10 of the best winter walks in London

Winter is a magical time in London, when frosty leaves crunch underfoot, a cool mist descends on the River Thames and the long, dark nights are illuminated by bright city lights. If you want to avoid the crowds, it’s also one of the best times of year to explore on foot, with fewer tourists in town, and cosy pubs and cafés offering sanctuary from the cold when you reach your destination.

Whichever corner of the capital you decide to explore, there’s the option to make a day of it by planning a walk to coincide with a winter event or a visit to one of London’s free attractions (avoiding the queues you’ll find at other times of year). For example, you could finish a walk along the South Bank with a few hours spent gazing at the art in Tate Modern. Or you could make a beeline for Exhibition Road in South Kensington to visit the V&A, Science Museum or Natural History Museum. Alternatively, you could end a stroll around Canary Wharf with an hour’s skating on its popular ice rink in Canada Square Park. With a little planning, a walk in the West End could be complemented by a matinee performance of one of the big-ticket musicals.

Or you might prefer to escape the chill by hitting the shops at one of London’s renowned shopping destinations, including Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Covent Garden.

And when it comes to spreading the joy, be sure to check out the annual Burns Night celebrations on 25 January and the Chinese New Year festival in February (2026 is the Year of the Horse, in case you were wondering).

Of course, there are also plenty of opportunities to avoid the hustle and bustle and simply enjoy some time outside exploring the capital’s landmarks, green spaces or history and heritage.

To inspire your winter expeditions, here are ten walks from our vast collection of Ramblers routes. Collectively, these will transport you from Kensington Palace to Spitalfields and Hampstead Heath to Greenwich, via the capital’s West End and Royal Parks, with options for all abilities and cold-weather energy levels.

BEST FOR: Shopping, street performers and city views
DISTANCE: 6.8km/4.2 miles
DIFFICULTY: Easy

This gentle four-mile stroll across the West End starts at Oxford Circus underground station and passes through many of the capital’s most famous streets en route to St James’s Park and Westminster. Take this walk during the January sales and you can stop to pick up a bargain on Oxford Street or Bond Street before heading to Leicester Square, the home of London’s red-carpet film premieres. In February, this area of the West End hosts some of London’s Chinese New Year festivities.

Next stop is Covent Garden, where you can pause to enjoy its many traditional pubs, boutiques and street performers. From here, you’ll cross the River Thames on Waterloo Bridge, with panoramic views of the City of London, before following the South Bank past the Southbank Centre and Royal Festival Hall.

Crossing back over the river on the Golden Jubilee Bridges, you’ll pass through Horse Guards Parade and into St James’s Park, where a lakeside section guides you to Westminster and Queen Anne’s Gate.

BEST FOR: Nature, wildlife and royal palaces
DISTANCE: 7.5km/4.7 miles
DIFFICULTY: Leisurely

This walk starts with a trio of London landmarks, passing ‘Big Ben’, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, before crossing four of London’s eight Royal Parks on the way to Kensington Palace and ending at Bayswater tube station.

First up is St James’s Park, the oldest and most royal of the Royal Parks. Shaped by successive monarchs and bordered by three royal palaces, this is the home of ceremonial events in the capital, from royal weddings to state celebrations. As you walk along the banks of the lake, look out for the park’s famous feathered residents – six pelicans, which are fed outside Duck Island Cottage at 2.30pm every day.

Heading out of St James’s Park, you cross The Mall, passing the Victoria Memorial and Buckingham Palace to enter The Green Park – an oasis of calm created by King Charles II in 1660 for his daily ‘constitutional’.

After walking underneath the Wellington Arch (crowned by the largest bronze sculpture in Europe), you’ll head into Hyde Park, known as ‘The People’s Park’. Here you’ll pass The Serpentine lake, Diana memorial fountain and Henry Moore’s Arch sculpture on your way to Kensington Gardens. Once part of the Kensington Palace estate, they’re now open to everyone. There’s also the option of taking a tour of the palace, with its magnificent King’s and Queen’s State Apartments, at the end of your walk. Within the palace is apartment 1A – the London home of Prince William, Princess Catherine and their children.

BEST FOR: Nature, history and city views
DISTANCE: 5.9km/3.7 miles
DIFFICULTY: Easy

Starting from Golders Green tube on the Northern Line, this easy linear walk will transport you through the rambling woods and grassy meadows of Hampstead Heath, famous for its vast open spaces, rich history and photo-worthy views of London.

After leaving the streets of Golders Green to go into the green expanses of the Hampstead Heath Extension, you’ll head uphill through the shadowy woodlands of Sandy Heath and into the Kenwood estate. This grand residence, remodelled in the 18th century by architect Robert Adam and with gardens landscaped by Humphry Repton, was once the home of Dido Belle. Now cared for by English Heritage, its grounds, ornate interiors and impressive art collection – including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer – are free to visit.

From here you’ll reach a viewpoint overlooking the City of London, before coming off the heath and into the pretty streets of Hampstead village, famed for its literary, artistic and intellectual connections. Notable former residents include TS Eliot, Agatha Christie, Sigmund Freud and George Orwell, as well as several prime ministers.

BEST FOR: Ancient woodlands, musical heritage and views
DISTANCE: 7.9km/4.9 miles
DIFFICULTY: Easy

Although Highgate might be best known for its Victorian cemetery, where the resting places of notable figures including Karl Marx and George Eliot can be found among the tombs, this walk focuses on the woodland and parks around Muswell Hill.

From Highgate station, you’ll head straight into Highgate Wood and onto the Parkland Walk, before entering Alexandra Park up a covered walkway. This is the home of Alexandra Palace, or ‘Ally Pally’, which first opened on 24 May 1873 to provide entertainment and recreation for the masses, only to burn down after 16 days. Since reopening two years later, it has served as a theatre, refugee camp, ice rink, BBC TV station and popular venue for live music, hosting the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, BB King, Queen and Blur, among others.

While you’re here, pop in to admire the palace’s grand Palm Court and stop to enjoy the views over London outside, before heading back to the station via a network of paths through Queen’s Wood.

BEST FOR: History, shopping and culture
DISTANCE: 4.6km/2.9 miles
DIFFICULTY: Leisurely

This historic neighbourhood took its name from St Mary Spittel, a nearby priory and hospital built in 1197 and demolished after the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.

After leaving Shoreditch High Street station you’ll head onto Brick Lane, passing its colourful cafés, restaurants, bars and art galleries, along with The Old Truman Brewery – once London’s largest, now reinvented as a community space.

Turning onto Whitechapel High Street you’ll pass the Whitechapel Art Gallery, which exhibits contemporary works, along with the White Hart Pub, said to have connections to none other than Jack the Ripper.

On your way back to the station you’ll enter Old Spitalfields Market, where stallholders have plied their trade for more than 350 years, along with Dennis Severs’ House – a unique time capsule, dressed as it might have looked during its Georgian heyday.

BEST FOR: Maritime heritage, modern architecture and riverside paths
DISTANCE: 4.7km/2.9 miles (optional 2.5km/1.6-mile extension)
DIFFICULTY: Easy

Nestled in the horseshoe meander of the River Thames, and once the bustling trading heart of London (until the shipping industry moved out), the city’s Docklands have since been reinvented as high-rise financial and residential districts.

This loop around the regenerated area takes in Canary Wharf, West India Docks, Blackwall Basin and Millwall Docks, passing sculptures, statues and architecture spanning three centuries along the way. Among the high-rise office blocks that now dominate the skyline around Canary Wharf is One Canada Square, a 50-storey skyscraper topped with a glass pyramid, which is the UK’s third tallest building after The Shard in London Bridge and 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London.

Also on the route is 25 Bank Street – former home of Lehman Brothers, the US investment bank that collapsed spectacularly in 2008, dealing a massive blow to the area and sparking the global financial crisis.

Take this walk in the last two weeks of January and you’ll enjoy seeing Canary Wharf transformed into a dazzling open-air exhibition of lights during its annual Winter Lights festival.

BEST FOR: Maritime heritage, astronomy and historic houses
DISTANCE: 6.8km/4.2 miles
DIFFICULTY: Easy

This walk starts at Island Gardens DLR station on the north bank of the Thames, where you can enjoy views of Greenwich before walking under the river using the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. On the other side, you’ll emerge by the Cutty Sark, a 19th-century tea clipper built to transport tea from China. Today, it’s dry docked, and you can (for a fee) walk the deck and venture below its copper-clad hull to learn about its history.

From here, you’ll go through Greenwich Market and on into Greenwich Park, where you’ll find the Royal Observatory – home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian line, placing Greenwich at the centre of world time and navigation. Housed in a large white dome above the building is the Great Equatorial Telescope – one of the largest refracting telescopes in the world, which was used to measure ‘double stars’ and calculate the mass of these distant suns.

Just a short walk away is the National Maritime Museum, where you can discover stories of intrepid global exploration, maritime treasures and family-friendly galleries. Next door is the Queen’s House, a luxurious 17th-century palace of pleasure created by architect Inigo Jones for the royal court, now with an extensive art collection on display.

BEST FOR: History, architecture and shopping
DISTANCE: 5.2km/3.2 miles
DIFFICULTY: Leisurely

Starting at Clapham Junction, one of Europe’s busiest railway stations, this walk will take you through old Battersea and over the Thames to historic Chelsea, on the way to Knightsbridge’s grand hotels and luxury boutiques.

Notable places you’ll pass en route include Battersea Square, the original heart of old Battersea, and the Chelsea Physic Garden – London’s oldest botanic garden, which was founded in 1673 to study medicinal plants and their uses. Just beyond this is the National Army Museum, followed by The Royal Hospital Chelsea. Designed by Christopher Wren and opened in 1692 to provide a home for soldiers ‘broken by age and war’, the hospital is still home to the Chelsea Pensioners – a group of distinguished veterans of the British Army.

From here you’ll follow Sloane Street, passing the pretty Cadogan Place gardens, to reach Knightsbridge – one of London’s most exclusive districts and home to luxury department store Harrods.

BEST FOR: Bargain hunting, royal palaces and celebrity spotting
DISTANCE: 5km/3.1 miles
DIFFICULTY: Easy

Expect history, nature and the possibility of seeing a local celebrity on this circular walk, which goes from the leafy streets of Notting Hill and on to Kensington Gardens, then back via the green expanse of Holland Park.

After leaving Holland Park station and going north into Notting Hill, you’ll find yourself on Portobello Road, home to the world’s largest antiques market, which runs the length of the street every Saturday. Even on non-market days, this is a good place to hunt for treasures in the independent antique, art and vintage clothing shops.

From here, you’ll go to Kensington Gardens, passing a statue of Queen Victoria on your way to the palace where she was born. Now cared for by Historic Royal Palaces, Kensington Palace is open to visitors, with a permanent exhibition in the rooms where Victoria was raised.

This walk ends in 54-acre Holland Park, which features the enchanting Japanese-style Kyoto Garden, a Dutch Garden and an open-air theatre, which hosts opera during the summer months. It’s also well worth taking a short detour to visit the Design Museum.

On your way back to the station, keep your eyes peeled for the area’s famous residents, including David and Victoria Beckham, Elton John, and Jimmy Page, among others.

BEST FOR: Wildlife, nature and views
DISTANCE: 7.3km/4.5 miles
DIFFICULTY: Leisurely

Known for its rich history, elegant Georgian architecture and beautiful parks, Richmond is one of London’s most attractive boroughs. In the past it was a favourite retreat for royals, including Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and George III. 

Starting at Richmond station, this walk takes you through the town and along the banks of the Thames to Richmond Park. Spread over 2,500 acres, this is London’s largest Royal Park and a National Nature Reserve, providing a haven for fallow and red deer, along with rare or endangered species such as stag beetles, bats and moths.

Working your way through the park, you’ll venture up King Henry’s Mound, where you can enjoy views over London all the way to St Paul’s Cathedral in the City.

On your way back to the town centre, you’ll also be treated to beautiful vistas over the Thames from Richmond Hill – famous for having the only view in England that’s protected by an act of parliament. From here, a path through the Terrace Gardens – a formal garden with seasonal bedding, a rockery and rose garden – will lead you towards the riverside, Richmond Green and the station.