Best London Running Routes and Trails

Top London Running Routes
London is a big city, and some neighborhoods look definitely anti-runner: buses and cars pouring through, concrete as far as you can see, and your route blocked by traffic lights at every intersection. But, if you look off into the quieter side-streets, you'll find an astounding variety of big, beautiful parks, and lots of riverside and canal-side trails to provide you with a new inspiring run every day.

There is no city that can beat London's network of parks -- in size or quality. So I've compiled my own list of favorite runs here, that I hope will brighten your day as much as they have many of my own.

Green Park near Buckingham Palace

The Best London Routes
3-Parks Running Route:  This central London route takes you through a chain of three wonderful parks: Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James' Park.
Hyde Park Route:  This is the classic London route: looping through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
Embankment Run: Take this riverside view through the heart of London.
Notting Hill / Holland Park:  This elegant neighborhood near Bayswater, with its Georgian-era homes, is always an inspiration.
Regents Canal / Camden Town:  Regents Canal winds through several quiet, nice neighborhoods, from Paddington to funky Camden Town, with a crossing of Regent's Park.
Regent's Park Running Route:  This route loops the park and its many sports fields, and heads up Primrose Hill for a great view over the city.
Chelsea Route: This elegant neighborhood combines quiet side streets full of homey row-houses, lively Kings Road and a nice stretch of the Chelsea Embankment along the Thames.
Richmond Park Route:  Richmond Park is a sprawling piece of countryside on the southern edge of London, with lots of ancient trees and thousands of deer. And posh Richmond adds a nice contrast.
Greenwich:  This route winds through the storied center of Britain's nautical history, and hilltop Greenwich Park.
Hampstead East-Heath:  Hampstead is a Georgian-era village tucked into metro London, and it's bordered by its beautiful and hilly heath, criss-crossed with running trails.
Docklands / Limehouse: Here's a route directly along the Thames and past the various old harbor basins in this rejuvenated area of East London.
Heathrow, Harmondsworth Moor:  If you're stuck out at Heathrow Airport, try this run through Harmondsworth Moor and its variety of trails. A surprising oasis right past the runways!
Victoria Park / Regents Canal East: This route ventures into London's East End, with a fun combination of canal-side tow-paths and a loop around Victoria Park, one of the biggest green areas in the East End.
Wimbledon Common Trail Run: This rambling stretch of heath, woods, hills and ponds is a great place to explore a bit of British countryside and enjoy a nice trail run.
Royal Docks/ExCeL: The old Royal Docks on the far-eastern end of the city, have been redeveloped for such things as the ExCeL conference center, plus tourist attractions, flats, parks, industrial lots, the City Airport, and the Thames Barrier. Lots of variety on this run!

London Royal Victoria Docks Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 5.6 km (3.4 miles), terrain: flat

London Running Routes:
Best London Running Routes: Overview
Thames Embankment
Docklands-LimehouseRegent's Canal and Camden Town  
Hampstead Heath  
3-Parks Route: Hyde Park, Green Park, St. James' Park  
Regent's Park  
Hyde Park   
Chelsea
Heathrow Harmondsworth Moor  
Greenwich 
Richmond Park
Notting Hill
Victoria Park
Wimbledon Common Trail Run
Royal Docks/ExCeL Route 
Kew / Brentford Thames Run  
For more running routes, see Route List.

I might also call this route "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." The old Royal Docks area in the far east-end of London used to be a busy port. It landed all the food needed to feed the growing city. But after World War II, the docks were used less and less, and the mills and warehouses surrounding the big basins were abandoned.

Since then, the area has been largely revived, but it's still a mixed bag of impressive modern buildings, old neighborhoods, marinas, industrial lots, the City Airport, parks, a university, construction sites and flat-out ruins. In other words, this route provides some amazing variety.

Lots of water and variety on this run!

The area is also the location of ExCeL, one of London's biggest convention centers, with a lot of hotels around it. So if you're hanging out in the area, attending a conference, here's a run you should like.

This run circles the Victoria Docks basin, with a little parkside loop along the Thames added in.

NOTE: There is another basin, Albert, just east of Victoria, and I tried circling it too, for a bigger run. But it is in more precarious shape, with big sections still blocked off for future construction. After several multi-kilometer detours after being forced to turn around, I gave up. So this route makes-do with just the loop around Victoria basin.

The Royal Docks were the main shipping docks for London in the early 20th century, one of the busiest ports in the world. It was mainly used for the import of food, with refrigerated warehouses lining the long, tide-free basins. Declining after WWII, they finally closed in 1981.

The area is served by two branches of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), an elevated track that winds its way through the East End. In fact, four stations line the route directly. So you can get there easily from the City of London.

Start of the run at the western ExCeL entrance

We'll start the route at the main entrance of ExCeL, the Western Terrace. But you can, of course, start anywhere you please.

Standing there at the big square at the entrance, you can see what a great job has been done reviving the docks, at least this one: Royal Victoria. Modern achievements of architecture and technology surround you: the massive ExCeL building, a couple of hotels, some old warehouses converted into restaurants, statues, a floating hotel ship and the lofty Royal Victoria footbridge, which spans the basin.

The footbridge

We'll turn east, keeping the basin water to our right side, and run along the pedestrian promenade along the side of the ExCeL building.

A dog show has just ended at ExCeL: heading east

Keep going till you finally pass ExCeL. You'll now pass a couple of hotels.

Straight ahead, you'll see a car bridge crossing the basin, the Connaught Bridge. There is a little separate pedestrian bridge next to it, so take that and run south, across the basin.

Crossing Connaught Bridge

At the other side, cross under the car bridge and continue southwards. London City Airport is directly across the fence to your left, and you'll likely see/hear a jet or two as you go by. The airport was one of the first attempts to re-purpose the docks. Its one runway is squeezed between two basins.

London City Airport along Albert basin

You'll need to cross two roundabouts until you reach the south side of N. Woolwich Road.

The DLR tracks are right above you here. Now turn right and run beneath the tracks through the nice pedestrian park-scape.

Under the DLR tracks along N. Woolwich Road

Continue westwards until you come to the Pontoon Dock station above you, at the 2-kilometer mark. The Thames Barrier Park is just to the left, behind the station, so let's loop through it. Head to the left through the parking lot and take one of the stairs or the ramp up to the park.

Relaxing greenery in the park

You can loop the park, which lines the Thames River. It also gives you a great view of one of the architectural marvels of London: the Thames Flood Barrier, stretching across the whole river. It looks a bit as if someone tried to build another Sydney Opera House on top of a bridge.

The Thames Barrier at low tide

Loop back to Pontoon Dock Station again, now the 3-kilometer mark. And continue westwards for about 300 meters until you come to Mill Road, turning north (to the right). Head northwards up Mill Street, past old, working-class homes towards a big smokestack straight ahead. Nice new apartments have been built to the left side: great location!

Along Mill Road

On the right side, the huge industrial ruins of the Millennium Mills opens up. The area is fenced off, with a big sign declaring "London's Atelier", but this grand vision never got off the ground.

The Millennium Mills ruins

Continue straight ahead to the water. You're now at the south shore of the Victoria basin, and there are a few outdoor restaurants here, and the other end of the footbridge.

Turn left and continue running westwards along the waterside, with nice waterfront homes and huge, leftover cranes lining the water, passing the 4-kilometer mark.

The promenade, with landing jet

Keep running along this nice promenade till you get to the west end of the basin. This is the liveliest part of the area, with water-skiing, floating bars and nice places to relax. This is definitely the spot to hang out on nice evenings!

Water skier shows how it's done

Now head north along the western shore, and you'll see the crystalline shape of a modern glass building on the left, called -- naturally -- the Crystal.

At the cable car station

And just past it is the Emirates cable-car ride that constantly transports people up and over the Thames, taking them next to the O2 Dome in Woolwich.

Now you're back at the north shore of the basin, at the Royal Victoria DLR station. So all you have to do now is turn right and head eastwards towards the starting point, running past a few of the convention center hotels.

City of London Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 7.3 km (4.5 miles), terrain: flat, 50-meter gain

London Running Routes:
Best London Running Routes: Overview
Thames Embankment
Docklands-LimehouseRegent's Canal and Camden Town  
Hampstead Heath  
3-Parks Route: Hyde Park, Green Park, St. James' Park  
Regent's Park  
Hyde Park   
Chelsea
Heathrow Harmondsworth Moor  
Greenwich 
Richmond Park
Notting Hill
Victoria Park
Wimbledon Common Trail Run
Royal Docks/ExCeL Route 
Kew / Brentford Thames Run  
For more running routes, see Route List.
I've been to London more often than I can remember. And every trip there I've sought out quiet backstreets and the wonderful parks available. But this last trip I suddenly realized that I've never run the City of London, the old heart of this great city. So, I made up for that and ran it one nice evening just as all the office workers were getting off work and either rushing off towards one of the many commuter train stations, or heading off in groups to their favorite City pubs.

And I found I enjoyed the run a lot. I had to dodge cars and pedestrians, but I visited many of London's most historic spots. And it's even fun to pass by one pub after another filled with groups of colleagues capping off the day with a cool pint.

For this run, I've tried to zig-zag past the main sights and the interesting hidden lanes, and then head back along the Thames embankment. It includes such sights as St. Paul's Cathedral, the Guildhall, Mansion House, the Royal Exchange, Leadenhall Market, modern architectural jewels like Lloyd's and the Gherkin, some Roman city walls, St. Katherine's docks, the Tower Bridge, the Tower, and perhaps the biggest star, the Thames itself.

London City Running Route
So, if you're ready to discover the heart of one of the world's most fascinating cities, get yourself to the St. Paul's tube station, where Cheapside and St. Martin's-le-Grand come together.

NOTE: This reminds me that London City contains a lot of strange church names: St. Botolph-without-Aldersgate, St. Mary Axe, St. Botolph-without-Bishopsgate, St. Andrew Undershaft,
St. Peter-Upon-Cornhill, St. Botolph-without-Aldgate (aren't they overdoing it with all these St. Botolph-withouts?), St. Katherine Cree, St. Martin-within-Ludgate (finally a "within"), St. Ethelburga's, St. Stephen Walbrook, St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe (is there maybe another one by the chest of drawers?). These old churches add a note of medieval London to neighborhoods which are often full of modern office towers.

St. Paul and his cathedral, as seen from the gardens

OK, so let's face south at the tube station and run the 100 meters to the little fenced garden behind St. Paul's Cathedral. If the gardens are open, run through the gate and head east past the church towards the front doors. If the gardens are closed, just run next to the fence.

Wedding photos on the St. Paul's steps

At the front facade, with its huge columns and doors, keep running a circle around the church and get back to the back side again. Just keep running east through Festival Gardens and into Watling Street.

Run east on Watling, and one block past Bread Street, turn left onto narrow Bow lane.

Bow Lane

Now you're running north until this lane ends (you're back at Cheapside again). Now turn right, then left onto King Street so that you run straight into the square in front of the Guildhall. This square was the site of the Roman amphitheater of old Londinium. The old Guildhall has a lot of interesting details, but it has been heavily modified with modern additions.

The Guildhall

Exit the square to the east and run to the next street, Basinghall, then turn right, then left again on the next street, Gresham.

Now you just run to the next corner, then turn right again, onto Old Jewry.

Old Jewry ends at The Poultry (did I mention that the street-names are equally entertaining?)where you turn left and run towards one of the greatest intersections in the City. On the right is porticoed Mansion House, the home and office of the Lord Mayor. And across the street is the massive, fortress-like Bank of England. A statue of Wellington on his mount dominates a triangular plaza between them, in front of the Royal Exchange. Traditionally, all royal proclamations are read by a crier from its steps.

Out front of the Bank of England

Bank tube station is located below the intersection, with people constantly appearing and disappearing into the station stairways.

Keep that plaza to your right and run northeast up Threadneedle, with the Bank of England to your left.

When you pass the Royal Exchange building on the right, you'll see a little shady plaza, where you turn right and run southwards through it to Cornhill. The Royal Exchange is still owned by the  Worshipful Company of Mercers, who used it for trading goods. Originally, stockbrokers weren't allowed inside because of their rude manners, so they had to meet in a nearby coffee house. The present building now houses a restaurant and boutiques in its giant atrium.

Inside the Royal Exchange

Now turn left and run a few short blocks until you see a church on the right, St. Michael's. Turn right to run up the narrow St. Michael's Alley to the right of the church-tower. At the end of the short alley you'll find one of the great old pubs in the City, the Jamaica Wine House. This little one-story red-sandstone building has a lot of character and should definitely be on your list for places to come back to when you're done with your smelly track shoes. After work, the alley is full of relaxed beer drinkers celebrating the end of the business day.

At the Jamaica Wine House

Turn left, then right, then left again to exit the maze-like alleys and come out onto Gracechurch Street. There, you'll see the impressive entrance to Leadenhall Market across the streeet, on the left.

Leadenhall Market

Run into the market, and cross it. This beautiful example of Victorian covered-market architecture is full of restaurants and pubs nowadays. On the east side of the market, you'll be running behind the strange, modernist headquarters of Lloyd's of London, the insurance brokers. The building has its elevators, pipes and conduits on the outside of the facade, wrapped in stainless steel pipes.

Lloyd's from behind

Run past Lloyd's, then turn left on Lime Street, and you'll come out into a square surrounded by more modernist buildings: the Gherkin (30 St. Mary Axe) and the Cheese Grater (Leadenhall Building). St. Andrew Undershaft Church is on the corner, giving it a touch of tradition. The Gherkin is my favorite of the modern London sky-scrapers: it's oval form is like a piece of modern art.

Run through the square, keeping to the left, and you'll come to another beautiful old church, St. Helen's Bishopgate. From there you have a good view of the Gherkin.

The Gherkin behind St. Helen's Church

NOTE: This brings us to another quirky thing about London: they give all their skyscrapers nicknames, like the Shard, the Cell Phone, the Cheese Grater and the Gherkin.

Now run to the Gherkin, circle it clockwise and then exit eastwards along Bury street and then continue further eastwards along Leadenhall and Fenchurch.

Just before reaching St. Botolph-without-Aldgate, turn right onto Old Jewry and run south towards the River Thames.

At Fenchurch Street Station, follow Cooper's Row as it heads south under the train tracks. In a couple of blocks, you'll find yourself at Trinity Square Gardens and Tower Hill tube station. Turn left at Tower Hill and go down the steps towards the hulking Tower behind its walls.

The city wall with tourists and caesar.

To your left, you'll see a remnant of the old town walls, with the bottom section dating from Roman days. Now cross under Tower Hill street to face the Tower directly.

Turn left now to run past the north side of the Tower, going under Tower Bridge Road and into the wonderful confines of St. Katherine's Docks.

The three basins and their surrounding warehouses were once part of the sprawling system of docks and wharves lining this part of the Thames, when London was the biggest port in the world. A boat lock keeps the water inside the basins when the tide goes out in the river.

In St. Katherine's Docks

Run along the north end of the water, now used as a marina. At the old warehouse ahead, turn right to come out to the south basin. Now turn left and take the narrow footbridge, running past the Dickens Inn, then exit the area to the right, at the boat lock at the Thames.

Dickens Inn, always photogenic

You'll come out to the river, where you now turn west and head back towards St. Paul's along the Thames path.

Runners along the Thames

The amazing Tower Bridge is right ahead, and run under it to come out along the water side of the Tower itself. Enjoy this great old castle up close, then continue along the river. And the view across the river of Tower Bridge, the HMS Belfast and City Hall are also great.

The Tower Bridge

The idea here is to just run along the riverside, but there are a couple of construction projects which are currently blocking the river path in two spots, so you'll have to bypass them a block inwards for the time being. The block just west of the Tower is one of those. You get back to the water again before Custom House.

People relaxing outside the Tower

Now just keep running westwards, going under London Bridge and Southwark Bridge. At Queenhithe, you'll come to the only inlet still surviving on the Thames. You have to run around it, and here there is also construction going on, so it will be a couple of blocks before you can get back to the waterside. Along this part of the river, the banks are exposed at low tide and people go treasure-hunting down in the muck below.

One of the riverside pubs after work

When you get to the Millennium footbridge, we're almost at the end. The bridge connects the City with the Tate Gallery on the other side of the river, located in an ex power station.

Millennium Bridge and the Tate Gallery

Now turn north to head uphill towards the dome of St. Paul's. When you get there, run around the back side and further north to the tube station. What a lot of sights to pack into one nice run!

London Embankment Running Route

Click here for route map

Length 10.7 km (6.6 mi), terrain: flat and easy (gain 48 meters), some steps and loud intersections

One of my favorite places to be in London is along the Thames. The river is the city's streaming heartblood, flowing by as a constant witness to all the great events, people and places that grace its shores. 

View of the Shard with a Thames-side pub crowd

So, for me at least, there is nothing like taking a run along the riverside trails along both banks of the Thames. The embankments are lined with monuments, theaters, wharves, pubs, museums and almost everything that contributes to London's rich culture. And the network of bridges lets you switch from side to side at regular intervals. 

Along the Thames

This running route will explore the city center, passing a lot of the tourist spots that make London such a world-class destination. We'll start out in front of the Houses of Parliament, next to Westminster Cathedral, then cross the river to follow the south bank, past the London Eye, the Waterloo venues of the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the National Theatre, head past the Oxo Tower, the Tate Modern Art Museum with the Millenium Bridge, the recreated Globe Theatre, the replica of the Golden Hinde exporation ship, Southwark Cathedral and City Hall before crossing the legendary Tower Bridge.

Then, running home on the north side of the river, we'll loop through the marina in the old St. Catherine's Docks basins, and return to Westminster by way of the Tower, Custom House, passing St. Paul's Cathedral and Temple Gardens, running through graceful Embankment Park and then back to the start.

There are lots of other sights along the way: this is truly a run to remember, full of Victorian charm. The only downside is that there can be -- and probably will be -- big crowds of walkers in different sections. But 90% of the way will be stress-free, so I think it's well worth it. Otherwise, just slow to a walk when needed, and go with the flow and do a bit of people-watching. 

Oliver Cromwell statue at Parliament

So if you're ready to go, get yourself to Parliament Square, with the statue of Winston Churchill looming cantankerously above, and the main entrance to Parliament across the street. The Big Ben clock tower is right there, and Westminster Cathedral is off to the south, with the undulating Gothic facade of the Lady Chapel facing Parliament (and inside it's even more amazing, with an intricate laticework of stone artistry up in the vaulted ceilings).

Once you can tear yourself away from this fascinating spot, head past Big Ben and across Westminster Bridge to southern London on the other side of the river. We are already beginning some of the great riverside views which will accompany us for the whole run: Parliament itself reflected in the flowing water and the County Hall and the London Eye wheel across the way. Run on either side of the bridge, whatever looks more interesting to you. 

Running towards the London Eye

At the other side, take the steps down to the riverside trail and head northwards right at the riverside. You're now passing the County Hall building, which nowadays houses the aquarium and a lot of tourist attractions. We're following the Queen's Walk.

Now you run under the supports for the Eye, which barely moves in its half-hourly rotations.

And then, at the 1-kilometer-mark, you run beneath the Hungerford railroad bridge, with its modern footbridges added to each side, which connect people to Charing Cross on the other side.

The three theaters now come up as we approach Waterloo Bridge. They offer cafés, free afternoon entertainment in the lobbies and rooftop dining in non-corona times, and are worth coming back for a visit. Various food stands and pubs dot the trail around the square at Gabriel's Wharf. 

At Gabriel's Wharf

At the 2-kilometer-mark, the Oxo Tower will be visible coming up on the right: it's gone through a few incarnations, first as a power station, then as the Oxo beef-bouillon factory, and now it's a mixed-use place with stores, restaurants, a hotel and flats.

You should also be able to see the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral coming up in the distance across the river. Then you head under the Blackfriars car-bridge and then the railroad bridge.

Now comes the looming edifice of the Tate Modern Museum on the right, with its huge wall of dark bricks. It's another ex-power plant. The modernistic Millennium footbridge connects the Tate to the cathedral on the other side, making both much more accessible to walkers. Nice idea! 

Millennium Bridge, looking towards Tate

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre comes up right after that, with its Elizabethan theater architecture.

Now come a couple of more bridges: Southwark and Cannon Street railway bridge at the 3-km-mark. The trail leaves the river for a few blocks at the Anchor pub, along the narrow lane of Clink Street before you come to the replica of the Golden Hinde. The tiny ship, commanded by Sir Francis Drake, was the first English ship to circumnavigate the world, while raiding Spanish shipping along the way. The resulting treasure was brought back to England, starting the long process of Britain wresting control of the world's seas.

You now continue away from the river for a short way as you circle around the back side of Southwark Cathedral, a beautiful old church from the inside. Right behind it, at the railway viaduct, is one of my favorite markets: Borough Market, with lots of gourmet food to be found, of every variety. I used to work in the area, and it was a great place for lunch, open 6 days a week. And a few pubs line the back side to add a good English ale to the menu.

Now you run up the stairs and cross the busy A3 road at London Bridge, where the soaring knife's edge of the Shard building dominates the skyline. Run towards the bridge, then run down the stairs at the water's edge to the right to continue at the riverside.

Finally back along the water, the skyscrapers of the City of London glitter across the river. In 200 meters, I like to take a quick detour into the Hays Galleria, an ex-wharf where ships once pulled into a tidal-free basin to load and unload. There is a cool, weirdly whimsical sculpture group in the middle of the hall, the Steampunk statue. I'm always fascinated by the strangely British maritime characters.

Then continue running past the HMS Belfast cruiser, an impressive World War II beast, with the medieval Tower of London fortress across the river. We're now passing modern office buildings and the globe-shaped City Hall on the right side, a favorite hangout for all the office workers in the neighborhood.  

The Tower Bridge

And now we've finally reached it: the halfway point, time to cross the river at the iconic Tower Bridge, maybe the most photogenic bridge in the world.

Cross under the bridge and go up the steps to get onto the east side of the bridge, heading across the water. Take a close look at this gem of Victorian engineering, with its Gothic towers hiding the drawbridge-raising machinery, and iron links suspending the bridge below. 

Girl with Mermaid fountain

When on the other side, take the steps down to the ground level and we'll take a short detour to the east, past the Tower Hotel and the Girl and Mermaid fountain to take a quick tour of St. Catherine's Docks. This old dockyard has been restored into a modern marina, but still has its Victorian buildings and boat-locks. It's a quiet, relaxed oasis in the middle of this big city, at the 5-km-mark. 

At St. Catherines

Just circle the first of the 3 basins by running around the right side, past the Dickens Inn and all its flowers, then take the narrow foot bridge, run past the yachts to the Starbucks in the round temple, then head back out to the Tower Bridge the same way that you came in.

Running westwards, head under the Tower Bridge as we pass right by the waterside stone walls of the Tower, another relaxing spot. 

Gate at the Tower

Luckily, the modern buildings just past the Tower have included new foot-trails along the water, so a detour away from the river is no longer necessary here.

We'll soon pass the tree-lined grandeur of the old Custom House, and continue under London Bridge. The next section of the trail passes some waterside pubs, and if you're there in the early evening, they're full of business-people from the City, drinking a few pints with their colleagues after work. 

At Custom House

After passing under Southwark Bridge, you'll have to detour away from the water for the last time, as the path goes around the old harbor at Queenhithe. The quay goes back to Roman and Saxon days, although it just looks like a mudflat now. At low tide, people search the muck for treasures and flotsam. 

People treasure-seeking at Queenhithe

The trail rejoins the river at Paul's Walk, near St. Paul's Cathedral. You'll run under the Millennium footbridge again. 

At Paul's Walk

Back at Blackfriars Bridge, we're at the 8-km-mark. The section ahead is my favorite part of the route. Although we are now up at street-level for busy Victoria Embankment Road, there is a riverside promenade with the winding-fish streetlamps and with monuments and historic ships docked up for the rest of the way.

We'll pass the interesting legal complex in the Temple Gardens across the street, where jurists still (occasionally) run around in their powdered wigs.  

Along Victoria Embankment

Just before Waterloo Bridge, at 9 kilometers, we pass the stone elegance of Somerset House, originally built to bring a variety of Royal Navy offices under one roof, the first dedicated military office building in the world.

When we get to the Egyptian obelisk, Cleopatra's Needle, let's backtrack a few meters to leave the river for a short bit, crossing the street into Embankment Park. This charming slice of greenery has everything you need in a city park all packed into one compact space: monuments, flower beds, benches full of relaxing office workers, the ancient York Watergate, once the bishop's way down to the river from his palace.  

In Embankment Park

Behind the gate, you'll pass the outside seating for Gordon's Wine Bar, a fascinating old bar located in a vaulted-ceiling cellar.

At the west end of the park run right into the entrance to Embankment Tube Station (crowded!) and out the other side to cross Victoria Embankment Road again and to continue westwards under Hungerford Bridge and towards Big Ben.

We'll pass Scotland Yard at the 10-km-mark, and then other government buildings and more war monuments and historic ships.

At the Thames Clipper dock (I recommend you take them to Greenwich sometime!) the steps take you back up to Westminster Bridge, with Parliament and Big Ben right in front of you. Now just run back out to the square to your right and you've finished this amazing run!

London Regent's Park Running Route

Click here for route map 
Length: 6.2 km (3.8 miles), terrain contains one hill

London Running Routes:
Best London Running Routes: Overview 
Thames Embankment
Docklands-LimehouseRegent's Canal and Camden Town  
Hampstead Heath  
3-Parks Route: Hyde Park, Green Park, St. James' Park  
Regent's Park  
Hyde Park   
Chelsea
Heathrow Harmondsworth Moor  
Greenwich 
Richmond Park
Notting Hill
Victoria Park
Wimbledon Common Trail Run
Royal Docks/ExCeL Route 
Kew / Brentford Thames Run  
For more running routes, see Route List. 

Pictures taken in winter: I'll try to replace them after a repeat summer run!

Regent's Park is one of the many great running venues you can find in London. I just ran it again last week while working in the area. If you are staying in Paddington, Marylebone or Bloomsbury, this is the biggest and nicest green area to run around in. And combined with the neighboring Primrose Hill park -- with its great view over central London -- it offers variety and interest: beautiful gardens, athletic fields, lakes, a zoo, canal boats, bordered by elegant homes all around. Even in the winter (my last run here was at the end of February) the park is beautiful, and I was surprised at how many different kinds of flowers were blooming.

The Regent's Park neighbors

NOTE: see the Destinations Tips page for tips about spending your free time in this great town!
 
Like the other royal parks, Regent's Park is not open at night. It opens every day at 5 a.m. Closing time varies from 4:30 pm in Nov.-Dec. to 9:30 pm in May through July. For more details, check the park website at: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/the-regents-park/visitor-information/opening-times-and-getting-there

The Regent's Park/Primrose Hill Park Route
We'll start the run at the southwest corner of the park, near the Baker Street tube station. Baker Street runs into the park's bordering Outer Circle road at Clarence Gate. The long, thin Boating Lake stretches along the park edge here, with footpaths on either shore. So let's head towards the water and turn right before the footbridge, to run eastwards along the edge of the park, with the water to your left.

The Boating Lake, looking towards the Inner Circle

Across the water to the left you can see the buildings of Regent's College, sitting right in the park. The park land once belonged to a monastery, but was confiscated by Henry VIII and then used as a royal hunting grounds, but has been a public park for last 175 years.

Even in late February, you can find daffodils and crocuses in bloom

You will soon cross York Bridge road and keep running straight ahead, eastwards with the Outer Circle to your right. Before you come to the east edge of the park, turn left on the path leading through the formal Avenue Gardens, with its fountains and beautifully tended plantings. Run straight north on this path through the whole park.

Avenue Gardens

It later goes slightly uphill towards a gothic white-stone monument, passing the "Honest Sausage" café. You'll see the athletic fields stretching to each side. In warmer months, they're filled with people playing mainly cricket and (surprisingly) softball, but also rugby and football (soccer).

You'll soon see the London Zoo coming up on the left side. The zoo occupies the north end of the park. You will then run over a footbridge over the Regent's Canal, with a few narrow-boats moored along its banks. You can have some beautiful runs along Regent's Canal: to the east, the towpath goes to the Camden Locks in Camden Town, and to the west it goes to Little Venice, but that's another great run (see the Regent's Canal Route)!

Regent's Canal with narrow-boats

The park ends here at Prince Albert Road. Turn left and run the one block to where Primrose Hill Park begins on the right. Cross the street to the right to the park and take the path that heads diagonally through the park. Head up to the hilltop through the sycamores. This is the hardest work of the whole run. The hill is 256 feet (78 m) high. At the top, take a look around, you've earned the great view. You can see all of central London, with the financial towers of the City to the left, the BT Tower in the middle and the London Eye ferris wheel and the top of Big Ben towards the right.

View from Primrose Hill

Continue running down the west side of the hill, taking the path back towards Prince Albert Road along the west edge of Primrose Hill Park. Cross the street and follow the path straight ahead, with the zoo to your left. The path soon splits, and you can take either way. They both lead through the athletic fields towards the boating lake.

Longbridge

If you take the right-hand path, follow it along the lake as it curves to the left, and comes back together with the left-hand path at Longbridge, a footbridge over the lake. Cross the bridge and you'll come to the Inner Circle. This road is lined with villas from earlier days, and Queen Mary's Gardens in the center. This is the most beautiful, cultivated part of the park.

Daffodils in February

Turn right on the Inner Circle and run past the Open Air Theatre (Shakespeare in the park!) until you pass the Garden Café, where you turn left to take the path into Queen Mary's Garden. Follow the path along the right edge of the circle, past the beautiful wrought-iron gates, then run along the pond, then through the circular rose-garden. 

Queen Mary's Gardens Gate

After the rose garden, turn left to take the path back to the center of the gardens and then turn left again to head out southwards through the gates. You will come to the long arm of the boating lake again, but this time turn right to run along its north bank. When you get to the footbridge at Clarence Gate again, turn left and cross the bridge to leave the park.