Open Travel Guide
Hiking in London

London Hiking & Trekking Guide 2026

Where to walk in London — from easy half-days to serious treks, with honest difficulty grades.

By Updated Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

London has 9+ hiking trails covered in this guide, led by Thames Path London — Putney to Tower Bridge, Hampstead Heath Full Circuit and Capital Ring — Wimbledon to Richmond Section. Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

London is one of the world's great cities — the capital of England and the United Kingdom, a former heart of a global empire, and today a cosmopolitan metropolis of nine million people drawing visitors from every country. The city holds more UNESCO-listed sites, Michelin-starred restaurants, and free world-class museums than almost any other capital. From the medieval Tower of London and the palaces of Westminster to the street food of Borough Market, the theatres of the West End, and the galleries of Tate Modern, London offers an almost inexhaustible range of experiences across its 33 boroughs.

Top trails

Routes worth lacing up your boots for.

  1. 1

    Thames Path London — Putney to Tower Bridge

    5–6 hours (one way); can be split into sectionsFlat; negligible elevation gain along the riverside

  2. 2

    Hampstead Heath Full Circuit

    1.5–2 hoursModest; Parliament Hill summit at 98m offers panoramic views of the City skyline

  3. 3

    Capital Ring — Wimbledon to Richmond Section

    3–3.5 hoursGentle rolling; Wimbledon Common at around 50m

  4. 4

    London Loop — Farnborough to Hayes Section

    2.5–3 hoursUndulating; up to 100m across the North Downs fringe

  5. 5

    Epping Forest Loop from Chingford

    3–4 hoursGently undulating ancient plateau; highest point around 100m

  6. 6

    Richmond Park Deer Walk

    2.5–3 hoursGently rolling; highest point King Henry's Mound at 52m with protected sightline to St Paul's Cathedral

  7. 7

    Box Hill Circuit

    4–5 hoursSignificant; summit at 224m with steep chalk escarpment climbs and descents

  8. 8

    Seven Sisters Coastal Walk

    5–6 hoursChallenging; multiple steep climbs over seven chalk headlands, each around 75–100m

  9. 9

    North Downs Way — Gomshall to Dorking Section

    3.5–4.5 hoursModerate; follows the chalk ridge of the North Downs, climbing to around 180m

Trail difficulty levels

Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.

Easy

Mostly flat, well-marked paths. Suitable for families and casual walkers.

Moderate

Some elevation gain, longer distances. Requires basic fitness.

Hard

Significant climbs and exposure. Requires good fitness and route-finding.

Expert

Technical terrain, scrambling, or alpine conditions. Experience essential.

When to hike

Seasonal conditions in London.

Items

Local hazards

What to watch out for on the trail.

Medium

Hazard: Clay soils in Epping Forest and parts of the Capital Ring and London Loop become deeply muddy from October through March. Waterproof walking boots are essential from autumn to spring on all non-paved routes.

Medium

Hazard: Ticks are present in bracken and long grass at Epping Forest, Richmond Park, and the North Downs from April to October. Wear long trousers and check for ticks after walking. Lyme disease is rare but present in the UK — remove any attached tick promptly with a tick removal tool.

Medium

Hazard: The Thames Path in London can be impassable at high tide in certain sections between Putney and Hammersmith. Check tide tables before setting out. The Cuckmere Valley section of the Seven Sisters route floods after heavy rain.

Medium

Hazard: The Seven Sisters chalk cliffs experience active erosion — cliff-edge paths are unsafe and change seasonally. The South Downs National Park routes keep walkers at a safe distance from the edge; always respect barrier signs.

Medium

Hazard: Epping Forest has limited waymarking and a dense network of crossing paths that can disorient walkers. Download the OS Maps app with the relevant Explorer map before entering the forest.

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