The beauty of walking is that it is free, almost anyone can do it and it’s easy to get started. You don’t need to spend lots of money on joining the gym or expensive equipment; all you need to do to get started is pull on your trainers and step outside.

You don’t need to travel far to get walking. In fact, walking is a great way to explore your local area and there are plenty of attractive places to walk in towns and cities as well as in the countryside. Check out our advice for finding great places to get walking.

Another great thing about walking is that it is a social exercise, you can walk in a group, with your friends or family.

So, start your new year’s resolution today and get walking!

Walking is a great way to explore London and group walks are fun, sociable and a good way to meet new people. All London strollers walks are led by a trained volunteer and are free. You don’t need to be a Ramblers member to try them out. Download the timetable or see below for more details:

Walks Timetable

Saturday 3 December HAMPTON COURT and BUSHY PARK

Walk through Kingston market place and riverside, the Home Park, Hampton Court Gardens and Bushy Park back to Hampton Wick station. Should be swans and deer and maybe a heron or two.

Distance: 5.5 miles

Start: 13.30 Kingston station (Zone 6, 12.57 from Waterloo or 12.59 from Richmond).

Finish: Hampton Wick station (Zone 6, trains back on same route).

Sunday 4 December CULTURAL CONTRASTS IN EAST LONDON: BARBICAN TO DALSTON

A walk linking two of London’s iconic cultural centres, the Barbican and the Arcola Theatre, by way of a variety of arts venues. All easy walking.This is a walk joint with the Blackheath group, led by David Thompson.

Distance: 5 miles, 2.5 – 3 hours.

Start: 10.30 Barbican station (Zone 1, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City Lines).

Finish: Dalston Junction station (Zone 2, London Overground).

Sat 10 December  THREE MILLS GREEN and VICTORIA PARK

Saturday stroll led by Les Douglas starting from a new station which opened in September.

Distance: 5 miles

Start: 13.30 Abbey Road station (Zone 3, DLR Stratford to Canning Town line).

Finish: Bethnal Green station (Zone 2, Central Line).

Saturday 17 December  BRIXTON to DULWICH VILLAGE

Featuring Brockwell and Ruskin Parks and ending in one of London’s smartest neighbourhoods.  Pub stop at end of walk.  Return to Brixton by P4 bus.  See http://www.innerlondonramblers.org.uk/walk-brixton-crystal-palace.html for details.

Distance: 4 miles

Start: 10.30 Brixton tube station (Zone 2, Victoria Line) (circular walk)

Saturday 24 December  ADDISCOMBE RAILWAY PATH

This Christmas eve walk will go from Croydon to Elmers End will follow the route of the now closed Addiscombe railway branch line and also passes three parks along the way.

Distance: 3.5 miles

Start: 10.30 East Croydon station – taxi rank (Zone 5, trains from Victoria and London Bridge plus Croydon Tramlink).  Finish: Elmers End station (Zone  trains to Charing Cross and Croydon Tramlink).

Wednesday 28 December  BECKENHAM PLACE and DOWNHAM WOODLANDS

A Festival of Winter Walks walk led jointly with Blackheath Group.  Walk off the mince pies on a loop through one of the most fascinating sections of the Green chain including sweeping Beckenham Place Park and an unexpected woodland strip through a 1920s housing estate.

Distance: 5 miles, 2.5 – 3 hours.

Start: 10.30 Grove Park station (Zone 4, trains from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge)

Saturday 31 December  EAST DULWICH to CRYSTAL PALACE

A continuation of the 17 December walk.  Parks and woods with one steep hill will feature on this five mile walk led by Mike Biggs.  Woods might be muddy after rain.  Refreshment stop at the cafe in Dulwich Park.  Pub stop at end of walk.  See http://www.innerlondonramblers.org.uk/walk-brixton-crystal-palace.html for details.

Distance: TBC

Start: 10.30 East Dulwich station (Zone 2, 10.18 from London Bridge platform 15). Finish: Crystal Palace station (Zone 3/4, trains to London Bridge and Victoria).

Lights, camera, walk!

This autumn, the Ramblers will be holding its fourth annual “Films on Foot festival”, a walking festival to celebrate London’s world-class film heritage.

Free walks will be take place every day during 55th BFI London Film Festival (12-27 October). The 16 Films on Foot walks focus on different areas of London, which have been stars of the big screen. There is no need to book, simply turn up at the meeting place indicated below.

All of the walks are free, open to everyone and end at a pub. The walks are led by volunteer members from the Metropolitan walkers, Capital Walkers, London Strollers and South Bank Ramblers.

The full programme is listed below:

South Bank Films on Foot walk

Wednesday 12 October 7pm
Description: Join the Capital Walkers (30s/40s walking group) for a 4 mile film location walk along the South Bank, one of the most popular places to film in the last decade with locations such as the London Eye, Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge. Appropriately our opening Films on Foot festival walk goes past the British Film Institute. Ends at a pub in Borough where a well-known rom com was filmed. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm at Pimlico tube station – Rampayne Street exit.
Contact: Des 07884 476900

Gangsters in the East End Films on Foot walk

Thursday 13 October
Description: Join the Metropolitan Walkers (20s/30s walking group) for a 3 mile stroll through the East End. This part of London was the play ground for real time villains, the Krays, and is a favourite film location for British gangster movies such as Guy Ritchie’s ‘Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’. Ends at a pub near Bethnal Green tube station. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm inside Liverpool Street train station (foot of the escalators at Old Broad Street exit)
Contact: Sally 07952 204 183

Lawyers and Criminals on the big screen Films on Foot walk

Friday 14 October
Description: Join the London Strollers for a 3 mile film location walk visiting the Inns of Court, the hidden Temple Church made famous in the ‘Da Vinci Code’ and Royal Courts of Justice, and Hatton Gardens, the scene of cinematic diamond and bank heists. Ends at a pub near Chancery Lane tube station. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm at Temple tube station.
Contact: Eleanor 07415 545 761

Brompton Cemetery, Chelsea & Battersea Park Films on Foot walk

Saturday 15 October
Description: Join the Capital Walkers (30s/40s walking group) for a 6 mile film location walk. Brompton Cemetery and Battersea Park are two of the capital’s most popular film locations, as well as being beautiful places to walk. This walk also takes in film locations in the residential streets of Chelsea. ‘Nuns on the Run’, ‘Rock n’ Rolla’, ‘Sliding Doors’ and ‘An American Werewolf in London’ are just a few of the films featured in this walk. Ends at a pub near Sloane Square tube station. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 1.30pm at Fulham Broadway tube station.
Contact: Phil 07939 585813 & James C

Bayswater & Notting Hill Films on Foot walk

Sunday 16 October
Description: Join the London Strollers and Metropolitan Walkers (20s/30s walking group) for a 6 mile film location walk taking in the elegant streets of ‘Notting Hill’ where Mick Jagger hit the big screen in ‘Performance’ and made famous by the eponymous romantic comedy, as well as the more seedy streets around Bayswater used in films such as ‘Trainspotting’ and the green open spaces of Kensington Gardens. Ends at a pub near Lancaster Gate tube station. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 1.30pm at Lancaster Gate tube station.
Contact: Eleanor 07415 545 761

Keeping it Real Films on Foot Walk

Monday 17 October
Description: Join the Capital Walkers (30s/40s walking group) for a 4 mile film location walk visiting the mean streets and gritty housing estates of South East London that have formed the backdrop for the films such as ‘Passport to Pimlico’, ‘Snatch’, ‘Harry Brown’ and ‘Attack the Block’. Ends at a pub near Kennington tube station. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm at Oval tube station.
Contact: Des 07884 476900

Charlie Chaplin’s London Films on Foot walk

Tuesday 18 October
Description: Join the Capital Walkers (30s/40s walking group) for a 4 mile film stroll focusing on screen legend Charlie Chaplin who was born and lived in Lambeth. We’ll learn about his life and see where he spent his early years. Ends at a pub near Vauxhall tube station. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm at Lambeth North tube station.
Contact: Des 07884 476900

Covent Garden & Westminster Films on Foot walk

Wednesday 19 October
Description: Join the Metropolitan Walkers (20s/30s walking group) for a 3 mile film location walk past some of the Capital’s most famous cinematic landmarks. Discover where Hitchcock filmed his penultimate film, where the closing scenes of ‘Atonement’ were filmed and which building has stood in for ‘Russia’, ‘New York’ and the ‘MOD’. Ends at a pub near Westminster tube station. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm at Holborn tube station
Contact: Marcus 07929 762 792 & Joe M

Camden to Kings Cross Films on Foot walk

Thursday 20 October
Description: Join the Metropolitan Walkers (20s/30s walking group) for a 3 mile film location walk from Camden to Kings Cross via Primrose Hill and the tranquil Regents Canal. ‘Withnail and I’, ‘Breaking and Entering’ and ‘This Year’s Love’ amongst other films were all set in the Camden/ Kings Cross area. Ends at a pub near Kings Cross. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm at Chalk Farm tube station.
Contact: Elena 07941 118 053

Green Park to Oxford Circus Films on Foot walk

Friday 21 October
Description: Join the London Strollers for a 2 mile film location walk from Green Park to Oxford Circus via St James’s and Regent Street. Films featured include ‘Bend It Like Beckham’, ‘Mona Lisa’ and ‘Eyes Wide Open’ to name a few. Ends at a pub near Oxford Circus.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm Green Park tube station – Piccadilly south side exit.
Contact: Anastasia 07828 175 651

Hampstead Heath, Primrose Hill & Regent’s Park Films on Foot walk

Saturday 22 October
Description: Join the Metropolitan Walkers (20s/30s walking group) for a 8 mile film location walk. The green spaces of Hampstead Heath, Primrose Hill and Regents Park are frequent stars of the big screen. Discover where Cate Blanchet seduced a school boy in ‘Notes on a Scandal’, find out where Hugh Grant hunted for single mums in ‘About a Boy’ and much more. Walk ends at a pub near Baker Street tube station serving food. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 1.30pm at Highgate tube station – exit 3.
Contact: Mark Sillyhats 07921 787291

Isle of Dogs & Maritime Greenwich Films on Foot walk

Sunday 23 October
Description: Join the South Bank Ramblers for a 5 mile film location walk through the Isle of Dogs, the scene for many gangster and action films; and Maritime Greenwich, which is one of the most popular film locations in London featured in the recent filming of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 3′ starring Johnny Depp, ‘The Golden Compass’ starring Nicole Kidman and the ‘Duchess’ starring Keira Knightley., Ends at a pub in Greenwich. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 1.30pm at the ticket office at Canary Wharf tube station.
Contact: Margaret 07980 376 756

Mayfair Films on Foot walk

Monday 24 October
Description: Join the Metropolitan Walkers (20s/30s walking group) for a 3 mile film location walk through posh Mayfair where many classic films of the 1960s were set and Sean Connery as 007 uttered his first line “The name’s Bond ….. James Bond”. Woody Allen has also used Mayfair locations in his recent London films. Ends at a pub near Piccadilly Circus. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm at Marble Arch tube station (exit 2 Park Lane).
Contact: Marcus 07929 762 792 & Joe M

The Square Mile Films on Foot walk

Tuesday 25 October
Description: Join the London Strollers for a 3 mile film location walk. The City of London is steeped in history and has provided film makers with a wealth of locations from glitzy offices to historic markets and pubs. Discover which location became ‘Diagon Alley’ in ‘Harry Potter’, which building housed Cruella De Vil’s evil empire and where Natalie Portman met Jude Law in ‘Closer’. Ends at a pub near Blackfriars, which fittingly is a film location. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm at Monument tube station – meet in front of the Monument (take Monument exit).
Contact: Eleanor 07415 545 761

Bloomsbury Films on Foot walk

Wednesday 26 October
Description: Join the Capital Walkers (30s/40s walking group) for a 3 mile film location walk through Bloomsbury covering locations used by Hitchcock and Merchant-Ivory amongst others. Ends at a pub near St Pancras. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm at Goodge Street tube station
Contact: Sally 07952 204 183

Soho and the West End Films on Foot walk

Thursday 27 October
Description: Join the London Strollers for a 3 mile film location walk. This closing walk of the Films on Foot festival will start in Soho, which appropriately is the heart of the British film industry. We’ll then walk through the West End with London’s most famous landmarks captured on the big screen. Ends at a pub near Leicester Square tube station. This walk is timed to coincide with the BFI London Film Festival.
Meeting point: Meet at 7pm at Tottenham Court Road tube station – Meet on the street outside exit 1 (Oxford Street south). NB. Tottenham Court northern line is shut in October – the Central Line is open or it’s a short walk from Leicester Square tube station.
Contact: Elena 07941 118 053

Stigma and discrimination ruin lives. They deny people with mental health problems the opportunity to live their lives to the full. They deny people relationships, work, education, hope and the chance to live an ordinary life that others take for granted.

This massive campaign includes local community projects and activities, a high-profile anti-stigma campaign, legal challenges, training for student doctors and teachers, and a network of grassroots activists combating discrimination.

Time to Change is shown to be having a positive impact on public attitudes and behaviour towards people with mental health problems.  Since the campaign launched, there has been a 4% reduction in reported discrimination and a 2.2% improvement in public attitudes.

We will also be highlighting the link between Mental Health and exercise particularly walking and hosting a short led walk around the local area.

Come along on the day and join us to the sign the ‘Time to Change’ pledge and help us end Mental Health Discrimination.

Free step counters and refreshments will be provided.

These woodlands make the perfect setting for a short walk, whether you live in the city, town or the countryside so why not explore areas near you? You can take part in wildlife spotting, find activities for children, take a picnic or just enjoy the peaceful setting and unwind.

The Visit Woods website is a great source of information if you are planning to take a walk in the woods. You can search for woodland near you, wildlife resources, activities for children and much more.

Ramblers groups in London are running some fantastic, short evening strolls across London this summer. Walks are short, free and led by a trained walk leader. And you don’t need to be a Ramblers member to try them out.

Below are a selection of walks happening this August and September but there are plenty more happening in London this summer. To search for more walks visit our walking events page

Wednesday 10 August

7pm Notting Hill to Hyde Park Corner
Leader: Sela (07900 307025) Terrain: Urban
Meeting point: Notting Hill Gate station (zone 1) Length (miles): 4 Grade: Leisurely
Finish point: Hyde Park Corner station (zone 1) Drop out: various

Wednesday 17 August

7pm Kew to Richmond

Leader: Paul (07896 544328)/Caroline(0207 339 8537) Terrain: Thames Path

Meeting point: Kew Gardens tube/Overground station (zone 3) Length (miles): 4 Grade: Moderate

Finish point: Richmond tube/train station (zone 4) Drop out: none
Note: Meet outside the London direction platforms

Saturday 20 August 
11am A Walk along the Lee Navigation to RSPB Rye Meads Reserve
Leader: Des (07884 476900) Terrain: Flat riverside paths
Meeting point: Cheshunt station Length (miles): 8 Grade: Moderate
Finish point: Rye House station Drop out: none
Travel: Take 10:28 from London Liverpool Street (10:40 Tottenham Hale), arr. Cheshunt 10:49. Buy return to Rye House.
Note: Walk from Cheshunt to Rye House (about 5 miles) then a pub or picnic lunch as you prefer. A tour of the reserve follows, so bring binoculars if you have them Saunderton Circular

Tuesday 23 August
7pm Dickens Walk
Leader: Des (07884 476900) Terrain: Urban
Meeting point: Chancery Lane station ticket hall (zone 1) Length (miles): 4 Grade: Leisurely
Finish point: The Charles Dickens pub nr London Bridge station (zone 1)
Drop out: various

Tuesday 30 August
7pm Summer Parks
Leader: Clare (07800 833797) Terrain: Urban and parks
Meeting point: St James’ Park Tube (zone1) Length (miles): 3 Grade: Leisurely
Finish point: Notting Hill Gate Tube (zone 1) Drop out: various
Note: walk goes through through St James Park, Green Park, Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens.

Friday 19 August
7pm Evening Stroll: Highgate to Hampstead
This is an evening stroll around Hampstead Heath taking in panaramic views of central London from Parliament Hill.
Leader: Brian (07714 662487)
Meeting point: Highgate tube station (Zone 3). Meet at the exit barriers at the top of the escalator.
End Point: The Holly Bush pub in Hampstead. Not far from Hampstead underground station on the Northern Line. (Zone 2/3)
Length: 3 miles
Dropout: numerous
Pace : Moderate/leisurely

The centre has a stunning array of wildlife to see and makes a great setting for a walk for you, your friends and your family. There are guided walks, bird feeding tours and much more.

The walks are a great way to get fit, get active and get to know more about the natural world. Discover wildflowers, duckling, reptiles or try out Nordic Walking all in London and all for free!

Visit the website for more details.

Get Walking Keep Walking has just released its third year report showing just how much the project has achieved in South London over since 2008. Incredibly, over 4,500 people have taken part in the project (33% of those taking part in led walks and 67% receiving walking packs and pedometers) and the project continues to grow. Below are a few facts and figures from the report:

Diversity

The report found that 23% of beneficiaries are male

The majority of participants are from non-white backgrounds; 38% of South London beneficiaries are from a BME background compared to the area population of 28%.

Children and Young People

GWKW South London has worked with a lot of young people, with 20% of participants aged 25-34. Through its children’s programme the project has also worked with 500 children.

Wellbeing

Overwhelmingly, beneficiaries reported that as a result of participating in GWKW they were more likely to feel happy, engaged, energised and motivated. They also said they were less likely to feel lonely and depressed as a result of walking.

Keep Walking

On average, beneficiaries were more active after participating in GWKW South London with participants reporting that they walked on average of 1.2 days more a week.

Also the study found that participants walked 63.4 minutes more per week.

For more information and to see the full third year report click here

Get Walking Keep Walking has just released its third year report showing just how much the project has achieved in East London over since 2008. Incredibly, over 4,500 people have taken part in the project (35% of those taking part in led walks and 65% receiving walking packs and pedometers) and the project continues to grow. Below are a few facts and figures from the report:

Diversity
The report found that 29% of beneficiaries are male
The majority of participants are from non-white backgrounds; 49% of East London beneficiaries are from a BME background compared to the area population of 40%.

Children and Young People
GWKW East London has worked with a lot of young people, with 20% of participants aged 25-34. Through its children’s programme the project has also worked with over 700 children.

Wellbeing
Overwhelmingly, beneficiaries reported that as a result of participating in GWKW they were more likely to feel happy, engaged, energised and motivated. They also said they were less likely to feel lonely and depressed as a result of walking.

Keep Walking
On average, beneficiaries were more active after participating in GWKW East London with participants reporting that they walked on average of 1.2 days more a week.

Also the study found that participants walked 70.2 minutes more per week.

For more information and to download the full evaluation report

These led walks are free and open to everyone; just turn up at the time and place and join in!

To download a timetable of free walks in the Royal parks click here

If you would like to find out more about the Walk in the Park scheme please contact:

Tom Moulton
Scheme Coordinator
Tel: 02073398535
Email: thomas.moulton@ramblers.org.uk