Experiences
The 6 Best Walks in London
Six London walks worth leaving the house for, from the South Bank at dusk to the deer-crossed Tamsin Trail. Distances, highlights and where each one earns its keep.
In short: our top picks are The South Bank (Thames Path, Westminster to Tower Bridge), Regent's Canal (Little Venice to Camden) and Hampstead Heath to Kenwood House. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
A good London walk does two things at once. It gets you somewhere, and it gives you back the hour you spent on it. The six here are the ones we keep returning to, and they are not interchangeable. The South Bank is for an early evening when the tide is up and the lights come on. Richmond Park is for a Sunday you want to write off entirely. Regent’s Canal sits somewhere between, an hour of water and barge smoke that delivers you, slightly improved, into Camden. We have given lengths so you can plan a coffee at one end and lunch at the other, and the highlight that makes each one worth the shoe leather. Wear something you can get muddy on the Heath.
| Place | Area |
|---|---|
| The South Bank (Thames Path, Westminster to Tower Bridge) | South Bank |
| Regent's Canal (Little Venice to Camden) | Little Venice to Camden |
| Hampstead Heath to Kenwood House | Hampstead |
| Richmond Park (Tamsin Trail) | Richmond |
| Greenwich Park to the Royal Observatory | Greenwich |
| The Parkland Walk (Finsbury Park to Highgate) | North London |
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Editor’s choice
The South Bank (Thames Path, Westminster to Tower Bridge)
Why we pick itAbout four miles of river, taking in the Eye, the Globe, Tate Modern and Borough Market before Tower Bridge. Do it at dusk with the tide high and the whole thing changes character.
Riverside walk
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Regent's Canal (Little Venice to Camden)
Why we pick itRoughly two and a half miles of stucco villas, houseboats and the back of London Zoo, where you can see the wild dogs from the towpath. Camden Lock at the end is the loud, fitting full stop.
Canal towpath walk
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Hampstead Heath to Kenwood House
Why we pick itA four-mile loop up Parliament Hill for the city panorama, then through woodland to Kenwood, where the Rembrandt and the Vermeer hang for free. Hilly and properly muddy after rain, which is the point.
Parkland and hill walk
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Richmond Park (Tamsin Trail)
Why we pick itThe full perimeter loop runs about seven and a quarter miles past 600-odd red and fallow deer that have grazed here since 1637. Climb to King Henry's Mound for the protected, framed view of St Paul's ten miles off.
Deer park loop
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Greenwich Park to the Royal Observatory
Why we pick itA short, steep climb from the river up to General Wolfe's statue, where Canary Wharf, the City and the O2 lay out below you. The view is free; the meridian line and observatory cost extra if you want them.
Hill walk and viewpoint
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The Parkland Walk (Finsbury Park to Highgate)
Why we pick itLondon's longest nature reserve, three miles along a Victorian railway line that the city has quietly reclaimed. Old platforms, a spriggan carved into a bridge arch, and not a road in sight until Highgate.
Disused railway nature walk
Before you book
All six are free and open year round. The Royal Parks (Richmond, Greenwich) and Hampstead Heath gates close around dusk, so check seasonal times before a late finish. Kenwood House and its grounds are free; Ham House charges for the house. The canal towpath and Parkland Walk get busy at weekends, so go early. Check the Friends of the Parkland Walk site for any path diversions before you set off.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
The South Bank (Thames Path, Westminster to Tower Bridge) is our editor's choice: About four miles of river, taking in the Eye, the Globe, Tate Modern and Borough Market before Tower Bridge. Do it at dusk with the tide high and the whole thing changes character. The South Bank (Thames Path, Westminster to Tower Bridge), Regent's Canal (Little Venice to Camden) and Hampstead Heath to Kenwood House lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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