The Lower Lea includes
Hackney Marshes and the Lea River Park, a collection of six parks which connect
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the
Royal Docks and the
River Thames; linked by the Leaway. The redevelopment of the Lea River Park opens up of new space creating walkways and cycle paths. The project completes the 26-mile long
Lee Valley Regional Park which connects Ware in Hertfordshire to the River Thames. It takes an hour to walk the entire Lea River Park with the opportunity to stop off and learn about some of the area's rich history, including: • Dane's Yard – the first phase of Vastint's Sugar House Island project. Dane's Yard is a Conservation Area sensitively being refurbished into a business hub for creative industries. The Sugar House, a Victorian warehouse on site, is one of the development's buildings being refurbished. •
Three Mills – a beautiful and historic area which is home to the world's biggest
tide mill (which was listed in the
Domesday Book). The mills were originally used to grind grain for flour (Stratford bakers were renowned and mentioned by
Chaucer). Later the mills ground grain to make gin, and a large distillery was set up on Three Mills Island. Owned at the time by Nicholson, it fuelled the
Gin Craze in London. The distillery is now
3 Mills Studios, an independent film studio, home of
MasterChef and many British-made films. • Bow Ecology Park – a thriving wildlife sanctuary with newts, water scorpions and flocks of wading birds. •
Trinity Buoy Wharf – home to London's only lighthouse. • Cody Dock – with
Rolling Bridge – a formerly derelict dock which is being transformed into a thriving creative community space. • The banks of the Lea at the Bow Brewery where
India Pale Ale was first brewed. == Redevelopment areas ==