Good Places to Walk Near Me Around in London

If you’re looking to stretch your legs, get some fresh air or just clear your head, there are plenty of walking routes in London and beyond. From peaceful riverside strolls in central London to day hikes in the countryside of the home counties, if you’re based in or around the capital there are loads of good places to walk near me. Whether you’re looking for good places to walk near Stratford, London, planning a getaway into the countryside or want to find nice circular walks that can be completed in a day trip, this guide has everything covered.

Where to go walking near London?

If you live in London, you might think you need to travel far to find nature. The truth is, there are many hidden walks near me scattered throughout the city itself. Some of the best options include:

• The Regent’s Canal Walk: Streaching from Paddington through Camden and onto Limehouse, this canal-side path offers quirky houseboats, wildlife and cafés along the way.
  
• Epping Forest: Just on the border of London, this ancient woodlands provides miles and miles of trails for a whole day’s worth of wandering.
  
• Lea Valley Walk close to Stratford: Ideal if you’re living in east London, the route takes you alongside the river Lea where there are green spaces, reservoirs and wildlife-rich wetlands.

And for those who simply need to gaze upon rolling countryside, you won’t have to travel far. Some of the best walks near London by train are less than an hour away, so it’s easy to get out of the city without having to plan a whole weekend getaway.

Is Hyde Park a nice walk?

Absolutely! Hyde Park is one of the most famous good places to walk near me if you’re in central London. Covering 350 acres, it’s ideal for both gentle strolls and longer circuits. Highlights include:

• The Serpentine Lake, where you can stop for coffee or even go boating.
  
• The Rose Garden, particularly lovely in spring and summer.
  
• Long avenues of horse chestnut trees, perfect for an autumn walk.
  

For an extended walk, you can link Hyde Park with Kensington Gardens, Green Park, and St James’s Park to create one of the best walks in central London.

Where to go countryside near London?

Sometimes nothing beats the rolling hills of the countryside. Thankfully, there are plenty of day hikes from London by train. Some of the most popular include:

• Box Hill, Surrey: Just 40 minutes from London Victoria, this area of the North Downs is famous for its sweeping views and steep chalk paths.
  
• Seven Sisters, East Sussex: A coastal classic, this walk along dramatic white cliffs can be reached from London Victoria in under two hours.
  
• Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire: Ancient woodlands, chalk downs, and meadowland all within an hour from Euston.
  

These options also make great circular walks near London, with plenty of local pubs for a well-earned post-hike meal.

What is the most beautiful walk in the Peak District?

The Peak District boasts some of best scenery the UK has to offer, if you’re happy travelling a little further. Most walkers seem to think Dovedale is one of the most beautiful. With its limestone valleys, here-and-there stepping stones crossing the River Dove and dramatic rock formations such as Thorpe Cloud it is a firm favourite.

This ground also features some very strange walks in London”s suburban countryside caves, ridges and secret gorges that seem a world removed from the capitalScratch an area of outer London scrubland and you never know what will come up.

How long is the Dovedale walk?

It can be a different walk depending on how you take the Dovedale walk. A popular figure-of-eight walk starting from the Dovedale car park, with stepping stones and through to Thorpe Cloud is around 3 miles (5 km), taking about 2 hours walking time – quicker if you aren’t adorned in a hectare of crinoline.

For a longer day out, continue the walk into Milldale or connect it with sections of the Tissington Trail for 7 –10 mile hike.

What are the best walks in London?

London, of course, offers plenty of simply options itself, from historic paths to green spaces nestled between buildings. Below are some of the nicest walks in central London and elsewhere:

• South Bank Walk: From Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, and past landmarks including the London Eye, Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe.
• Hampstead Heath: A more rugged green space with woods, ponds and one of Parliament Hill’s famous skyline views to boot.
• Richmond Park: Home to deer herds and acres of open grassland, a great way for a full-day wander in London.
  

The Line: London’s first dedicated art walk, connecting Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford and The O2 in Greenwich (great to combine with things to do near Stratford).

Those in search of something more esoteric may find hidden walks near me to include the Green Chain Walk, which runs through southeast London, or the Parkland Walk, a former railway line now an overgrown path linking Finsbury Park with Highgate.

Which is the prettiest part of Peak District?

It depends on your taste, of course, but plenty of people would say the finest is the series that includes Stanage Edge and the other gritstone edges around it. Providing stunning moorland views, heath in late summer and dramatic sunsets, you couldn’t wish for a better place to walk. Others like the softer valleys of Monsal Dale or the attractive limestone features in Dovedale.

These landscapes also make excellent bases if you’re planning mountain hikes near London (or at least the nearest equivalent, since true mountains are further north).

What is the prettiest village in the Peak District?

As an image of picture-perfect village, it’s hard to beat Castleton. Nestling below Mam Tor with a view of rolling hills and a stream running through, it’s a walker’s paradise. Other beautiful villages include:

• Bakewell: Renowned for its puddings and riverside pathos.
  
• Eyam: The “plague village,” with loads of interesting history.
  
• Hartington: Amid picturesque dales and limestone crags.

Every village is a perfect start for round walks and weekend breaks.

How long does it take to walk up to Mam Tor?

The Mam Tor walk is one of most well-known in Peak District. The summit is around 20-30 minutes walk from Mam Nick car park. Most then follow the Great Ridge to Lose Hill, making for a rewarding circular walk also taking 2-3 hours.

This route offers some of the finest ridge walking in England, making it a top choice if you’re looking for the best 3 day walk in the Peak District and want to extend your trip with linked routes.

Where is the best 3 day walk in the Peak District?

For a longer outing, try the White Peak Circular over three days. Beginning and ending in Bakewell, it takes in highlights such as Grand Monsal Dale, Lathkill Dale and Chatsworth House.

Alternatively, to the Kinder Scout Plateau and back round the edges is a brilliant 3 day walk covering dramatic moorland, waterfalls and panoramic views.

These multi-day routes are for you if you want something a little more stretching than day hikes from London by train and really to embed yourself in the countryside.

Final Thoughts

Whether you want good places to walk near me in central London, or hidden urban trails if you’re nearby Stratford or even a train ride out into the countryside, there are plenty of possibilities. From tranquil paths through Hyde Park to epic cliff-top hikes along the coast, from circular walks near London to multi-day adventures in the Peak District, there is something for every type of walker.

So next time you’re looking for weird walks in London, or fantasizing about mountainous hikes near London, begin your quest here. Pull on your walking boots, fill a backpack with snacks and hit the road.