The River Lea is one of the longest, and most important tributaries of the Thames  – taking a 42 mile journey from Bedfordshire to join the Thames at Bow Creek in East London. The Lea has formed the boundary between Saxon’s and Danes, been home to medieval mills, London’s furniture industry and flows through the Olympic Park. This series of walks will look at the history of the River Lea, tracing its course on its way to the Thames.

Meet up at Tottenham Hale Station to follow the Lea surrounded by infrastructure supplying London with clean water. We will take a quick look at the Coppermills Water Treatment facility, and the Middlesex Filter beds – now a nature reserve. The walk also crosses part of Walthamstow Marshes, home to one of London’s first flights. The walk ends at Hackney Wick – another site of Industrial innovation

The walk is about 4 miles in total and finishes at Hackney Wick Station.