Clissold Park and Clissold House

Clissold Park is one of Hackney's best loved traditional parks. With a rich history, this former country estate was first opened to the public in 1889.

The park has held a Green Flag award since 2006. These are given to the best green spaces in the country and are awarded each year to make sure the quality of the green space remains high.

Tell us what you think of Clissold Park

Following the restoration work at Clissold Park and House, we want to know your views on the park so we can continue to improve our services. Please fill in this short survey so we can understand how you use Clissold Park, what you like best about it and what you think we can do to make it better.

Clissold House

Clissold House is a stunning Grade II* listed building in the middle of Clissold Park. Its beautiful architecture and excellent facilities make it a perfect venue for weddings, meetings and parties.

Following extensive restoration in 2011 and 2012, Clissold House was removed from English Heritage's heritage at risk register, where it was listed since 1991.

Clissold House café is open to the public seven days a week.

Amenities

Animals

Animals have been kept in Clissold Park for over 100 years. We now have a small collection of exotic birds, chickens, goats and deer in enclosures. Read our animals in Clissold Park fact sheet (PDF, 40KB) for information about the animals in the park.

Butterfly dome

Visit our collection of tropical and domestic butterflies from 1 May to September at the following times:

• Mondays 1pm
• Tuesdays 5pm
• Wednesdays 4pm
• Second Saturday of every month 1pm

Community and school groups can book visits by emailing parks@hackney.gov.uk.

Volunteer and get involved

Contact parks@hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 4600 for more information about our volunteering programme.

Learning and engagement volunteers

Apply now to volunteer to support the delivery and development of our new learning and engagement project for local people:

• learning and engagement volunteer role description (PDF, 60KB)
• application form (Word, 2MB).

Practical volunteering at Clissold Park

We are developing hands on, practical volunteering programme so that local residents can get involved with the maintenance and development of their park. Contact us if you are interested in getting involved.

Clissold Park User Group (CPUG)

The Clissold Park User Group work closely with parks staff to discuss current issues, solve problems and work on joint projects. The group meets on average every two months. 

Schools programme

Our new schools programme offers an exciting new range of curriculum-linked, interactive and engaging workshops for primary schools and nurseries in Clissold Park.

Events

An area of Clissold Park (PDF, 91KB) is licensed for plays, showing films, live music, recorded music and dance performances. Find out about holding events in parks. 

Restoration of Clissold Park

In 2011-12 Clissold Park and Clissold House were extensively refurbished with funding from Hackney Council, the Heritage and Big Lottery Funds. This ambitious project will ensure that residents and visitors can continue to enjoy the park and house for years to come.

Alongside the refurbishment of Clissold House, the restoration project introduced:

• a large new play area with features to appeal to children of all ages
• a new wheels park with facilities for skaters and BMXers of all levels and abilities
• a new multi-use games area for five-a-side football and basketball
• new and renovated animal enclosures and a butterfly dome
• a newly refurbished education centre and outdoor classroom
• improved lake and river landscapes following extensive planting and de-silting
• two new ornamental bridges
• enhanced tree and shrub planting.

Hackney parks newsletter

If you are interested in being kept up to date with what's happening in Hackney's parks, sign up to our monthly newsletter by emailing parks@hackney.gov.uk

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Page updated: 30 May 2013