Top 13 free things to do in Waltham Forest

As everyone knows, the Walthamstow Wetlands are the largest urban wetlands in the whole of Europe, and they’ve been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of Londoners since they opened for free visits in October 2017. They join seamlessly with the Walthamstow marshes and River Lea canal, forming one of London’s most serene cycle routes. Don’t have a bike? You can hire one for free (just a deposit required) from the Council.

‘We Can Be Heroes’ is a roving family friendly daytime disco, run by two DJs Theodora Goes Wild and DJ dADRock. Having once filled dancehalls in London and far beyond, they now present family-friendly disco days ‘where parents and kids can dress up, dance to classic rock and pop, and get their geek on’. They host monthly free events at Exale Brewery off Blackhorse Lane (and low price events elsewhere, such as Walthamstow Trades Hall).

New for 2022, Exale Brewery have also started putting on monthly open mic nights featuring up-and-coming musicians, on the third Thursday of each month at 7pm. Keep an eye on their channels for more info.

Waltham Forest’s Parkrun is a free weekly 5k event which takes place every Saturday at 9am in the grounds of the Peter May Sports Centre, tucked away above the North Circular in between Walthamstow and Chingford. All parkruns are managed by a tireless team of volunteers (usually runners taking a break), and the Walthamstow parkrun is renowned for being a particularly welcoming community, with most runners staying on afterwards to chat. And you don’t have to be an experienced runner – you can walk, jog or run. We featured them on our Instagram channel last year. Find out more on their website, and don’t forget your barcode!

The distinct flash of lime green from a ring-necked parakeet, long the preserve of west and south Londoners, has become an increasingly frequent delight for Waltham Forest. The exotic and noisy birds number in the tens of thousands across London after being introduced in the 20th century. Lucky birdwatchers could come across a whole flock of them in the borough. Read the East London Guardian’s first reporting of the birds in Waltham Forest in 2012.

Gallery, café, workshop and cult favourite Gods Own Junkyard is arguably the tourist hotspot of Waltham Forest, with its wall-to-wall coverings of lushly colourful neon signs marking it out as a must-see, particularly among an Instagram generation. The neon has been salvaged from late owner Chris Bracey’s extraordinary career as a neon artist in Hollywood (his neon creations have co-starred with Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and many more). Around it a mini-village of breweries and businesses have sprung up, creating a real weekend destination. Free to visit, and you can pay to buy or rent neon signs or visit the gallery café. Visit their website for more info.

At the bottom of the Walthamstow Marshes you can usually spot some of the magnificent horses of the Lee Valley Riding School relaxing in their paddocks – and if you time it right you can watch some riding and training in action. You can also pay to enter the centre itself and take part in their activities, such as meeting their very cute mini ponies. Check out the horses on the Riding School website.

After whetting your appetite with the horses, Brooks Farm in Leyton will fill animal-lovers with delight. The farm is situated within Jack Cornwell Park and has been a key part of its local community for many years. Animals include sheep, donkeys, ponies, goats, rabbits and hens. Part of Capel Manor College, it’s free to visit (donations are welcome), and also offers full-time and part-time courses for anyone who feels particularly dedicated. Find more info on their website.

The wonderful Our Parks team run four different free fitness bootcamps across the borough – in Langthorne Park (Leytonstone), Leyton Jubilee Park, Lloyd Park (Walthamstow) and Ridgeway Park (Chingford). They take place on weekend mornings – make sure to book a place beforehand as they’re very popular!

Waltham Forest includes huge swathes of greenery, with part of Epping Forest stretching along its eastern border all the way from Chingford to Leytonstone, not to mention the Wetlands and Marshes to the west and the huge new Leyton Jubilee Park across much of the south of the borough. Whether you’re by the Hollow Pond, Larks Wood, the Reservoirs, Highams Park lake, Chingford Plains, the River Lea, or one of the many parks, there are plenty of peaceful spots to visit.

Last year’s Walthamstow Wellbeing Festival was a hugely popular set of community events focusing on mental health and self-care, and taking place at CRATE St James Street and nearby venues. 30 free events were put on around Walthamstow. When the organisers wrapped up the festival last year they said they hoped to return this year – keep an eye on their channels to see what’s next.

As dogspotting opportunities go, Lloyd Park is up there with the best. It’s got a dedicated dog area full of happy pups, which often draws crowds of admiring residents.

Also in Lloyd Park, the William Morris gallery is a renowned venue displaying the life and work of the radical Arts and Crafts designer, who grew up in the very same Georgian building. Come for innovative exhibitions and fascinating info about the famous son of Waltham Forest – so much more than a designer of wallpaper prints! And on Saturdays, make sure to mosey around the Lloyd Park market for delicious food from local traders.

See the William Morris website and the Lloyd Park Market website for more info.

"There's more than one park run in Waltham forest - the one on Wanstead flats is fab too!"

Although Wanstead Flats is technically out of our jurisdiction, it is literally a stone's throw - and since this is the closest parkrun for half of the borough, we're happy to include it!

Find more info on the Wanstead Flats parkrun.