To conclude the guide series about London dedicated enclosed dog parks, here is a guidebook of the fenced dog exercise areas of East and North-East London! We are also glad to announce that today we are also releasing the enclosed dog parks map that allows you to easily find and locate the fenced dog areas near you, which we have visited and tested.

REVIEWS

#1. North East London dog parks

1. Aldersbrook Avenue Recreation Ground (EN1)  ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
2. Ridgeway Park (E4) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
3. Chase Lane Park (E4) ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
4. Higham Hill Recreation Ground (E17) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5. Lloyd Park (E17) ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

#2. East London enclosed dog parks

1. Monthope Road (E1) ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
2. Shandy Park (E1) ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
3. Stepney Green Park (x2) (E1) ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
4. St Dunstan Churchyard (E1) ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
5. Ropemakers Field (E14) ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
6. Sir John McDougall Gardens (E14) ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
7. Uphall Recreation Ground (IG1) ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
8. [REMOVED: Warner Green Open Space (E2)]

Aldersbrook Avenue Recreation Ground

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Aldersbrook Avenue, Enfield, EN1 3JD

Aldersbrook Avenue Recreation Ground is located in Enfield (the closest train station being Gordon Hill) and hosts a very large horseshoe-shaped dog area. The dog area has four gates, at least two of which are in use.

Fences. There are different types of fencing in the various parts of the dog area:

• On the border with Aldersbrook Avenue, there is a high metal bar fence on top of a little hill, which has a gap between bars of 8 cm circa (approx. 3.14 inches); the main gate is on the same side.
• The fence which divides the dog area from the rest of the ground consists of a metal bar fence 130 cm high (approx. 51.18 inches), with a gap between  bars measuring 10 cm (approx. 3.93 inches).
• Finally, on the two sides bordering with the residential area there are different types of fences and you will find bushes, shrubs and nettle around. We didn’t spot any holes, but it is really hard to tell given the amount of plants.

Facilities and maintenance. The area is equipped with two benches, a dog waste bin and a general waste bin. We found it mainly clean and well maintained apart from the side of the residential area, where the part close to the fencing is covered in overgrown nettle and shrubs.

Ridgeway Park

Old Church Road, Chigford, E4 6RS

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ridgeway Park, in Chingford, has a lovely medium-sized dog exercise area. The park is a 30 minutes walk from Chingford train station. The dog area has only one entrance gate, which lock works well. The area has a well maintained lawn.

Fences. The fence with the rest of the park where the entrance gate is located is made of metal bars and is 116 cm high (approx. 45.67 inches), with a 9 cm (approx. 3.54 inches) gap between bars. Another side is enclosed by a stock fence mounted on a wooden frame 131 cm high (approx. 51.57 inches) with young trees/shrubs planted in front of it. Finally, there is a higher fence on the border with the tennis court and the residential area, with shrubs in front of it.

Facilities. The area is equipped with a picnic table, a bench and a waste bin.

Maintenance. At the time of our visit we found the area clean and well maintained, apart from the brambles in the back part. Argo very much enjoyed fetching the ball and it has a good size for some runs.

Chase Lane Park

Waverley Avenue, Chingford, E4 8HS

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

In Chase Lane Park (closest train station: Angel Road) there is a medium-sized dog area. This is indicated as ‘dog training area’, has only one entrance and is enclosed by a very high fence.

In particular, on three sides the stock fence is 176 cm high (approx. 69.29 inches), while the back side’s fence has metal bars with some other fence for an extra layer. In terms of safety it is good, however the area is not greatly maintained: there are many overgrown bushes, a very spotty lawn and you can find some rubbish here and there, in sum it doesn’t look very curated, while the rest of the park is. There are no benches nor dog waste bins in the area.

Higham Hill Recreation Ground

Sutton Street/Nordfolk Street, Higham Hill, E17 5QT

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Higham Hill Recreation Ground is located in Waltham Forest. The nearest tube stations are Blackhorse Road (Overground, around 15 minutes walk) and Waltamstow Central (Victoria and Overground, around 30 minutes walk). Higham Hill Recreation Ground hosts a humongous fully enclosed dog exercise area, where you can let your dog roam free and enjoy very good runs (note that in the rest of the ground dogs are only allowed on leash). According to the Council, which I have been in touch with, it measures around 6,000 sq meters! Being so wide, it is the perfect place where to give a blast to either small and large dogs and have some great playing/training sessions.

The area is fully enclosed, has a only one entrance gate, a well maintained lawn, a few trees, brambles on the two edges with the residential area and a hedge on the third border in front of the fence.

Fences. The side of the dog park which borders with the Ground is enclosed by a fence made of vertical metal bars, which is aproximately 110 cm high (approx. 43.31 inches), with space between bars up to 12,5 cm (approx. 4.92 inches). The other three sides are enclosed by a higher stock fence and wooden fence. Brambles grow in front of the two sides adjoining the residential area; before the third side’s fence there is a hedge.

Maintenance. At the time of our visit, it appeared free from dog mess and overall clean (apart from some plastic bags in the brambles, probably taken by the wind).

Facilities. The dog exercise area is provided with 4 waste bins and 2 benches. Fun agility equipment was recently installed in the dog area. We visited it before its installation, so updates will follow as soon as we pop by to take new photos. The equipment is similar to the one of the Bark Park of Chase Lane we reviewed here.

Lloyd Park

Forest Road, Waltamstow, E17 4PP

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

In Lloyd Park there is an enclosed dog area. At the time of our visit, we found it enclosed by a fence 90 cm high (approx. 35.43 inches), with 9 cm gap between bars (approx. 3.54 inches). On one side the fence was slightly higher, reaching 96 cm (approx. 37.79 inches), while on the back there is a high wall and a higher fence. We were just told that, following users’ campaigning, the fence was replaced with a higher one and with smaller gaps: as soon as we get the chance to visit it again we will update the fencing information.

When we visited it, the area had two gates, one of which we found was locked.

There is a waste bin by the entrance gate inside the area. The dog area has some hilly parts. At the time of our visit we found it overall clean.

View of Lloyd Park’s dog area from the outside

#2. East London enclosed dog parks

1. Monthope Road (E1) ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
2. Shandy Park (E1) ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
3. Stepney Green Park (x2) (E1) ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
4. St Dunstan Churchyard (E1) ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
5. Ropemakers Field (E14) ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
6. Sir John McDougall Gardens (E14) ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
7. Uphall Recreation Ground (IG1) ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
8. [REMOVED: Warner Green Open Space (E2)]

Monthope Road

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Monthope Road, Spitafields/Whitechapel, E1 5LS

In Monthope Road there is a small enclosed dog exercise area. The area has two entrance gates, one on the road, which lock was broken at the time of our visit, and one on the back of the area, which was locked and seemed to conduct to the residential area. There is a dog waste bin inside the dog park. The fence is made of metal bars (measures will follow). We found quite a few rubbish, so we weren’t much impressed with the area (cans, empty bottles, plastic stuff).

Shandy Park

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Harford Street, Stepney Green, E1 4QE

In Shandy Park there is a small-sized dog area, overlooking Hartford Street (photos coming soon). The fence enclosing the area is metal bar type (exact measures will follow). The area has two gates, one of which is locked and consists of a lawn. Unfortunately some irresponsible dog walkers seem to be using it as a dog toilet, so when you enter you have a good chance to step on some unpicked dog mess. Not great.

Stepney Green Park (x2)

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Stepney Way, Stepney Green, E1 3DX

Stepney Green Park hosts two small/medium-sized fenced dog exercise areas. The Park with less than 10 minutes walk far from Stepney Green tube station (District and Hammersmith lines).

Dog Exercise Area No. 1

The first dog area is located in the South-West part of the Park. It is enclosed by a metal bar fence 118 cm high (approx. 46.45 inches), with space between bars of 11 cm (approx. 4.33 inches), while there is almost no gap underneath the fence. The dog area has two gates: one on Stepney Way, which is a bit hard to open/close, and  the other on the Park that works well. The area is fairly well maintained, although you can find the occasional unpicked dog mess, especially in the corners, around some shrubs.

Dog Exercise Area No. 2

The second dog area is slightly smaller and occupies the South-East corner or the park. It has a rectangular shape and is enclosed by a metal bar fence 120 cm high (approx. 47.24 inches), with a gap of 11 cm between bars (approx. 4.33 inches) and 7.5 cm under (approx. 2.95 inches). On one side it is enclosed by a building (the back of a fried chicken shop, with a back door exit in the dog area).

The area has only one gate, which opens on Stepney Way street and has a gap of 9 cm underneath (approx. 3.54 inches). We didn’t find the area was very clean: there were bricks and other debris especially near the building and on the right hand side of the entrance.

St Dunstan Churchyard

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Whitehorse Road/ Belgrave Street, Stepney Green, E1 0NN

St Dunstan Churchyard, in Stepney Green hosts a large fenced dog exercise area (better photos coming soon). You can reach the dog park with a 10 minutes walk from Stepney Green tube station. The area has two gates, one of which is locked, so you have to use the one close to the entrance on Whitehorse Road.

Fences. The area has a fence 133 cm high (approx. 52.36 inches), which is great for large dogs. However, there is a gap of up to 13 cm (approx. 5.12 inches) between the metal bars and I have seen a small dog escape through the bars during our visit, so you need to be extra-careful if you have a small breed pooch. The external perimeter side, which overlooks Belgrave Street, is enclosed by a metal bars fence 150 cm high (approx. 59.05 inches) with bars spaced as wide as 13.5 cm (approx. 5.31 inches), but there is a gap of 12 cm underneath (approx. 4.72 inches); a part of such fence was removed and there is a provisional replacement metal fence under which the gap reaches 15 cm (approx. 5.9 inches).

Maintenance. The area used to be one of our favourite ones, however during the latest visits we found maintenance has deteriorated: there was quite a lot of unpicked dog mess all around.

Facilities. The dog area doesn’t have any benches nor dog waste bins, but you can find a bin close to the entrance of the Park, just few paces away from the dog area’s gate. There is a concrete path from one gate to the locked one. In Autumn/Winter the dog area becomes a bit muddy.

Ropemakers Field

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Narrow Street, Limehouse, E14

In Limehouse there is a dog exercise area in Ropemakers Field. The area is medium-sized (photos coming soon). It has two gates, and is enclosed by a metal bar fence 120 cm high in the front part, with gap between bars of 8.5 cm and approx. 147 cm high on the back and side parts, with a gap of 8cm between bars. In addition, there is a part enclosed by a very high brick wall.

The dog area consists of a lawn with a hedge on a the left hand-side and overgrown shrubs and trees on the back and on the right hand-side. Maintenance could be better. There are four dog waste bins and one general waste bin in the area.

Sir John McDougall Gardens dog park

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Westferry Road, Crossharbour, Canary Wharf, E14

You can find the full review of this large dog area in the post linked below.

East London Dog Areas | Sir John McDougalls Gardens

Uphall Recreation Ground

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Lowbrook Road, Ilford, IG1 23J

In Ilford there is Uphall Recreation Ground dog exercise area. This large dog area, with two entrance gates on the same side but on opposite parts of the ground.

The dog area is enclosed by different types of fences:

• a metal bars fence on the side with the canal and on the North side, 170 cm high (approx. 66.92 inches), with a gap between bars of 10 cm (approx. 3.93 inches);
• a wooden fence with edges planted in front of it on the border with the residential area on the South side;
• a different metal railings fence on the border with the ground: its bars are very sparse and there is a stock fence on the lower part to prevent small and large dogs escaping, however there are some large gaps of 40 cm circa (approx. 15.74 inches) close to the South corner, from which probably any sized dog could escape.

The dog area is fitted with two dog waste bins, but maintainance is not great. Apart from the fence that would need to be repaired/upgraded, we found quite a lot of rubbish around.

Removed dog area

It is sad to lose another enclosed dog area. There used to be a medium-sized dog area in Warner Green (Gosset Street/Warner Place, Bethnal Green, E2) (although it didn’t carry any signs indicating it was a dog exercise area, it was in fact used as one). While we were writing this review we were informed that the area has been turned into a playground.

5 guides of London enclosed dog parks

You may be also interested in reading the other four guides on London dedicated fenced dog areas:

1. North London dog areas
2. Central London dog areas
3. South London dog areas
4. West London dog areas

You can also find a MAP of all the enclosed dog parks in this post.

Each dog park reviewed in the guides was personally visited, measured, checked for maintenance and safety, photographed, and dog tested. To find out more about our research and methodology you can read this post. In each guide you will find a summary of our findings. Since we have much more material, we are currently looking into ways to provide you with even more contents, so stay tuned!

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Last week we launched a private Facebook group about London enclosed dog areas which will allow you to: keep up to date with new reviews, submit your own comments/posts about fenced dog areas, ask for recommendations about dog parks near you, become part of a community lobbying for the maintainance and creation of dog parks, and more.

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