First in a new series on walking around the capital, supported by Walk London.
No doubt about it, London is best explored on foot. Whether you’re interested in seeing the many historic buildings of the inner city, visiting the river front and waterways, or discovering London’s outer, woody fringes, Walk London has plenty of ideas, having worked with local authorities to develop a network of walks around the capital. In a series of posts for Walk London, we’ll share some of the highlights from the routes. But first, here’s a potted guide.
The seven routes. Click the map to see an interactive version.
Capital Ring
This surprising walk will take you through parts of London you’ve probably never visited. As the name suggest, the route encircles the capital, passing through areas such as Brent, Highgate, Stoke Newington, Hackney Wick, Woolwich, Crystal Palace, Wimbledon, Richmond and Osterley. You’ll be surprised just how green these suburbs can be. 78 miles over 15 sections.
Lea Valley Walk
Take a stroll along London’s second river. After a fascinating preamble through the Isle of Dogs, this route joins the River Lea as it weaves through the East End, past the rapidly rising Olympic site and on through Tottenham to Waltham Abbey. 18 miles over 6 sections.
London LOOP
Like the Capital Ring, this walk orbits the city, but much further out. You’re right on the fringes of Greater London here, taking in such places as Barnet, Chingford, Bexley and Purfleet in an ‘M25 for walkers’. The route offers an unrivalled diversity of terrain, with sections through hilly forest, outer suburbia, winding country tracks and areas of industrial heritage. 152 miles over 24 sections.
Green Chain Walk
This beautiful amble reveals the leafy slopes of south-east London. From the historic Lesnes Abbey and Oxleas Woods through Chislelhurst and Crystal Palace, linking up over 300 green spaces. 50 miles over 11 sections.
Jubilee Greenway
A new walk to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics. The route links together many London locations connected with the games and with royalty. 37 miles over 10 sections.
Jubilee Walkway
Designed in 1977 to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, this walk keeps things central, passing just about every significant landmark in the inner city. 15 miles over 5 sections.
Thames Path
Perhaps the most familiar of all seven walks, the Thames Path simply follows the river. Part of the National Trail, which runs from source to sea, the London section will take you from Hampton Court, through central London and out beyond the Thames Barrier to the River Darent. 40 miles over 4 sections.
View all seven routes on one interactive map.
We’ll examine these walks in more depth each Friday for the following seven weeks. Let us know if you’ve walked any complete routes, and which are your favourite sections.
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