Walk London: Free Guided Walks For The End Of May

By Sponsor Last edited 154 months ago
Walk London: Free Guided Walks For The End Of May


This post is produced in partnership with Walk London.

Want to try something fun, healthy and stimulating over the Bank holiday weekend? Walk London has put together a huge programme of free guided walks around the capital that cover many diverse areas. Over the next two Fridays, we'll flag up some of the highlights. Today, we'll focus on events for Saturday 28 May.

All events are free, and there's no need to book.

Secret London
Fans of exploring the lesser known parts of London are particularly well catered for. A tour of hidden alleyways and courtyards will take in some of the most atmospheric spaces in the City and Fleet Street areas (1.5 mile; 10.30am, 1.30pm). A walk along the South Bank will seek out some of the more unusual sights near the Thames (<5 miles, 10.30am). MI5, MI6 and other secrets south of Westminster will be explored in another walk (2.5 miles, 10.30am). And there's more spying later on, with a tour of London espionage (<5 miles, 2.30pm).

Olympic London
The Olympics are Coming will head out from West Ham Tube and onto the Greenway, a raised walkway through the Olympic Park, for a potted history of the Stratford area (<5 miles, 2.15pm). A longer version starts at Woolwich, where you'll can enjoy a ride on the ferry before picking up the Greenway and heading to the Olympic Park (5.8 miles, 11am). You'll also get a view of the stadium on the Lea Valley Walk, which starts up in Hackney and follows the River Lea (4 miles, 2pm). A slightly longer version starts in Tottenham Hale (6.5 miles, 11am).

Out of the Centre
Several other walks will take you out of central London, to explore the outer boroughs, or interesting spaces just a short hop out of the centre. One tour will tackle the historic heights of Barnet, on a trek to Cockfosters, one of the most pleasant sections of the London LOOP (3.5 miles, 2pm). Another LOOP walk follows the route from Banstead to Kingston, passing through the Tudor Nonsuch Park (11 miles, 10.15am). You can also explore a new extension to the Green Chain Walk, through the hills of Crystal Palace and Dulwich (5.5 miles, 1.30pm). Dubbed The Finest Walk In London, another guide will lead you through Richmond and Wimbledon on a particularly verdant stretch of the Capital Ring. More greenery in a lengthy stroll through Epping Forest (8.3 miles, 11am). Alternatively, try the Thames Path around Barnes (3.8 miles, 11.30am), or from Tower Bridge to Greenwich (6.5 miles, 12.30pm).

Spooky London
As the evening sets in, a couple of walks look at the more sinister side of our city. Blood-Curdling London takes in the scenes of gruesome crimes in the Embankment area (<5 miles, 6.30pm). Ghosts of the Old City, meanwhile, tackles some of the phantoms of London's oldest quarter (<5 miles, 7.30pm).

Last Updated 20 May 2011