Walking in London presents 25 varied walks exploring London's green and open spaces. Covering both the city centre and the Greater London area, it takes in royal parks, heaths, forests, canals and rivers, including Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, the World Heritage site of Kew Gardens and Wimbledon Common. Walks range from 4 to 14 miles and most can be accessed by public transport. Alongside detailed route descriptions and OS mapping, Walking in London features practical information on parking, public transport and refreshments. Each walk showcases a particular species of wildlife that you might encounter, and there is fascinating background information the history and conservation of the capital's wild spaces. London is a city of 8 million people and 8 million trees, and its vast open spaces are home to 13,000 species of wildlife. Walking in London is an ideal companion to exploring a greener, more gentle side to the city.
Introduction
The geology of London
London’s open spaces
When to go
Safety in London
Getting around London
Access
What to take
Maps
Using this guide
East to the Lea
Walk 1 Rainham Marshes and Coldharbour Point
Walk 2 Dagenham’s open spaces
Walk 3 Epping Forest from Chingford
Walk 4 Wanstead Flats and Park
Walk 5 Olympic Park and Greenway
Walk 6 River Lea
Lea to Brent
Walk 7 Enfield Chase
Walk 8 Regent’s Canal
Walk 9 New River and Parkland Walk
Walk 10 Royal Parks
Walk 11 Hampstead Heath
Walk 12 Dollis Valley Greenwalk
Brent to Wandle
Walk 13 Ruislip Woods
Walk 14 Yeading Brook
Walk 15 Crane Park
Walk 16 Bushy Park and Home Park
Walk 17 Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park
Walk 18 Kew and Isleworth
Walk 19 Wandle Trail
East of the Wandle
Walk 20 Happy Valley
Walk 21 Hills and woods of Croydon
Walk 22 Sydenham Hill Wood
Walk 23 Woodlands of south-east London
Walk 24 Chislehurst
Walk 25 Downe
Appendix A Long-distance paths in London
Appendix B Where to find out more
Peter Aylmer discovered the joys of walking in London as a way of relaxing after work – first by walking back home through Epping Forest, and then by using the Regent's Canal instead of the Central Line. Over many years he has found just how good London can be to walkers, if you know where to look. While writing this book, Peter was chair of the London branch of the Long Distance Walkers Association, which offers both long day walks and short evening walks in and around the London area. Beyond London, Peter has completed many long-distance trails and has developed his own routes from the south to the north of each of Wales, England and Scotland. Keen on Britain's wild places as much as its greatest city, he is publications officer for the Mountain Bothies Association.