Hi! I’m in East London, and I just got a drone (I should probably say hi in Introductions - Grey Arrows Drone Club UK 
). I’ve realised that my plan to “go fly in a park” is more complicated than I’d first thought 
There’s lots of great discussions here, and I thought it might be worth gathering some of it together as well as adding in some of my own research.
Below is a start (mostly for the areas around me) and looking at different parks, their associated council / managing body, and what rules are in place. Topic title is “East London”, but I’m happy to open this up to more areas if folks want to contribute.
It seems like it boils down to two questions:
- Does the borough council / managing body have a rule against drones in their parks?
- And if they do have a rule, is it legally enforcable by being in the byelaws?
Managed by City of London
Hampstead Heath
Note: Some areas may have flight restrictions due to areas of “Special Scientific Interest”, or privacy concers for swimmers using the bathing ponds- Is there a rule against flying a drone in the park?
No – Drone guidance document states the current law and “All drone operators are encouraged to complete the Drone Request Form” but without providing a link to the form: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/assets/Green-Spaces/hampstead-heath-drone-guidance.pdf
- Is the rule against flying a drone in the park enforced in the byelaws?
- No – Nothing in the byelaws: Hampstead Heath rules and byelaws - City of London
- Prior discussion: Flying on Hampstead Heath (London)?
Epping Forest
(Includes Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park)
Note: Flight restriction in place: “Epping Forest, Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)” – Epping Forest - Special Areas of Conservation- Is there a rule against flying a drone in the park?
No – Rules not provided: Epping Forest - City of London
- Is the rule against flying a drone in the park enforced in the byelaws?
- No – Nothing in the byelaws: Epping Forest byelaws - City of London
- Prior discussions: Wanstead flats London E7
Islington
- Is there a rule against flying a drone in the park?
- No – Rules not provided: Parks and green spaces | Islington Council
- Is the rule against flying a drone in the park enforced in the byelaws?
Notable Parks
Hackney
- Is there a rule against flying a drone in the park?
Yes – Rules state “The flying of recreational drones is not permitted in any of Hackney’s parks.”: https://hackney.gov.uk/parks-faq
- Is the rule against flying a drone in the park enforced in the byelaws?
Uncertain – Byelaw states “No person shall, except in case of accident or unavoidable cause, land in any open space or take off therefrom in any aircraft”: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11SQQbhLHTUz9-3bxA0_5bJ3p6d6t3Add/view (linked from https://hackney.gov.uk/parks)
- In a Freedom of Information request the specific use of “in any aircraft” was contested as drones are unmanned (https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/byelaws_for_the_use_of_drones_in). The reply includes “the Council is of the view the by-laws apply to drones … preventing the landing or taking off of any aircraft in an open space … A person is still ‘in’ an unmanned aircraft when it takes off and lands, albeit virtually. Were it not for the person in control of the drone, it would not be able to take off or land.”
Notable Parks
Tower Hamlets
- Is there a rule against flying a drone in the park?
- Yes – Rule state “Taking off, controlling the flight, or landing of any power-driven model aircrafts is not permitted. This includes drones.”: Parks rules
- Is the rule against flying a drone in the park enforced in the byelaws?
- Yes – Byelaws state “36. No person shall cause any power-driven model aircraft to: (a) take off or otherwise be released for flight or control the flight of such an aircraft in the ground; or (b) land in the ground without reasonable excuse.”: Byelaws for pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces
