Feeling inspired by the London Marathon or just looking to shift a few pounds in the lead to Summer? Or maybe you just fancy getting a bit active yourself but not sure where to go? Let us help – with our guide to some of the city’s best running spots.
Battersea Park
People travel from all over the city here, where you’ll find everyone from the 2:30 marathoners to those on the more exploratory end of running. Why? It’s flat as…a pancake, has a wide, uninterrupted traffic-free road that loops in a circles, and an array of sights from the famous pagoda to the Thames at the northern edge of the park. It’s the home of the Belgrave Harriers running club (a very fast outfit), but also features a popular parkrun and is big enough to accommodate everybody.
On lucky days you might even spot the greatest marathoner runner ever, Eliud Kipchoge, knocking out a few, rather rapid, laps. It’s London’s number one running park for a reason.
Hampstead Heath
-Nick-Mertes-(all-in-black)-Meagan-Roecker-(black-two-piec.jpeg)
Other than being London’s best park – or green space, if you must – Hampstead Heath has everything a runner could want. For the fast lapheads there’s Parliament Hill Fields athletics track, the home of Highgate Harriers, and where anybody can train (so long as they pay a few quid per session). Then there are the rolling and beautiful paths of the Heath itself. Ok so it’s not flat like many other places on this list, but that’s what makes it so special and charming.
Besides, you can always slow down (or even, whisper it, walk) the tougher uphills. The views from Parliament Hill speak for themselves – if they were good enough for the Guy Fawkes conspirators, they’re good enough for you – while the sweeping perspective you get from the top of the Heath is arguably even better. The mix of paths means you can choose looping routes that eat up the miles while staying varied. A personal favourite (as you can probably tell).
Victoria Park
The Queen of East London’s parks is another top spot for running. It’s got a very wide road looping round the outside which means you can run and run – without risking bumping into people. I’ve been running along the path early in the morning and seen a squadron of 40 or so runners coming towards me, yet we passed as if neither were there.
Space to do your own thing is a plus – and in ample supply here. The park is divided by a road – so laps of the entire circuit (totalling around 4 kilometres, or about 2.5 miles) have to be done with care. Alternatively the eastern part of the park features a looping round that is entirely car free – though it does have some bike traffic cutting across it horizontally – for those who want to lock in for a speed session without having to worry about motor vehicles.
In summer the wide avenues of plane trees offer cool shade if it’s sunny. Plus there are three separate cafes within the park itself, for whenever you decide you’ve run enough to reward yourself with a coffee and a pastry (one of life’s small pleasures).
Thames Path
If you’re a fan of out and back runs (these Ronseal-like activities involving running to a certain and then turning tail and running back the same way), the Thames path has you covered.
In the West, especially upstream of Hammersmith Bridge, the river itself is on particularly beautiful form. You can run down Chiswick Mall and ogle the grand houses there before pushing on to Kew and Richmond, or Barnes on the south side. It’s tree-lined and calm and it’s very easy to forget you’re in one of the world’s great urban environments.
To the East – and I’m a partisan here as I run the Thames path out from Greenwich currently – it’s far more industrial, but carries a stark beauty of its own. The river widens as you head downstream, growing wilder and less manicured. Again, you can easily forget you’re in London, until you turn and see the iconic vista of Canary Wharf right in front of you.
Speaking of iconic London, it doesn’t get more picture-postcard than Bankside, with its wide paths and views of the Globe, Tower Bridge and Parliament. It’s a top spot for taking in the sights, though maybe not the place for your speed work.
Hyde Park & Kensington Palace Gardens
If it’s grandeur you want, why not try Hyde Park and Kensington Palace Gardens? A full loop of the two is 4.3 miles (7 kilometres), but really it’s the trails within them that make these two such great spots to run. You can really build your own route and, yet again, get lost in greenery right in the middle of London.
The Serpentine lake is also a favoured spot for people doing loops, and can be a good place to work on your speed, should you so desire. Have a gander at Kensington Palace, too, while you’re at it – home of the future king Prince William and his young family. Once you’ve finished and are in need of a break, the Serpentine – and the Round Pound – come into their own as relaxing spots to chill out on a bench with a view.
Richmond Park
For natural grandeur I have to concede Richmond Park can’t be beaten for running. Where else in London can you spot a herd of deer majestically sweeping out of a wood, while you’re out for a light jog? While it does have roads going through it, the park is so damn big you can spend a long time there without seeing so much as a taillight.
There are innumberable routes through and around the park, though one loop – the Tamsin trail – is just over 7 miles (11.5 kilometres) and takes in most of the perimeter. But really the joy is getting lost and making up your own route as you navigate the soft trails and hills, some more gentle than others. It’s a great wildlife spotting place too, for more than just deer – and then of course there’s the famous, protected, view of St Paul’s. If it’s wildness you want, look no further.
Regent’s canal
Stretching between Paddington and the Limehouse basin just by the Thames, this is the big daddy of London running canals.
Firstly, though, a word of warning: it can get quite busy, so you have to take care. But lots and lots of people use it for good reason. It makes for lovely, peaceful running to have a canal at your side. Clocking up the miles along a stretch in East London, I found myself looking at the reflected buildings on the water’s surface, the day was so still and clear.
It goes through Regent’s Park too (another good spot for running) where you can play at being chased by the African hunting dogs kept in London Zoo on the opposite bank. Sometimes they run “alongside” you, which is faintly terrifying, even with the large body of water (and chain-link fence) separating you.
What’s particularly good about the Regent’s canal is that you can hook into it at some points, turning a dreary pavement run into something a lot more enjoyable.
Three more great runs
Bushy Park. The home of the original park run. It’s fast, flat, and spacious.
Dulwich Park. Very “loopable” ie you can run round and round and round in peace and quiet, undisturbed by cars.
Clapham Common. The inferior cousin of nearby Battersea? Don’t let the locals here you call it that… a very popular spot, even if it does get very busy in summer.
Plus many, many more. Use the comments to castigate us for leaving out your favourite place to run.
