Read about 4 fun things to do for families and kids in Victoria Park. Vicky Park is one of East London’s favourite child-friendly parks, with several play areas including some very long and thrilling slides!
4 fun places for kids in Victoria Park
Victoria Park is very family-friendly, and you’ll find a good range of activities for toddlers and preschoolers as well as for older kids;
- The Main Playground: on the east side is featuring one of the longest slides in London
- Splash Pool: perfect for water play in the summer season with fountains and water pumps
- Skatepark: which holds London’s only skateboard cradle.
- The V&A Playground: on the west side of the park intended for younger children
1. Victoria Park Main Playground
If your kids like slides, Victoria Park’s main playground is probably one of the best spots in London to let them loose. You’ll find a really good variety of play equipment for different age groups and abilities. There is a giant spiderweb climbing frame, challenging for both young and older kids. And there’s also a nice sandpit area with excavators nice for toddlers and younger kids.
The Vicky Park Slides
There are three slides running in parallel from the big mound. The one in the middle is the steepest and most challenging one, popular with school-age children frantically sliding down in acrobatic positions to impress their friends. Many carry sand from the sandpit pouring it on the slide to go faster. It’s also wide enough for several kids to tumble down next to each other, or alternatively for a parent to hold hands with their child.
We wouldn’t recommend for toddlers to go on the main slide on their own, but luckily there are two other slides to choose from, one on each side of the big slide. One is a bit more challenging than the other where you go in stages down from the top of the mound, while the easiest one is just a bit shorter
2. The Splash Pool
The Victoria park splash pool is located right next to the main playground and is one of the biggest free water play areas in London with a safe rubbery surface and countless water jets. It’s the perfect place for inner-city kids to cool off in the summer, and it was greatly missed when it remained closed for a very long time during COVID lockdown.
3. The Skatepark
The skatepark in Vicky Park is quite compact, but with some decent features. The key structure is the huge skate cradle (the only one in London), which is popular with more advanced skaters. There are also some easier street elements, but it gets really busy during weekends and school holidays so it’s not the best place for kids just starting to learn how to skate.
4. The Victoria & Alexandra (V&A) Playground
We first thought the initials stood for Victoria & Albert, like in the V&A Museum of Childhood and V&A Museum in Kensington, but in this case, the old Queen is associated with her daughter-in-law Alexandra!
From a distance, the playground looks a bit like a Gallic village taken straight out of Asterix with lots of wooden structures and play elements. We really liked the natural feel of the playground with its sandpits and water pumps. For toddlers and preschoolers, this is a great place to spend some time.
Highlights of Vicky Park
- Summer music festivals
- Great selection of cafes and pubs
- Victoria Park Lake
- Summer-evening cricket matches
- The Bathing Pond, which is popular with London’s anglers.
- The beautiful Victoria Park Village nearby with its Georgian and Victorian terraces.
- The elegant Victorian drinking fountain (so beautiful that it has been awarded Grade II listed status by English Heritage)
Music & Festivals
A place for fun and debate since Victorian times
When Victoria Park was opened to the public in 1845 it provided greenery for the cramped, impoverished working-class slum areas of the East End. The popularity of Vicky Park (as the locals call it) made it known as ‘The People’s Park’.
In the 19th century, Vicky Park became associated with left-wing politics with its Speakers’ corner becoming a hotbed of socialist and reformist debate, an ideological tradition that continued in the 1970s and ’80s when the park would associate left-wing music festivals, featuring performances by artists like The Clash.
The park has continued its association with indie and alternative rock music with the likes of Radiohead having staged huge concerts there in the 21st century, maintaining the park’s status as one the most popular East London attractions.
From festivalgoers to families with kids, Vicky Park is still one of the most popular green spaces in East London.
Key Information Vicky Park
- Free entry
- Outdoor
- Type: Park
- Borough: Tower Hamlets
- Area: East London
- Tube: Mile End
- Nearby: The Olympic Swimming Pool
- Tower Hamlets Website
Is Victoria Park within the congestion zone?
No, it’s outside of the congestion zone.
Is Vicky Park safe?
It’s pretty safe, but like always in London there’s a certain chance of a robbery or phone snatch.
Is Vicky Park good for families?
Yes, the park has several playgrounds and it’s a great place for family picnics in the summer.
What’s the best thing for kids in Victoria Park?
The steep slide in the main playground is a long standing winner among kids in East London.
Is Vicky Park good for parents?
Yes, the playground is safe for children to explore independently and its open space layout makes it easy for parents to keep an eye on their children.
Is Victoria Park open during lockdown?
Yes, Vicky Park is open during lockdown. Check the park website for details.
How are the toilets in Victoria Park?
The public toilets in the park are well maintained.