Hackney Downs is a northeast London station on the London Overground line, and is in Travelcard Zone 2. It dates back to 1872, although nothing remains of the original structure - the ticket hall was rebuilt in the 1980s, and the platforms' wooden roof was replaced with a metal one. Ticket barriers were installed in 2011, and since 2015 the station has been linked to the Hackney Central interchange via a covered walkway.
The 'Downs' in the station name refers to a 40-acre green space just to the north. Opened to the public in 1884, today it's a very modern park with four tennis courts, a football pitch, a bowling green, two basketball courts and a pavilion. It was awarded Green Flag status in 2008. The surrounding area is a vibrant part of London packed with small independent cafes, restaurants and bars. Highlights include the Hackney Picturehouse, a popular cinema showing both blockbusters and arthouse films.