The Best Walks in London in Winter

If you’re looking for festive things to do this Christmas in London, it’s time to get out and explore the city! These winter walks take in beautiful scenery and London landmarks - all you need is a cosy hat and a flask of tea (or mulled wine!).

Starting in Finsbury Park, this London walk follows the old railway line which used to connect Finny P with Alexandra Palace, calling at Crouch End where the old station platform still stands. It’s London’s longest Local Nature Reserve, home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the elusive muntjac deer. Popular with dog walkers and cyclists, The Parkland Walk also passes through Highgate Wood before entering the top end of Alexandra Park – the final section makes it one of the best walks in London to admire the city skyline.

Distance: 5km

Looking for festive things to do in London? Try this walking route through some of London’s most famous streets, all decked out for Christmas. Starting at Somerset House to admire the enormous Christmas tree, enjoy your Christmas walk through the festive displays at Covent Garden and Seven Dials to Soho and Carnaby Street where you’ll find some of the most photographed festoons around. From there head to the famed lights on Oxford Street and Regent Street. Continue through Piccadilly to Knightsbridge to admire the stunning festive display at Harrods.

Distance: 7km

Whether you’re arriving by tube or Zipcar, from the scenic Wimbledon Park it’s just a short walk to the more rugged and naturalistic Wimbledon Common, which connects you to the western tip of Richmond Park. There are myriad routes and paths to follow through dense woodland and open grassland, and the beautiful resident deer at Richmond Park make this a perfect route for a Christmas or Boxing Day walk in London.

Distance: 10km

When it comes to London walks, this one is perhaps the easiest to navigate. Admire the regal beauty of the stunning Regent’s Park and join the canal towpath just north of London Zoo. Follow the scenic Regent’s Canal as it winds through Camden Locks, Coal Drops Yard and Kings Cross, Angel, Haggerston and Cambridge Heath, until you reach the hulking skeleton of the old gasworks. Just beyond you’ll be able to enter Victoria Park on the eastern edge, or continue to follow Hertford Union Canal along the southern edge of the park.

Distance: 8km

You’d be forgiven for thinking this serene series of interconnected lakes and ponds was a million miles from the hustle and bustle of the city. But London’s newest and biggest wetland reserve is only 15 minutes from central London. Walthamstow Wetlands are a haven for native birds and insects, and with plenty of walking paths to follow, it makes for a unique nature walk in London.

Distance: 2-6km

With over 800 acres to explore, Hampstead Heath is a destination for winter walks in itself, but if you want to explore somewhere new, make your way out of the park and head west up Swain’s Lane. This is one of the steepest roads in London and as such it’s very popular with cyclists. The steep climb passes Highgate cemetery on the way to Waterlow Park. This lesser-known park in London features a beautiful variety of plants, shrubs and trees, and the views across London rival those from Parliament Hill, only without the crowds.

Distance: 3.3km