Places to take a Sunday stroll on a city break in the capital
Late October and early November are beautiful times of the year for walks in London. Just as the clocks go back, the sun becomes milkier in complexion, and the days shorten as the sun sinks lower in the sky. Leaves turn from green to brown and for a brief fortnight, the paths and parks are covered in a mat of patchy green, gold and brown.
It’s a short but beautiful window, and one which the fluctuating and tumultuous seasons are threatening. But we want you to enjoy it this year! For those thinking of a last-minute weekend break to London, make sure to investigate hotels in London via expert website LondonTown.com, which has some amazing discounts direct from hotels.
Now we’re going to take a breezy meander through the best walks in London and spots for an autumnal stroll in the capital – nothing too intense, but definitely a few ideas for winter warmers. The onus is on lovely views, relaxed, easy routes that don’t require any special equipment other than a pair of legs, and good locations that also offer some lovely pubs, restaurants or cafes in the area for some much need refreshment after the exertions!
Regent’s Canal – west to east
The Regent’s Canal is just one of the best kept secrets by Londoners; tourists never seem to find it, and its route is a lovely one, winding from Little Venice near Notting Hill and Westbourne Grove all the way along Camden, Kings Cross, Angel and finally east and down to Limehouse basin.
Walking from Little Venice to Victoria Park in the east is a great Sunday stroll; finished up by diving into a cosy east London pub (try the Britannia near the park) or pushing a little further down to the trendy warehouses and restaurants of Hackney Wick.
Finsbury Park to Crouch Hill/Ally Pally
If you can find the little train tracks under the trees in Finsbury Park, you can follow this lovely green route all the way up north, up over Crouch Hill and then up to Alexandra Palace, standing majestically over the rest of the city.
This is a better walk for a dry day as the leaves from the trees and the trains tracks can get very slippery in the rain – but it’s a real London secret and feels like a little city adventure. Stop off at one of the many cafes in Crouch End for a big tea cake and a cup of coffee to round off your trip.
Richmond Park
Get up close and personal with the deer and stags, or have a proper run around yourself; you can get lost in Richmond Park. It is a vast expanse and ideal for taking a dog for a walk, if you are house-sitting, or allowing the kids to let off steam. You can easily extend your walk into Wimbledon Common if you wish. We recommend starting at Pembroke Lodge and then winding up, making sure to take in the view from Richmond Hill at the top.
photos by zxof.rey canonsnapper and law_keven on flickr
I recently went on a great Rippervision Jack the ripper walk, it was great, I learnt so much that I never knew about Jack the Ripper and was really impressed with how good the tour was. I would definitely recommend it.