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The James Leal Centre (formally known as Ray Lodge) can be found in Ray Park, off Snakes Lane East, Woodford Green. 

The centre is a new state of the art, eco building, within Ray Park, which was officially opened in December 2009. Located adjacent to one of Redbridge’s premier children’s play areas, outdoor gym, tennis and basket ball courts, it is also a good place to start/end your walk or cycle along the River Roding ‘Roding Valley Way’.

JL Centre - classroom

The Centre comprises a number of on-site facilities as follows:

Venue hire

The Centre can be hired out for a presentation, meeting or function.  Depending on your time of function, this may include the use of the tables and chairs, interactive whiteboard and flipcharts for the following:

  • Monday to Sunday - Kingfisher Room
  • Mondays - The whole of the James Leal Centre 

Public open daysJL Centre cafe

Members of the public can visit the centre to use the following facilities:

  • On site café with indoor and outdoor seating
  • On site toilets include a baby changing facility
  • The whole of the Centre has been designed to allow access for wheelchairs and buggies
  • Interactive computers about wildlife, parks and open spaces
  • Occasional exhibitions

The Centre is open as follows:

James Leal Centre Opening times to the public

Autumn to Winter

Spring to Summer

Tuesday to Friday

 

10am to 4.30pm

9.30am to 6pm

Saturday to Sunday

10am to 4.30pm

9am to 5pm

The Ray Park Cafe

A partnership venture between the London Borough of Redbridge and RCHL, providing a quality café service (including catering for parties and functions).

Menu specials are available daily, please call the café or drop in for more information.

The café also sells a range of garden and home ornaments from the Ellingham Skills & Enterprise Unit, made by adults with learning disabilities.

Ray Park cafe runs as a Social Enterprise, providing employment for adults with a learning disability. Training, work experience and job tasters for school and college students are available. Volunteer opportunities for those wishing to help out and gain experience in the field of catering and social care are also available. Please call and ask for Jane, for more information.

The café is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30am to dusk. Please call the café on 020 8504 9245 for more information.

Please note: During the summer months, the café will be open on Mondays.

The Outdoor Classroom

All school teachers can arrange a visit for their school children at Centre for educational purposes, for more information or for details how to book please see the The Outdoor Classroom page.

River RodingJL Centre River Roding

The Centre is a short walk from the River Roding providing access to some of our parks and open spaces along the Roding Valley.  You can download a copy of the map further below.

How to get there

We would encourage all park users to be as environmentally friendly as possible by walking or using public transport.

The centre is located inside Ray Park, please follow the service road, past the yellow vehicle gates, towards the inside of the park. Note that unauthorised vehicles are strictly prohibited from going past the yellow gates. Please visit the Ray Park page for map and address details'.

Parking

There are a limited number of parking spaces in the park car park. No parking is permitted inside the park past the yellow gates. Please note, parking charges apply.

Tube

The nearest tube station is Woodford.

Bus

The nearest bus is the No. 275 bus.

Cycle

There is a cycle stand directly outside the centre to allow for up to 8 bikes to park.

Public transport

Please see the Transport for London website for more information on how to get to Ray Park.

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