Opportunity for catering 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:

  • catering vans
  • catering operators at fixed pitches
  • healthy street food trucks

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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Victoria Park

Victoria Park skyline flat green

Victoria Park or “Vicky Park” as it’s known locally, is London’s oldest public park. Opened in 1845 for the benefit of the East End working class, “The People’s Park” has a long and rich history spanning over 170 years.

At 86 hectares, Victoria Park is the largest park in Tower Hamlets. It receives over 9 million visitors each year who enjoy a range of community activities, events, live music, and sports.

Victoria Park is a key link in a green corridor. It stretches from the River Thames at Limehouse. Then goes along the Regents Canal and through Mile End Park, along with the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park next door. The London Borough of Hackney sits on northern boundary of the park.

Victoria Park holds Green Flag and Green Heritage awards. It has held the ‘Green Flag People’s Choice Award’ for 11 consecutive years. The Park has also been awarded gold medals in the London in Bloom ‘Heritage Park’ and ‘Large Park’ categories.

Victoria Park spring time Pagoda

Opening times

Victoria Park opens at 7am and closes at dusk, 365 days a year. The specific opening times are on the notice boards at all park entrances.

Victoria Park Splash Pool is open from 11am - 5pm, every day between Spring Bank Holiday (last bank holiday in May) until the last weekend of the school summer holidays. The splash pool will be turned off if it rains. 

Park map

Download the map of the park including gates, buildings, historic points of interest and other facilities.

How to get here

Victoria Park
Grove Road
Bow
London
E3 5TB

Nearest underground station

Mile End – plan your journey to Mile End station

Nearest rail stations

Cambridge Heath/Hackney Wick station

From Mile End station: turn left and cross over Mile End Road. Turn right onto Grove Road – it’s about 10-15 minutes walk straight down.

You can also walk most of the way through Mile End Park, which runs parallel to Grove Road. You will first arrive at the Crown Gates. Or on Grove Road you can catch bus 277 or 425 to the middle of the park.

Park entrances

  • St. Agnes Gate: Gore Road
  • Gore Gate: Gore Road
  • Royal Gates: Grove Road
  • Crown Gates: Grove Road
  • Rockmead Gate: Victoria Park Road
  • Iveagh Gate: Victoria Park Road
  • Queens Gate: Victoria Park Road
  • St. Augustines Gate: Victoria Park Road
  • Cadogan Gate: Cadogan Terrace
  • St.Mark's Gate: Cadogan Terrace
  • Lock House Gate: Jodrell Road
  • Gunmakers Gate: Gunmakers Lane
  • Terrace Gate: Old Ford Road
  • Cricketers Gate: Old Ford Road
  • Arcade Gate: Canal towpath
  • Rose Gate: Canal towpath
  • Bonner Gate: Sewardstone Road
  • Canal Gate
  • Molesworth Gate: Junction of Victoria Park Road and Cadogan Terrace

Restrictions

Vehicles

Cars are not allowed inside Victoria Park unless they are blue badge holders (max speed limit: 5mph).

BBQs

BBQs are not permitted inside the park

Cycling

Cyclists are allowed in the park but we ask all cyclists to be considerate and safe.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed in the children's play areas.

For more information please see park byelaws

Victoria Park pond

Accessibility

All Victoria Park's public toilets have an accessible cubicle and both our cafés are accessible for wheelchair users.

We have installed a new changing places toilet facility at Victoria Park. 

Changing places are designed so that they are completely accessible and provide enough space and equipment for people who are not able to use the toilet independently. 

The facility can be accessed by keypad and anyone planning to visit the park with a need to use the new facility will need to register using the code request form to get access. 

Both our community buildings offer step-free access.

Blue badge holders can use their cars to access the park.

  • West side of the park (E9 7HN) – through Gore Gate off Gore Road with a Radar key

  • East side of the park (E9 5HT) – a Radar key will grant access through St Mark's Gate South Car Park, off Cadogan Terrace. Go through the car park at St Mark's Gate South and the electronic gate is at the back. You can also call 020 8985 5699 at the gate and a ranger will open it for you.

Park users in any vehicle should follow the 5mph speed limit. One of the fishing platforms on the East Lake is accessible from the main footpath near the children's playground.

News and events

To keep up to date with events at Victoria Park, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @vickyparklondon.