Woodberry Wetlands (Stoke Newington Reservoirs) Short Walk

Woodberry Wetlands is a Thames Water-owned and London Wildlife Trust-run urban nature reserve on East Reservoir, one of the two Stoke Newington reservoirs on the New River (which – famously – is “neither new nor a river”). The reservoirs were built in 1833 to hold water from the New River, a man-made canal supplying drinking water to London from springs near Ware in Hertfordshire. The reservoir had been off-limits to the public for more than 180 years until 2016, when Woodberry Wetlands and its fantastic café in the former coal house opened.

The route starts with a meander through Finsbury Park before entering the Wetlands and then continues along the New River past the West Reservoir to Green Lanes, to then lead south, then east through Clissold Park (and its café in Clissold House) and along the very charming Stoke Newington Church Street to Abney Park cemetery (one of the most splendid and enlightened of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ London garden cemeteries) and from there to Stoke Newington Overground.
An Alternative Finish goes north from the West Reservoir along Green Lanes back to Manor House Underground (or even back to Finsbury Park Station, this adds 1.4 km).
A start from Manor House cuts 1.4 km.

Please note:
Woodberry Wetlands Nature Reserve is only open during the day (09.00-16.00), as are Clissold Park and Abney Park, so only a reduced version of the main walk is possible in the evenings.
Dogs are not allowed in the Nature Reserve.

One Pub and Nine Cafés/Restaurants before getting to Stoke Newington Church Street;
plus Three Pubs and Fourteen Cafés/Restaurants on Stoke Newington Church Street (see text for details).

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

May-22 Thomas G