Manor Park Circular Walk – Wanstead Flats and Park

Sunday 13th July 2025, and it’s a change from the walk originally planned due to the hot weather, and a slightly earlier start to avoid the hottest part of the day and so people can get back in time to watch the tennis final. I arrived at Manor Park station at 10.30 to find Fozi, Louise, Madeleine, Lynne and Jill S there and we were soon joined by Claire.

We exited the station turning left towards Wanstead Flats, and I wondered whether the grass fires earlier in the week might have any impact our route. Turning left into Capel Road we saw some police tape Wanstead Flats, looking east from Centre Roadalong the edge of the Flats, but we continued on the road along the edge of the Flats, which were sadly looking very dry and brown.

At the next road (Centre Road) we crossed over and continued around the edge of the Flats, with a couple of football games taking place at the other side of the Flats. We did very briefly take a wrong turn, but I realised that it was wrong within about 10 seconds, so that doesn’t count (my walk, my rules!).

We continued along the edge of the Flats, turning at Jubilee Pond and then crossing Lake House Road to head towards the high rise buildings at the edge of the grassland. and then we turned right along Evelyn's Avenue, a historic tree lined track heading towards Wanstead and Bush Wood. I had previously walked the route, but only in the opposite direction, so upon reaching a junction at Bush Wood, I needed to check whether it was the right track to take, leaving the ladies to have a drink break and natter.

Jubilee Pond, Wanstead FlatsFollowing the chosen route, it turned out to be right (blimey, that’s a rarity!) and we came out on Blake Hall Road, to cross over the road and enter into Wanstead Park We then walked through the park, shaded by the surrounding trees, past the ducklings at Shoulder of Mutton Pond, to the tea hut for well earned food and drinks. This was, in effect, the end of the walk, as for most people it was easier to get home from here rather than returning to Manor Park.

Suitably refreshed, we then headed homewards, some through the park to reach Wanstead and Redbridge, with a couple of us taking the short walk back to the start point, passing an area of grassland which had obviously been burnt in the recent fire. It had been a good walk, pleasantly warm rather than intensely hot, a leisurely 5 miles, and everyone should have been able to get back in time for the tennis - if you like Wimbledon that is.

Trev Eley

Photos by Jill and Trevor