Walking Holidays and Stays in London

Royal Parks, Riverside Paths, and Ancient Woodlands

Where footpaths reveal the softer, slower side of the city.

London is one of the most walkable cities in the world — a place where historic streets, hidden parks, and surprising greenways create a patchwork of calm amid the capital's energy. It’s a city of contrasts: royal gardens and ancient woods, urban commons and quiet canals, all connected by centuries-old routes.

Walking in London isn’t about wilderness — it’s about rhythm, layers, and discovery. Each trail tells a story, whether you’re tracing the River Thames, climbing to views on Parliament Hill, or wandering through woods older than the city itself.

Where to Walk

Thames Path

This National Trail follows the River Thames across the city — from the leafy calm of Richmond and Kew Gardens to the heart of Westminster and the lively paths of the South Bank, ending at Greenwich and the Thames Barrier. A riverside route rich in heritage, contrast, and atmosphere.

The Capital Ring

An inner orbital trail of 78 miles (126 km) connecting parks, woods, and waterways across suburban London. Highlights include Wimbledon Common, Highgate Wood, the River Lea, and hidden greenspaces that show the city from the edges in.

Hampstead Heath & Highgate

North London’s elevated escape. Walk through Hampstead Heath for skyline views from Parliament Hill, dip into woodland trails and swimming ponds, or follow the Parkland Walk, a leafy trail along a disused railway line linking Finsbury Park to Highgate.

South & East London Greenspaces

Explore trails through Dulwich Woods, Sydenham Hill, and Greenwich Park, or follow stretches of the Green Chain Walk. Further east, escape into the River Roding, Rainham Marshes, or the wilder edges of the Thames Estuary.

Highlights

• Riverside walking from Richmond to Greenwich on the Thames Path
• Panoramic views and wooded trails across Hampstead Heath and Highgate
• Quiet corners of the Capital Ring and Green Chain Walk through suburban landscapes

London is layered, living, and endlessly walkable — a capital where footpaths open up space, history, and stillness in ways only walking can reveal.