstructed while they are carrying out their duties.

Anybody found breaking park byelaws may be removed from the grounds by a council officer or the police.

Read a full list of the park byelaws.