Walking is one of the easiest ways to get active in London and there are several walking routes in and around the city. Walk London currently has 7 Strategic Routes that add up to more than 692 km.

 

The walks are great for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon as a way to get out and explore London while being active.

 

The Jubilee Greenway Walk is a brand new 60km route which links all nine central London venues for the 2012 Olympics and numerous attractions, parks and views along the way. The loop has been divided into 12 sections and large parts follow the River Thames along the south side.

 

The Lea Valley Walk is a 13 mile route follows the Lea Valley from Trinity Buoy Wharf (in London Docklands) up to Waltham Abbey. It can be completed in one day. The path does continue outside of Greater London to make a 50 mile route and passes through the boroughs of Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

 

The Capital Ring Walk is a 125km orbital route taking in parks, open spaces and quiet streets. The official start and finish of the route is on the south side of the Woolwich Foot Tunnel, but walkers are free to join the route at any time. The route is divided into 15 sections, with each section averaging around 7.8 km. The walk passes through Ealing , Wimbledon, Hackney and Highgate.

 

The Green Chain Walk (starting at the Thames) covers 65km (divided into 10 sections) across south-east London from Thamesmead all the way to Crystal Palace Park. The route passes through marshes, woodlands and parks including Plumstead Common and Oxleas Wood and Meadows.

 

The Thames Path (starting at Hampton Court) can be followed along either the north or south bank and is around 107km. This has been split into four sections. North bank walk is around 37km (23 miles) from Hampton Court to Battersea Bridge. South bank walk is around 19.9 miles. The route follows both banks of the Thames most of the way, so it is a great way to spend a day by the river. Parts of the route are prone to flooding after high tides or heavy rain.

 

Richmond Park also has a walking path. A popular location for walkers who are looking to stretch the legs, go for a stroll or do some training in beautiful surroundings. There is dedicated path on the perimeter of the park, which is shared between walkers and cyclists. The route is around 7.5 miles long. The park opens at 7 a.m. during the summer and 7:30 a.m. in the winter and closes around dusk all year.

The above routes are all featured on TotallySporty. Go to Find Sport Club/ Venue and select walking/hiking/trekking. There are currently 12 excellent walks to choose from around London.