Victoria Park is one of East London’s best-loved green spaces and it’s not hard to see why. Flanked by canal paths, with the Olympic Park just a stone’s throw away and with plenty of open spaces for a ball and catch game, it’s no wonder why Vicky Park, as it’s fondly called by locals, is a firm favourite with dogs and their owners. Yes, Victoria Park is a delectable delight for doggies of all shapes and sizes!
Hipster pooches of East London rejoice – we’ve put together a handy dog walking guide so if you’ve not explored all that Vicky Park has to offer, or if you’re new to the area or simply looking for new dog walking spots around the dog loving city of London – look no further!
The following dog walk guide starts at the easy to access Bonner Gate, which is great if you’re wandering in from the Bethnal Green tube, Hackney Road, Regents Canal or Globe Town areas. If not, don’t worry – there’s plenty of other entrances into Vicky Park, see our map below to check the gate and access times.
Walk time: The following route takes about an hour, not including any pit stops
Dog-friendly features on this dog walk:
Away from busy roads
Dog Poo Bins
Litter-free paths
Off-Lead Time
No other animals
Water Available
Secure perimeters
Well-lit at night
Victoria Park Dog Walk Route:
- Starting your walk at Bonner Gate, which is easily accessible from Regent’s Canal, follow the path inside the park gates to the right. Soon, you’ll see the famous and picturesque West Boating Lake to your left. (Keep an eye peeled for a view of the equally famous Chinese Pagoda!) Sadly, the hire boats and pedalos aren’t dog-friendly, so if you fancy a spot of pedalo peddling, your pup would have to wait on shore… however, there’s so much you can do together in Victoria Park that this shouldn’t be a problem! Athletic doggos might enjoy a run around the lake, or even the whole park, before a pit stop at Pavillion Cafe, which is handily situated right next to the boating lake.
- Pavilion Bakery has some of the best chai tea in London, and be sure to pick up one of their cinnamon buns (or tumeric or cardamom if you’re feeling more adventurous) while you’re here! We’d also recommend one of their Sri Lankan Hoppers if you’re there for a Sunday brunch. And thirsty pups needn’t miss out either with a dog bowl outside for thirsty pups.
- Next, walk round the back of Pavilion and follow the path North you’ll find plenty of open space to throw a ball and play fetch or just sit and relax.
- Walk up Grove Road to the corner of Gore Road and you’ll be in Victoria Park Village where you can stop for refreshments, or to pick up some meat from Ginger Pig for dinner later (no, not for treats now!). The dog-friendly team at Bottle Apostle leave a dog bowl of water out on hotter days so that your canine friend can quench their thirst while you contemplate which of their many bottles of wine and beer you’ll be taking home to quench yours later!
- Re-entering the park down Lauriston Road (past Royal Inn on the Park) follow the path along Eastwards. There’s plenty of green space along the way for a run around… or another game of fetch!
You’ll walk past the Bandstand, East Lake and Old English Garden. A little idyll – for well-behaved doggies only!
- As you get towards Gascoyne Road, you’ll see the People’s Park Tavern. This is our recommended meet up spot for lazy afternoon entertainment – they even have crazy golf! Dog-friendly, kid-friendly, big-kid friendly, lunch spot and watering hole – it’s no wonder that doggo-loving East Londoners have voted this pub one of the neighbourhoods’ top dog-friendly pubs two years running in our Dog-friendly Pub Awards.
- When you’re fed and watered, head back the way you came – if you’re feeling tired – or, if all this adventuring has given you even more energy then follow the path round in a loop – it’s under 3 miles from start to finish if you walk the whole circumference of the park; why not try jogging it with your pooch for a fun 5 km route?
- Alternatively, from the eastern-most corners of Victoria Park here (Cadogan Gate, St Mark’s Gate and Molesworth Gate), you could either loopback round the southern perimeter of the park or continue on towards Hackney Wick and the Olympic Park (luckily, we’ve got a dog-walking guide for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, too!).
Where to find Victoria Park
Because Victoria Park is so large, there are a number of ways you can get there on public transport. If you would like to follow our recommended route from Bonner Gate, Cambridge Heath Overground and Bethnal Green Underground stations are closest. You can also access the middle of the park very easily from Mile End Underground station, too. There are plenty of buses in the local area, too!
What are Victoria Park’s opening hours?
Victoria Park is open from 7am and closes at dusk all year round – 365 days a year! So if you’re lucky enough to be a local you can even go for a dog walk here on Christmas Day! Be careful not to get shut in the park in the evening, the park rangers start closing and chaining the gates when the light fades.
Do you have a favourite local dog walking route you’d like to share with the DogBuddy community? Let us know in the comments below!