Get active now

Discover Waltham Forest with our walking and cycling trails showcasing a number of famous people and places in the borough and sharing some of Waltham Forest’s lesser-known secrets.

The nine routes can be followed on your own or with family and friends and are a great way to learn more about our borough while enjoying the great outdoor spaces and finding new favourite places.

There are nine routes to choose from. Check out the full guide, or find the individual routes below:

• Murder and the Orient
• Planes, bike and automobiles
• Swimmers, Bakers and Olympic Games Makers
• Arts and crafts
• A wander down the hill
• Leyton and Leytonstone
• Waltham Forest's industrial past
• A tale of three boroughs
• Highams Park animal sculpture trail

Please note that the Vestry House Museum is currently closed for works, and will reopen in early 2026.

Walking groups

• North East London Ramblers
• The London Strollers
• Lea Valley Friends Ramblers
• Walthamstow Walking Group (on Facebook)

Other walking routes and maps

• Walks Past: Free self-guided local history walks
• Wood Street Walls: Local street art maps
• Go Jauntly: Walking route app
• Walk London

Feel Good Walks

Feel Good Walks are free and open to everyone. Find out more about them using the button below.

Walthamstow Sports and Wellbeing Programme

The Feel Good team are delighted to offer a Free Sports and Wellbeing programme at the Walthamstow Library in the community room. 

Absolutely no experience is necessary, all the sessions are indoors and everyone is welcome.

The sessions are:

• adult Pilates: Mondays 12:40 to 1:40pm Book Here
• adult Chair Based Reggae Exercise: Thursdays 1pm to 2pm Book Here
• inclusive children Roller Skating ages 8 to 16 years Fridays 5pm to 6:30pm Book Here

For more information, please email Feel.Good@Walthamforest.gov.uk

Until December 2025.

Pastures Sports and Wellbeing Programme

The Feel Good team have secured funding to deliver a Free Sports and Wellbeing programme at the Pastures Centre in Leytonstone.

Absolutely no experience is necessary, all the sessions are indoors in a sports hall and everyone is welcome.

The sessions are:

• adult Pilates: Tuesdays 12:30 to 1:30pm
• adult Zumba: Fridays 12:30 to 1:30pm
• inclusive children Multi Sports Sessions aged 4 to 14 years Sunday's 9:15 to 10:15am

Register here

For more information and to register, please email Feel.Good@Walthamforest.gov.uk

Leyton Sports and Wellbeing Programme

The Feel Good team have secured funding to deliver a Free Sports and Well-being programme at Leyton Sports Ground.

Absolutely no experience is necessary and everyone is welcome.

The sessions are:

• adult Tai Chi: Tuesdays 1pm to 2pm
• adult Keep Fit chair-based exercise: Wednesdays 12:30 to 1:30pm
• Women's only Bollywood Fitness sessions: Saturdays 9am to 10am, every Saturday September until November 2025 

Register here 

For more information and to register, please email Feel.Good@Walthamforest.gov.uk

Parkrun takes place at The Peter May Centre, 135 Wadham Road, Walthamstow E17 4HR.

Parkrun is a 5 kilometers weekly timed event open to all ages and abilities, you need to register to get your barcode and take part.

To find out more, contact Peter May Leisure Centre.

Junior parkrun

Junior Parkrun takes place at Leyton Jubilee Park, Marsh Lane, Leyton, London, E10 7BL

Junior Parkrun is a free, fun, and friendly, consisting of weekly 2 kilometers event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds).​

To find out more, contact leytonjubileejuniors@parkrun.com.

Four of our premier parks host regular fitness classes including:

• Abs, bums and thighs
• Full body workout
• Bootcamp

The sessions take place at:

• Langthorne Park, Leytonstone E11 4YG
• Leyton Jubilee Park, Leyton E10 7BI
• Lloyd Park, Walthamstow E17 5JW
• Ridgeway Park, Chingford E4 6XQ

Find out more and register at our parks.

Anybody who lives, works or studies in Waltham Forest can receive free cycle training through Cycling Instructor. You can receive training 1 to 1 at a time that suits you. The training is also tailored to your needs, whether you are a complete beginner, or want to try cycling on the road for the first time. 

Free Activities include:

• Dr Bike sessions: free check-ups of your bike (details on Cycle Instructor website)
• All ability cycling club: weekly cycling session for people of all abilities using a fleet of adapted cycles (details on Bikeworks' website)

For more information, please email: cycling@walthamforest.gov.uk

Everyone is welcome to join the Walking Cricket at Leyton Sports Ground on Tuesdays from 11 to 12:30pm.

These sessions are completely free and open to men and women, regardless of ability. It’s lots of fun and there’s a chance to have a cup of tea after the session.

These sessions run term time only, for more information please email Feel.Good@walthamforest.gov.uk

Everyone is welcome to join the Free Park Tennis Session every Saturday at Abbotts Park in Leyton from 10 -11am. 

These sessions are completely free, led by volunteer tennis activators and are open to adults & children, regardless of ability. It’s lots of fun and all equipment is provided!

Spaces need to be booked in advance, to book a session please click here and select Abbotts Park. 

For more information, please email Feel.Good@walthamforest.gov.uk 

Leyton Marsh, behind Lee Valley Ice Centre

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Open 24/7

Free sports equipment from our outdoor locker for use on Leyton Marsh

Take advantage of the sport equipment located in the BoxUp outdoor locker – it’s free and available for anyone to use in the green spaces of Leyton Marshes

This solar powered storage lockers, which you access for free using a smart phone and the BoxUp app have six lockers which contain the following equipment:

• Badminton kit including rackets, net and shuttlecocks
• Spikeball kit with a small trampoline and balls
• Pétanque outdoor boules kit
• Dumbbell kit with various weights
• Coordination kit with skipping rope and agility ladder
• Adjustable kettlebells

For more information, please click here.