Fit & Free:your fitness & Recreation Guide

Wanstead Flats

Spanning the border between Leyton and Wanstead, this vast open space offers:

1. Natural training environment with varied terrain
2. Excellent for long-distance running training
3. Basic outdoor exercise equipment at key points
4. Football pitches used by local leagues
5. Wide open spaces perfect for group training
6. No toilet facilities (a significant drawback)
7. Limited playground equipment but endless natural play opportunities

Wanstead George Green

This compact but well-utilized space offers:

1. Open space suitable for small group training sessions
2. Pleasant picnic area with benches
3. Small playground for younger children
4. Toilet facilities available
5. Beautiful tree-lined perimeter perfect for sprint intervals

Valentines Park (Ilford)

One of East London's premier parks for fitness and recreation:

1. Extensive outdoor gym with pull up and dip bars
2. Multiple tennis courts in excellent condition
3. Cricket facilities used by local teams
4. Football areas with goal posts
5. Beautiful boating lake surrounded by picnic areas
6. Outstanding children's playground with zones for different ages
7. Clean, accessible toilet facilities
8. Café for post-workout refreshments

Central Park (East Ham)

A fitness-focused space with excellent facilities:

1. Has rare swing fitness weight boxes for functional training
2. Tennis courts that can be reserved through the local council
3. Football pitches used by community teams
4. Spacious running paths circumnavigating the park
5. Excellent children's playground with modern equipment
6. Clean toilet facilities
7. Open fields perfect for picnics and group training

Plashet Park

A smaller but well-maintained space:

1. Basic outdoor fitness equipment focused on cardiovascular training
2. Tennis courts (require booking)
3. Open areas suitable for informal sports
4. Decent children's playground recently refurbished
5. Limited toilet facilities with restricted hours
6. Good picnic areas with shade
7. Well-lit pathways suitable for evening running in winter

Plaistow Park

A compact but well-utilized community space:

1. Small but functional outdoor gym equipment
2. Basketball court popular with local youth
3. Open space suitable for bodyweight training circuits
4. Basic children's playground
5. Limited toilet facilities
6. Small picnic area
7. Good path network for interval training