Albyns Farm, Rainham, RM13 7YH

Hornchurch Country Park – Tit Lake

Lake

Source image

5.3

Wildland

1–2 hours

Time

Check

Cost

Peaceful

Feel

ParklandWetlandAnglersWalkersWildlife lovers

Why it's Wildland

5.3

A fishing lake in the former Albyns Farm part of Hornchurch Country Park, where a quiet waterside visit sits within a landscape shaped by farming, wartime airfields and nature conservation.

Tit Lake offers a specific reason to explore this corner of Hornchurch Country Park: a working fishing water set within a wider landscape of marsh, river and historic airfield remains. The draw is a slower, purposeful visit rather than a claim of wilderness.

Peaceful

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Albyns Farm, Rainham, RM13 7YH

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The experience

Visit Tit Lake for a fishing session if current access and ticket arrangements are confirmed. For a longer outing, combine the lake with permitted country-park paths and the wider landscape of river, marsh and wartime remains.

Things to do

Fish at Tit Lake

Fishing at Albyns Farm (Tit Lake) was advertised in 2023 with day and annual ticket options. Confirm that the fishery is currently operating and check prices, access and rules before travelling.

Check before visiting

Explore permitted country-park paths

Havering Council describes walking and cycling as park uses and identifies paths through the park. Ask locally for current route information and stay out of restricted areas.

Look for traces of RAF Hornchurch

Havering Council identifies wartime pillboxes and rare Tett Turrets in the park, as well as the former aircraft dispersal bay at the main car park. View historic features from permitted areas; do not enter restricted structures.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · 1–2 hours

A fishing session at Tit Lake

01
Check with the fishery operator that Tit Lake is currently open and confirm ticket arrangements.
02
Use the Albyns Farm area of Hornchurch Country Park and follow current local access guidance.
03
Spend your visit fishing from an authorised bank; do not assume that all banks or activities are permitted.

Half day · Half day

Lake, parkland and airfield history

01
Check current fishing access if you plan to fish at Tit Lake.
02
Explore permitted paths through Hornchurch Country Park, extending the visit beyond the lake.
03
Look out for the wartime defences identified by Havering Council; do not enter restricted structures.
04
If useful, continue to the Ingrebourne Valley Nature Discovery Centre, checking its opening times first.

Verified history

The southern part of Hornchurch Country Park was within Dover’s Manor and later became Albyns Farm. The wider park also includes the former Suttons Farm airfield, selected in 1915 for Royal Flying Corps use. On the night of 2–3 September 1916, Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson took off from Suttons Farm and brought down the airship SL11 near Cuffley, for which he received the Victoria Cross. The airfield later became RAF Hornchurch, a significant fighter station during the Second World War. Havering Council notes that old farm buildings remain at Albyns Farm and identifies wartime defences in the park.

Hidden details

Albyns Farm in the park’s story — Havering Council records that the southern part of the park was once Albyns Farm and says old farm buildings remain. This is a useful clue to the landscape’s earlier agricultural life; check locally which buildings are visible from public paths.

A wartime dispersal bay — The park’s main car park at Squadrons Approach was an aircraft dispersal bay used to protect Spitfires and ground crews during the Second World War, according to Havering Council.

When to go

· No lake-specific timing guidance is available; check current fishing arrangements before visiting.

The supplied sources do not establish a best season for Tit Lake itself.

Check conditions before setting out. The wider park’s paths may be muddy after heavy rain.

Worth pairing with

Hornchurch Country Park

Extend a visit to the lake with permitted paths through the wider park, where Havering Council notes wildlife habitat, wartime defences and the Ingrebourne River and Marshes.

Ingrebourne Valley Nature Discovery Centre

A wider-park pairing for nature walks and refreshments. Check the centre’s current opening times, facilities and location before planning around it.

What to look for

01
Look across the lake for waterbirds and notice how the fishing water sits within the former Albyns Farm area. In the wider park, Havering Council identifies wartime pillboxes and rare Tett Turrets
02
follow permitted routes and do not enter restricted structures.

The story

A former farm landscape within the wider site of Suttons Farm and RAF Hornchurch.

Best time to go

Year-round, subject to current fishing arrangements and conditions.

No lake-specific seasonal guidance is available. Check current fishing arrangements and conditions before setting out.

How long to spend

1–2 hours

Perfect for

Anglers · Walkers · Wildlife lovers

Before you go

Website Google Maps

Address

Albyns Farm, Rainham RM13 7YH

Website

thehaveringdaily.co.uk

Google rating

4.2 · 10 reviews

Practical information

Opening & access

Hornchurch Country Park has no restrictions on pedestrian access. Fishing at Tit Lake has been advertised with paid day and annual tickets; the available report dates from 2023, so check current fishing arrangements before visiting. The Google Maps pin is for the place, not an entrance or parking location.

Check before visiting

Parking

Havering Council lists a smaller car park off South End Road at Albyns Farm and a main car park at Squadrons Approach. Check current parking arrangements before travelling.

Check before visiting

Toilets

Check before visiting

Food & drink

The Ingrebourne Valley Nature Discovery Centre has a café, but it is elsewhere in the park; check opening times before visiting.

Check before visiting

Dogs

Check before visiting

Accessibility

The source row reports a wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance, but does not establish the condition or accessibility of routes around Tit Lake. Check before visiting.

Check before visiting

Cost

Paid for fishing; check current ticket details

Check before visiting

Water

Lake