The Ramblers


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Ramblers

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Ideas for Walks

There are ample opportunities for walking in and around London, and there are many books full of suggestions. Read below for some suggested places to walk.

More information about the walks below and about many other walks in London is available from the Ramblers, Walk London and from Transport for London. Or try the wonderful online Wikipedia.

Alternatively, maybe you'd prefer to join an organised group walk, so that you can relax and let someone else do the navigating, while you chat with like-minded friends. Try one of the Inner London Area's Guided Walks.

Please note that although walking is one of the safest of all sporting and leisure activities, accidents may still occasionally occur. So please always take care when out walking by yourself or in a group. If you'd like safety advice, see the Ramblers' Health and Safety for Walkers.

Mike Biggs' Favourite Walks

We are building up a library of self-guided walks in London designed by one of our members, Mike Biggs.

The first of these walks have now been uploaded:

Thames Path

The Thames Path is the most walked path in the country and it is largely due to the efforts of the Ramblers that it was opened as a National Trail in 1996. It extends from the Thames' source at Thames Head in the Cotswolds through beautiful countryside and fascinating urban areas past Oxford, Henley, Windsor and Greenwich to end at the Thames Barrier near Woolwich. The riverside path has now been extended further east via Woolwich and Erith and can now be followed to its confluence with the River Darent near Dartford.

Thames Path, a guide to the route by David Sharp is available form bookshops, or can be ordered via the Ramblers website.

Transport For London also publishes free leaflets on the Thames Path.

Everyone has their favourite section, but some of ours include:

  • North Greenwich tube station to Greenwich town - this can also take in the view from Greenwich Park – approx 3 miles
  • Hammersmith to Strand on the Green – approx 4 miles
  • Hammersmith to Putney and back to Hammersmith across Hammersmith & Putney Bridges – approx 4 miles
  • From Turnham Green tube station through Chiswick House grounds and along the Thames to Putney – approx 4 miles
  • West Byfleet along the Basingstoke Canal and River Wey to Weybridge and then along the Thames to Hampton Court – approx 10 miles

Canals

You can walk on the towpaths of the Grand Union (Main Line), Grand Union (Paddington Branch) and Regents Canal. Some pleasant and manageable walks include:

  • Uxbridge to Watford, through Ricksmansworth – approx 8 miles
  • Kings Cross to Little Venice – approx 5 miles
  • Angel to Limehouse Basin – approx 4 miles

London Loop

Pioneered by the Ramblers along with the London Walking Forum, this is London's first official orbital footpath. It is easily reachable by public transport and is a fascinating journey around the edge of London. It incorporates farmland, woods, nature reserves, rivers, canals and parks along with residential areas — and a lot less road walking than you might expect!

The London Loop by David Sharp details the route, and can be bought from bookshops or via the Ramblers website.

Free leaflets dividing the route into 24 sections with map, route description and transport information are available from Transport For London.

Capital Ring

The Capital Ring is an urban walk in a smaller and more central loop around London than the London Loop, staying within 10 miles of Big Ben. Officially opened in 2005, it crosses the Thames at Richmond in the West and Woolwich in the East, and takes in many of the city's open spaces including Crystal Palace Park, Syon Park, Highgate Woods, Finsbury Park and Hackney Marshes.

Capital Ring by Colin Saunders details the route, and can be bought from bookshops or via the Ramblers website.

Free leaflets dividing the route into 24 sections with map, route description and transport information are available from Transport For London.

Parks and Open Spaces

London's parks and open spaces are both large and varied. You can walk in just one park, or link two or more of them together, for example:

You can also combine a park or open space walk with a canal or river walk, for example:

  • Regents Park and Regents Canal
  • Thames Path and Battersea Park
  • Regents Canal and Victoria Park
  • Richmond Park and Thames Path
  • Thames Path from Tower Bridge to Limehouse, Regents Canal to Mile End and then on to Victoria Park

Cemeteries

Some of the larger London cemeteries are pleasant to stroll in and can be incorporated in longer walks with parks, canals or river paths to make longer walks, for example:

  • Kensal Green Cemetery and Grand Union Canal (Paddington Branch)
  • West Brompton Cemetery, Chelsea Harbour and The Thames Path
  • Highgate Cemetery, Highgate Woods and Hampstead Heath

Views

Many walks and strolls in London take in fabulous views of the City for example:

  • Primrose Hill in Regents Park
  • Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath
  • King Henry's Mound in Richmond Park
  • Pole Hill in Epping Forest
  • Old Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park

Wandle Trail

There is a well-marked trail along the River Wandle between Carshalton and Wandsworth, which can be walked in its entirety or in sections. It passes through Morden, Colliers Wood and Earlsfield.

Lea Valley Walk

The Lea Valley Walk is a 50 mile walk along the River Lea all the way from Luton to the Thames. The route incorporates the Lee Valley Park and the 2012 Olympics site in East London.

For further information on the route see the regularly updated Lea Valley Walk website or its accompanying guide book.

For short walks within the Lee Valley Park there's a free booklet available from the Ramblers bookshop.

Green Chain Walk

The Green Chain Walk in South East London links The Thames at Erith, Thamesmead and the Thames Barrier to Eltham, Crystal Palace Park or Chislehurst via ancient woodland, parkland and heaths. Routes can incorporate the splendid Eltham Palace and Lesnes Abbey.