3 minute read

London and the surrounding areas is known as an urban hub. Visitors and locals alike may think they need to exit the city to find nature and wildlife. However, Essex is home to one of the best carp shows in the country, and London has some great fishing spots – you just need to know where to look. So, if you’re heading to the Essex Carp show in February 2025, why not take yourself into London after the event to try some of the city’s top fishing spots?
River Thames

Fishing has been a popular pastime in the UK for hundreds of years – and, today, it remains a firm favourite. The sport has such an enduring allure that it has spawned a multitude of different media over the years, from TV shows presented by angling-enthusiast Robson Green, to documentaries, and even online casino games. Slots like the Big Bass Splash game incorporate iconography such as fish, fishermen, bait, and rods, putting a modern and unique twist on the interpretation of reeling in a big catch. The key inspiration behind the game – big bass – are one of those fish that anglers typically have to travel to rocky coastlines to catch, making them a very interesting fish to chase.

That said, it may surprise you to find out that bass can be found in some of London’s docks. The majority of docks are on the eastern side of the city, at the northern edge of the Thames. When vessels make their way into the docks, they bring with them saltwater fish that would not normally be present in the area. For this reason, one of London’s docks has become known as an inland habitat for sea bass, and many more have a healthy population of sea trout and even mullet. You can also find coarse fish such as perch, bream, zander, and roach in most of London’s docks.

River Lea

The River Lea is perhaps the second best known and second longest river in London. The river serves as a natural boundary between Middlesex and Essex, as well as Essex and Hertfordshire, and meets the River Thames in Leamouth at Bow Creek.
However, it is undoubtedly the stretch between Waltham Abbey and Tottenham that is best for fishing. Nearby, you can also find Walthamstow Wetlands, which has ten reservoirs. Two of these are exclusively for fishing, with particular catches including rainbow and brown trout. Six other reservoirs have coarse fish such as chub, carp, bream, and barbel.

Clapham Common

When we think of Clapham, Clapham Common is arguably the top hotspot we think of. The green space is known for its pond, model yacht club, and iconic bandstand, as well as being a charming location for a picnic on a warm summer’s day.

What you probably don’t know, making it the Common’s best kept secret, is that the area also has some fantastic fishing spots. There are two fishing lakes in Clapham Common, the biggest and most popular of the two being Mount Pond. Here, you can fish from the edge or from an island, looking for tench and bream. You’ll also find a good size of carp in the lakes, with some reaching up to 25lb.

As you can see, despite being an urban metropolis, London has some epic fishing spots ready to be uncovered – and these are merely a few examples. So, all that’s left to do is grab your rod and bait boxes, and enjoy the angling spots London has to offer.