Redbridge offers two distinct ways to plan a trip: the parkland along the River Roding and a local heritage that ranges from a listed Underground station to an old river crossing. Redbridge station is on the Central line; Roding Valley Park offers opportunities for walking and cycling. So if you want to plan your stay around a particular theme, you can consider nature and exercise as well as architecture and local history.
Parkland and nature along the River Roding
Roding Valley Park stretches from Redbridge Roundabout in the south to the borough boundary in the north. The River Roding is home to ducks, herons, dragonflies and butterflies, among other wildlife. Together with the opportunities for walking and cycling, this makes the park a good focus for travellers who enjoy spending time in green spaces or want to make the river landscape a theme of their stay. Walking and cycling offer two different ways to get around within the same park.
Another green space is Redbridge Recreation Ground. It has a wide variety of wildflowers and a newly established arboretum. Areas for informal sports are at the southern end; the grounds also have play equipment for children of all ages and abilities. These features appeal to a range of interests, from plants and exercise to play facilities. When planning a trip, it is helpful to consider these features separately rather than treating all the green spaces as one undifferentiated destination.
The landscape can also be part of the appeal: from time to time, there are far-reaching views across Claybury, Wanstead and the City of London from the Redbridge area. For those wishing to include nature and scenery in their trip, this offers another aspect to consider when choosing what to focus on, in addition to the riverside setting.
Redbridge station and its architecture
Redbridge Underground station is a Grade II listed building. Charles Holden designed the station between 1935 and 1938; it is on the Central line. This gives visitors two specific themes to explore when planning their trip: the architecture of a named designer and finding their way around a station on a named line. For visitors interested in architectural history, the combination of place, designer and period is a distinctive part of Redbridge’s character.
There is also an information panel at the station about its use during the war. If you want to include this story of the station in your visit, check before you go whether the panel is accessible; the information provided may change. This makes the panel a possible point of cultural interest without assuming that it is currently available.
Red Bridge and local history
The Red Bridge was an old crossing over the River Roding. Its original location was north of today’s Redbridge Roundabout. Next to this site, on Roding Lane South, stands Redbridge House, a locally listed residence dating from the early Victorian period. The old bridge, its original location and the house form a historical connection that can be explored through the places themselves and their relationship to one another.
Another named building adds to this local history: Eastern Avenue Pumping Station is right beside Redbridge Roundabout. The roundabout serves as a geographical reference point both for the historic site of the Red Bridge and for the location of the pumping station. Together with Redbridge station, these places form a cultural focus that spans the architecture of the Underground station and older connections along the River Roding.
Planning a stay in Redbridge
Would you rather focus on the parkland, with walks, cycling and wildlife watching, or put the architecture and history of the Red Bridge at the heart of your visit?
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Go to the main travel overview: Redbridge.
