Walkers and cyclists: prepare for epic diversions.
Planning on walking the Capital Ring around London? It might take you a while to complete the official route. One of the key sections will close from autumn until 2028.
The Greenway is the raised footpath that runs along the southern side of the Olympic Park, through Stratford and on past West Ham towards Beckton. It's an important east-west route for pedestrians and cyclists, and forms part of the Capital Ring, Cycleway 22 and the Jubilee Greenway.
Those who rely on the route have had to put up with a significant closure since September 2024, as maintenance takes place between Stratford High Street and Manor Road. Indeed, I've been personally waiting for this to end before reacquainting myself with Section 14 of the Capital Ring.
Now we learn that an even larger section is set to close in the autumn — and not reopen for three years. Here's a map of the area affected:
It looks like the section from Stratford High Street to the Channelsea (light green) will reopen by autumn 2025, but then the even longer closure between the Channelsea Path and Upper Road (dark green) will kick in.
Why's all this happening? The Greenway runs on top of the Northern Outfall Sewer, maintained by Thames Water. This is one of London's most important sewers, and dates from Joseph Bazalgette's improvements in the Victorian era. It is unsurprising that it might need the occasional attentions of engineers, but a four-year project is exceptional. The works are mostly to strengthen bridges that carry the sewer over various roads and railways.
The ongoing closure effectively means that the popular Capital Ring walking route is no longer a ring unless you're prepared to go on an arduous diversion. It's even worse news if you're one of the many cyclists who use the route as a quick way into Stratford or Bow.
Thames Water outlines a couple of alternative routes (which blogger Diamond Geezer, who tipped us off to this closure, neatly critiques). Even so, the shortest option adds the best part of a kilometre to the journey, and this along roads that are less friendly to walkers and cyclists.
