LoHo Walks in and out of London

Lucky you. I’ve walked several thousand miles of footpaths and city streets to distil out a choice selection of rambles for everyone to enjoy. There is no way of knowing whether a walk is worth doing except by walking the route every step of the way; a lot of terrible walks, dull vistas, and frankly boring trudges have been endured and discarded. Lucky me, I love walking and being outside so it’s all been worth it. I hope you can find the time to explore a route or two.

"Everywhere is within walking distance if you create the time..."

Princes Risborough to Wendover - LOHO Walk

No 1 : Princes Risborough to Wendover

ST MARYLEBONE I MODERATE I 6.8m/11km

Leaving habitation behind you, spend the day following one of Britain’s most ancient trackways dating back 5000 years, possibly much further...

Home Park and The Long Water

No 2 : Hampton Court to Richmond

WATERLOO/VAUXHALL I EASY/MODERATE I 7.8m/12.5k

A favourite walk bookended by the imposing Hampton Court Palace and the bare remains of Richmond Palace, along the Thames path and through diverse parks and meadows...

Primrose Hill

No 3 : Three London Parks

REGENT'S PARK I EASY I 5.6m/9k

Easy walking, people-watching in the parks, and chi-chi 'villages' ending on the splendid views and rambling of Hampstead Heath...

Newington Green Terraces

No 4 : Newington Green to Smithfield

CANONBURY I EASY I 3m/4.8k

An idiosyncratic trail of visual and historical curiosities taking in radicals, rebels and assorted contrarians along the way...

Dr Salter's Daydream

No 5 : London Bridge to Greenwich

LONDON BRIDGE I EASY/MODERATE I 5.6m/9k

A real treat for the soul, spending an entire walk following the course of the River Thames from the heart of the old City...

Otford Village

No 6 : Eynsford to Otford

VICTORIA/CHARING CROSS/BLACKFRIARS
I EASY/MODERATE I 6.8m/11km

A perennial favourite to introduce self-identifying 'non-walkers'. Stunning views of the length of the Darenth Valley,  an impressive Roman Villa, a 'castle', a 'palace' and three typically Kentish villages...

Otford Village

No 7 : Eynsford Circular via Shoreham

VICTORIA/CHARING CROSS/BLACKFRIARS
I MODERATE I 8.2 - 9.1m/13.3 - 14.8km

A longer cousin of Walk No. 6, this route follows the lovely Darenth Valley on its western slopes and returns along the valley bottom. A landscape of hills, open views and a riverine return with a choice of picnic, pub or vineyard for the lunch stop...

Meopham Green and Windmill

No 8 : Sole Street Circular

VICTORIA/ST PANCRAS INTERNATIONAL
I MODERATE I 8.8m/14.2km

Continuously undulating chalk hills and farmland welcome you with vineyards and gorgeous valley views, including a welcome and timely lunch stop at a splendid Kentish scene of a windmill and pub overlooking the local cricket pitch...

 

Meopham Green and Windmill

No 9 : Guildford St Martha's Church Circular

WATERLOO  I  MODERATE  I  7.7m/12.4km

Along the meandering River Wey via an old watermill to an ascent along ancient pilgrim paths under open skies and woodland, tracking the North Downs Way and the Pilgrims' Way, including an aerobic climb to the perfectly located St Martha’s Chapel for a rest and lunch...

 

No 10 : Greenwich to London Bridge via Limehouse & Wapping

ISLAND GARDENS I  EASY  I  5.5m/8.8km

The sister walk to Route 5.

Follow the north bank’s Thames Path all the way from the Isle of Dogs to the City through a random procession of history and eccentricity…

Walk of the Season

SPRING 2021

Hampton Court to Richmond

…possibly the easiest ‘out of town’ walk of any on this website, but long enough for a good day out. So if you know of any reluctant ramblers just tell them it’s flat with pubs and cafes – they can wimp out at any point, it’s almost London…

Home Park and The Long Water

“The wise find pleasure in water, the virtuous find pleasure in hills.”
CONFUCIUS

So, if the sage had it right, the virtuous should head off to the Chilterns or perhaps the North Downs leaving the rest of us to follow this pleasurable riverine ramble.

This walk has virtues of its own. The first being that for any Londoner it is very simple to get to – grab your travel card, then a tube, and a short train ride later you will emerge straight into the breezes and open skies that are a blessing of any Thames walk. And it’s flat all the way.

And then there’s that river thing; the act of walking alongside gently moving water quietens down the spirit and the racing mind.>>