Clissold Park has facilities for play, sport and recreation, as well as animal enclosures and a community market garden.
Playground
Clissold Park has a large playground designed for children and young people of different ages. The play area includes climbing equipment, swings, slides, a sand play area and other play features.
The playground is a dog-free area.
Splash pad
The Clissold Park Splash Pad is a free outdoor water play area for children under 16, with features that spray, splash and soak. The splash pad operates seasonally, generally between May and September. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Sessions can be booked in advance through Better, or you can turn up on the day, subject to capacity. Opening arrangements can change, so check the current information before visiting.
https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/hackney/clissold-park-splash-pad
Wheelspark
The wheelspark can be used by skateboarders, rollerbladers and BMX riders of different levels and abilities.
It is free to use, there is no need to book, and it is open while the park is open.
Sports & tennis
Clissold Park has a range of outdoor sports facilities, including:
- Tennis courts
- Multi-use games area for five-a-side football and basketball
- Table tennis tables
The tennis courts can be booked online through Hackney Council’s tennis service.
Animals
Clissold Park is home to a small herd of fallow deer as well as birds in the park’s aviary and other animal enclosures. Deer have lived in the park since 1890. The current herd is non-breeding and is cared for by park staff, with vets and a specialist deer manager involved in monitoring their health.
Please do not feed the deer or other animals. They are given a specific diet by park staff.
The park’s lakes are also home to terrapins. These are an introduced species and are considered invasive in the UK.
More information about the animals and their care is available from Hackney Council:
https://hackney.gov.uk/clissold-park
Market garden
The organic market garden in Clissold Park is run by Growing Communities, a Hackney-based organisation working on community-led food growing and sustainable food. The garden is used to grow salad and other produce and provides opportunities to learn about food growing.
Information about the garden, volunteering and Growing Communities is available at:
https://www.growingcommunities.org
Children’s facilities
As well as the playground and splash pad, Clissold Park has facilities and activities for younger children.
The children’s facilities include the One O’Clock Club, for children aged 0–5 accompanied by an adult.
Opening times and activities can change, so check Hackney Council’s current information before visiting.