Borough
Architectural period
Architectural type
Facility

We will be launching the 2022 programme in mid-August

  • Westwood
  • Lodge Graves
  • Westwood Monument and wildflowers
  • Up above the Cemetery Park - looking west

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

Thomas Wyatt & David Brandon

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Meet in front of ther Soanes Centre. On the right once you've entered via the main gates on Southern Grove E3
place
Soanes Centre. (On the right the main gates on Southern Grove), Mile End, E3 4PX
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Parking, Toilets, Disabled access, Refreshments

Travel Information

subway
Nearest tube: Bow Church, Mile End, Bow Road
train
Nearest train: Limehouse, Stratford
directions_bus
Bus routes: 25, 277, D6, D7, 425, 323, 205
One of the magnificent 7 cemeteries. Burials ceased 1966, now 31 acres of woodland, meadows & ponds including the Soanes Centre (Robson Kelly 1993). Of outstanding importance for flora and fauna, set amongst funereal monuments, some listed

Events

Saturday 4th September
Heritage Tour
schedule Time: 10.30am to 12pm
group Capacity: 15
Guided heritage tour. Please book at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thefriendsoftowerhamletscemeterypark/568195/
Guided Heritage Tour
schedule Time: 12.30pm to 2pm
group Capacity: 10
Guided heritage tour. Please book at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thefriendsoftowerhamletscemeterypark/568195/
Guided Nature Tour
schedule Time: 2.15pm to 3.30pm
group Capacity: 20
Guided nature tour. Please book at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thefriendsoftowerhamletscemeterypark/568195/
Guided Heritage Tour
schedule Time: 3.15pm to 4.30pm
group Capacity: 10
Guided heritage tour. Please book at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thefriendsoftowerhamletscemeterypark/568195/

Design

Original design
Thomas Wyatt & David Brandon, 1841
Type
garden, cemetery, public realm/landscape, walk/tour
Period
Historical/contemporary, Victorian, Post-war

  • Development of the Nature Reserve

    Welcome to Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park and Ackroyd Drive Greenlink Local Nature Reserve.

    Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park (known locally as Bow Cemetery) is a historic Cemetery located in London’s East End.

    The Cemetery opened in 1841 by an Act of Parliament & is one of London’s Magnificent Seven Cemeteries. The Cemetery closed to burials in 1966. That same year becoming a park, by Act of Parliament. More recently declared a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation. It became Tower Hamlets first Local Nature Reserve in 2001.

    Near-by land was added in the mid-nineties, known as “Scrapyard Meadow” & Ackroyd Drive Greenlink. Today it is 31 acres of “managed” mature, broadleaved woodland & meadow. It is also an educational resource to 7000+ school children every year who use the Park as an outdoor classroom. This service is run and managed by Setpoint London East.

    The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park was set up in 1990. We have memorandum and articles whose main objectives are to encourage greater use of this inner urban green space as a sanctuary for people, a place of biodiversity, while protecting and preserving the historic content.

    Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park and The Greenlink are owned by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH). The ‘Friends’ manage the Park via a Service Level Agreement and a Lease with LBTH Parks. We are responsible for the daily maintenance and litter duties. Much of this work is carried out by volunteers through our practical nature conservation events.

    Enjoy the Park throughout the year.

Volunteer for Open House Festival Participants' site