Weavers Fields is a lovely open space in the Bethnal Green area of London. At just over 6 hectares in area, it’s not the largest of London’s green spaces, but it is one of the most welcome. The name of the park comes from this area having once been the centre of London’s silk weaving trade.
There are several large park sculptures that pay homage to its industrial past, featuring motifs such as silk moths, ribbons, weaving shuttles, spinning wheels, and mulberry leaves. The entrance sign to the fields also features a “woven” theme, with interlaced red and black iron bars supporting the signpost.
Festivals and events at Weavers Fields
Each year Weavers Fields hosts the Baishakhi Mela Festival, which is a celebration of the Bengali New Year and the largest such celebration in the UK. This street festival is extremely popular and is second only to the Notting Hill Carnival in terms of attendance.
More than 100,000 people turn out for the Baishakhi Mela event, which is a celebration of Bengali and Bangladeshi food, art, and music. This event has been taking place here since 1997 and just gets more interesting and elaborate with each passing year.
Treespotting with kids in Weavers Fields
Weavers Fields has an impressive array of tree varieties. The Tower Hamlets Borough Council has made a serious effort at sustainability in recent years by planting over 200 native trees in the park. Majestic trees tower over the open space:
- Horse chestnut
- Rowan
- Hawthorn
- Ash
And on the eastern edge you’ll find:
- Wild cherry
- Silver birch
- Aspen trees
If you enjoy finding new types of trees and identifying them, there are a couple of great apps that can help you. We have previously written about Google Lens, and there is also an app from the Woodland Trust which is really helpful when it comes to narrowing down on the exact type of tree you’re looking at. Treespotting is a great learning activity to do with kids and can be combined with pressing leaves and making leaf books.
Adventure Playground
There is also an adventure Playground mainly for kids 8-16 years old which includes a basketball area as well as various indoor activities like table tennis and pool (we have not reviewed this playground). In the central area of the park, you’ll find another playground more focused on toddlers and preschoolers with swings, slides and climbing frames.
All in all, this is a great little park that provides a much-needed oasis of leafy green for the people in this urban part of London.
Key Information Weavers Fields
- Free
- Outdoor
- Type: Playground
- Borough: Tower Hamlets
- Area: East London
- Tube: Bethnal Green
- Nearby: Hackney City Farm
- Park website