Places to walk in London, from Stratford

Whilst it doesn’t quite begin in Stratford, walking along the banks of Regent’s Canal is one of the best walks leading from East London into the city. 

Start at the banks of Regent’s Canal, at the far side of Victoria Park (follow signs for Canal Gate). This will take you to “pound path”, right at the midpoint of the walk. You can either head west to the city and the walk’s culmination at The Angel, or head east which will take you on a more scenic route, culminating at the Limehouse Basin. 

Whichever route you take, views include Little Venice, Camden and Wennington green, as well as an abundance of cafés, bars and stop off points for refreshments. 

Definitely one of our favourite places to walk in London. 

One of London’s most popular self-guided public art walks, The Line has its own outdoor exhibition programme that’s designed to lead you through some of London’s most inspiring landscapes. 

Starting at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the walk takes you along the waterways and canals of East London, through areas of natural beauty, following the Greenwich Meridian, along the Thames, culminating at the O2. 

The list of artworks exhibited on the walk is always changing, so even if you’ve “walked the line” before, it’s unlikely to be exactly the same each time. 

You can learn about the route, the art installations and upcoming exhibitions on The Line website.

We couldn’t talk about the best places to walk in London, without mentioning Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

Comprising 560 acres of open green space, the Olympic Park is home to some of the world-class arenas created for the 2012 London Olympics. But, more than it, it’s a beautiful natural space for the public to enjoy. 

Running routes, rolling lawns, wildflower gardens, a café, outdoor dining spots, shaded forests, wandering pathways – it has everything you need to enjoy time outdoors with the family. 

For all the information you need to spend a day at the park, there is an information centre located within IQL’s Pavilion, near the entrance to Haugen.

Home to one of the “magnificent seven” cemeteries in London, Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is also a nature reserve in its own right. With forests, green space and a diverse range of habitats, it’s a great place to go bird-watching or take in a nature trail, as there are a few lovingly looked after by the charity responsible for the park. 

This is a great visit for anyone with little ones interested in history. Although the park is open 24 hours, it’s perhaps too spooky at night, and the gates are usually locked around dusk.