The Magnificent Seven Part VI: Abney Park Cemetery to Tower Hamlets Cemetery (11km or 7mi)

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Introduction

Mile End

The Magnificent Seven are seven beautiful landscaped cemeteries built between 1832 and 1840 to respond to the overcrowded local parish cemeteries and to move the associated health hazards further away from the city centre. The cemeteries are not only burial grounds but also beautiful gardens, some of them are classified as nature reserves.

This walk is the sixth in a series of seven magnificent walks, connecting the magnificent seven cemeteries. For an overview of the seven walks, highlights an tips, please visit the overview page.

This walk starts at Abney Park Cemetery and follows the new River Path and Regents Canal to Tower Hamlets Cemetery. There are many cosy cafes along Church Street in Stoke Newington and along Regent’s Canal. Toilet facilities can be found in Clissold Park and Victoria Park. For more info about the New River Path, please check out my blog about the New River Path.

The Magnificent Seven Part V: Highgate to Abney Park Cemetery (9km or 5.6mi)

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Introduction

Church in Abney Park Cemetery

The Magnificent Seven are seven beautiful landscaped cemeteries built between 1832 and 1840 to respond to the overcrowded local parish cemeteries and to move the associated health hazards further away from the city centre. The cemeteries are not only burial grounds but also beautiful gardens, some of them are classified as nature reserves. This walk is the fifth in a series of seven magnificent walks, connecting the magnificent seven cemeteries. For an overview of the seven walks, highlights an tips, please visit the overview page. 

This walk starts at Highgate Cemetery and ends at Abney Park Cemetery. The walk mainly follows the Capital Ring Walk via Parkland Walk and the New River Path. There are not many food opportunities along the way except at the beginning and the end of the walk.  

Highgate West Cemetery is only accessible via a guided tour but it is the most beautiful of them all and definitely worth a visit. If you gather around the gate at the hour, a guide will be waiting for you to take you on a one hour tour for around £7. This walk is rather short and should give you enough time to visit the West Cemetery before the walk. Those who would like to admire the grave of Karl Marx, need to head to Highgate East Cemetery, accessible for an entrance fee of £3. 

New River Path Part I (8.6km or 5.3mi)

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Introduction

East and West Water Reservoirs, Stoke Newington

The New River is actually not a river but a water supply aqueduct, bringing drinking water from Hertfordshire to North London for the last 400 years. In the London area, large parts have been piped and covered but you can still follow the trail of the river and find yourself between beautiful secret gardens. Today the New River feeds the East Water Reservoir in Stoke Newington but originally the aqueduct’s main destination was the River Head where the new river ended in a round water pond surrounded by engines and pumps to distribute the water across the City. The New River Head is located at Amwell Street, near Angel, and nowadays houses the headquarters of the Metropolitan Water Board. Most of the path is signposted and the total length of the walk is 45 km or 28mi. The PDF of the walk can also be download via the website of Shelford. This walk is also a perfect commute walk from Angel to Stoke Newington.

Finsbury Park to Stoke Newington (Practical, 7.5km or 4.6mi)

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Introduction

Waiting in Line? @Abney Park

I believe keeping fit is easy if you are practical about it. Replacing your bus or tube journey by a walk, is a simple solution. It saves you money, you get to know and enjoy the area around you better and it doesn't cost you that much more time. All you need is some proper shoes (and waterproofs!).

I posted a scenic walk from Finsbury Park to Stoke Newington, via the water reservoirs. This post shows a quicker and practical version of the walk for those living in Finsbury Park and up for some Sunday grocery shopping at Church Street in Stoke Newington. The length of this walk is 3.75km (2.3mi) or 7.5km (4.6mi) for the return journey. If you get there and you're tired, just jump on the 106 back to Finsbury Park.

Finsbury Park to Stoke Newington (Scenic, 6.5km or 4mi)

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Introduction
This walk starts from Finsbury Park Station and ends at Stoke Newington. Interesting places along the way are the Water Reservoirs, the Climbing Castle, Clissold Park and Abney Park Cemetery. It is part of the New River Path and the Capital Ring Walk. The new river path isn't actually a river but a water supply aqueduct, running from Hertfordshire to the East and West Reservoir. The entire path is 28 miles long.

Scrumpy lovers can make a stop halfway at the Brownswood Bar and Diner (just after the climbing castle). The journey ends at Church Street, providing many breakfast and lunch opportunities, and Abney Park Cemetery, one of the magnificent seven garden cemeteries of London.

Getting there

Start: Finsbury Park Station

End: bus 106 to Finsbury Park
from the Northern exit of Abney Park Cemetery/Stoke Newington High St

Pictures

Finsbury Park