London Embankment Running Route

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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!

Cardiff Taff Trail Running Route

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Length 14.9 km (9.3 miles), terrain: flat, one small hill, gain 54 meters

Cardiff, the capital of Wales, has a lot going for it, and one of the best things is its riverside parks along both sides of the River Taff. The Taff Trail extends right from Cardiff Bay, through the city, and then further north through 55 miles of scenic Welsh countryside.

This route follows part of that, heading through parkland on the north side of town. It's mainly pretty and quiet, but it still passes by a lot of great sights. We'll even start out making a small loop through the town center to see some of the most interesting stuff there before we head off along the river.

Bute Park trail

Cardiff was just a village until the coal mines were developed nearby, 200 years ago. Cardiff Bay then became the main port for exporting the coal to Britain and the world. So most of the town grew up in the industrial age, which you can see in its town center: it doesn't have much medieval character.

That said, Cardiff has one ancient gem right downtown: Cardiff Castle. This old fort goes back to the Roman days, and was restored during the Victorian era with fanciful towers and a palace, a fascinating sight from any angle.

Cardiff Castle sunset

And next to the castle, parkland was laid out towards the nearby River Taff, landscaped by Capability Brown. Bute Park gives the town a wonderful green heart.

So, let's get out and about and start discovering more of this great town!

NOTE: When I ran this one, a downpour hit, and I ended up soaked to the bone. I hope you have more luck!

Let's start out at the most interesting sight in town: the main gate at the castle, along -- you guessed it -- Castle Street. Before starting the run, you can walk into the gate to glimpse the insides, with its inner keep (tower on a mound) in the middle, and the palatial living quarters off to the left side. To go further, though, you need to pay.

The castle keep, built by the Normans

So now, turn east to run a quick loop through a scenic part of the town center. Run straight eastwards into Queen Street, which is a pedestrian shopping street, the main shopping area in town.

We'll just run three blocks through this lively but car-free street until you get to Park Place, a little side-street on the left, across from the Next department store.

Queen Street

Turn left onto Park Place and run the couple of blocks until you get to the zebra stripes at the busy street called Boulevard de Nantes. Nantes is the capital of Wales' Celtic cousin, Brittany, in France.

Now run straight across the park towards those grand buildings to the north: this is the government quarter, full of impressive, monumental city-, national-, and museum-buildings.

Cardiff City Hall

The Welsh National Museum is straight ahead and the huge Cardiff City Hall is next to it on the left, with the Crown Court building further to the left.

Keep running northwards along Museum Avenue, and you'll come to a green gardens on the left side and Cardiff University to the right, at the one-kilometer mark. Just run north through Alexandra Gardens, past war memorials, until it ends at the Welsh Government Buildings.

Now turn left and head west along College Road towards the sculpted, modern building in the distancew. Cross the busy street, North Road, and turn right to run to the north end of that rounded, modernistic building, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Bute Park: high road and low road...

As soon as you get past the building, turn left to enter Bute Park. You'll immediately cross a little canal that feeds the castle moat, where you can turn right and head north through the parkland ahead.

There are a few parallel paths that you could take: a narrow one raised up along the canal dike and a wide, paved one down to the west of it. This route follows the main path.

Keep left to stay near the river

When you come to some athletic fields, the trail forks, at the 2-kilometer mark. Stay to the left to be closer to the River Taff, hidden in the woods off to the left.

The trail then heads completely into the woods, with a stand of gigantic sequoias, and then comes to the riverside at Blackweir (a dam with a pedestrian bridge behind it).

Now just keep running northwards.

Blackweir on the River Taff

You leave Hume Park at a gate at a beautiful lodge at the 3-kilometer mark, and the parkland gets narrower and just hugs the river.

At the 4-kilometer mark, you'll go under the bridge for Western Avenue,

You'll then come to a second weir and scenic islands at the 5-kilometer mark.

The path then goes under another bridge (Llandaff Bridge) at Bridge Road, then heads past more athletic fields to the right.

At the north end of the athletic fields, the trail curves to the right and then splits: keep to the left-hand trail to remain near the river, and continue running northwards.

Along the trail

You'll run past some open fields. Then both the river and the trail turn eastwards at an electric transmission tower. The high-tension lines follow the trail for short time, as the trail comes to a train line, which crosses the river.

This railroad bridge is basically our turn-around point: we'll cross it and return along the other side of the Taff.

But first, it's interesting to take a short northern extension under the railroad bridge and then along the right side of a little stream next to the Taff.

Run along this quiet, natural section for just a couple of minutes to the 7-kilometer mark, and you'll come to an example of early Industrial Age engineering: the Melingriffith Water Pump. Built in the 1790s, it used a water wheel to power two pistons that lifted water up to a canal used to move coal towards Cardiff Bay. The pump was in service until the late 1920s.

Melingriffith water pump

It's hard to believe it, but this pump was once right in the middle of an industrial landscape of riverside mills and factories. Now everything here looks like undisturbed, virgin woods.

Now, we'll head back to town. So turn around and run the short stretch back to the railroad bridge. Now go up the steps and cross the bridge, and take the other steps back down to the riverbank.

The railroad bridge: cross and then take the steps down to the other side

Now just turn south, heading under the bridge, to follow this western bank south, back to town.

At first, it's a bit isolated out here, but soon joins a quiet road,  Radyr Court Road directly along the river. You're heading southeast.

Traffic increases after Llandaff Bridge merges, at the 9-kilometer mark.

The street then joins into Cardiff Road at a little roundabout, and the street starts going uphill (the only hill of the run!), with houses to your left.

In just a block, leave busy Cardiff Road to continue straight on Bridge Street, still running uphill.

Cathedral Green

The street takes you right into the Cathedral Green, a beautiful square overlooking the cathedral, which was built outside of town. Take a look downhill at the cathedral, past the ruins of an old tower.

Continue running a block southeast to the ruins of the Bishop's Palace, with its gardens out back.

Ruins of the Bishop's Palace

Now, turn left and head downhill, past the back side of the cathedral, where the trail turns right to stay along the cemetery at the 10-kilometer mark.

There is a pedestrian crossing over busy Western Avenue, then you enter more parkland, for the rest of the run.

Keep running southeast. This first section of parkland is called Llandaff Fields, with a few cricket fields.

After passing the first cricket field, turn left to follow a paved path to the playground, at the 11-kilometer mark.

At the playground, turn left to leave this park and connect into the next park at the river, Pontcanna Fields. The trail runs into a tree-lined promenade in front of the cricket fields beyond. We want to get back to the river on the other side.

The promenade

So now, turn right onto the promenade, but then take the first turn to your left to cross the fields and get to the river.

You'll come back to the river at Blackweir, which we saw earlier, at the 12-kilometer mark.

But we'll stay on this side of the river this time, continuing southwards.

You'll run past the National Cricket Centre, then pass the Cardiff Bowling Club. When you come to the next pedestrian bridge (painted red and white) at about the 13.5-kilometer mark, cross it back into Bute Park, the gardens next to Cardiff Castle. We're almost back at the start.

The stone circle

Now just stay near the river, pass the site of the old Blackfriars Abbey and then the Gorsedd Stone Circle. The circle isn't ancient, it was built to celebrate the National Eisteddfod Welsh cultural festival held here in town.

You can take one of the paths that go right up to the castle walls, if you'd like a closer look at this amazing structure and all its towers.

Castle towers

When you exit the park at West Lodge Gate, just turn left to head the few hundred meters along the Animal Wall on Castle Street, back to the Castle entrance.

If you liked that, you might want to try the Taff Trail in the other direction, heading south to Cardiff Bay on your next run!

London Brentford Thames Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 9.7 km (6 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.
The Thames riverside in London is lined by a chain of fascinating neighborhoods, most with a uniquely British feel. They range along the whole river, from the wide industrial horizons of the tidal surge in the east, at Woolwich, to the meandering, tree-lined mellowness in Richmond and Kingston in the west, with relaxed swans gliding past houseboats hung with window-boxes.

This route follows the Thames in the west, out past Hammersmith and Chiswick. On the one side is resurgent neighborhood of Brentford, where the smaller River Brent flows into the Thames. On the other side is elegant Kew with its famous Kew Gardens, one of the most impressive botanical gardens in the world. 

Houses along Kew Green

NOTE: Originally, I wanted this to be a Kew Gardens run, but then I saw the £16 entrance fee, and I decided to run behind the gardens, along the Thames instead. Kew Gardens is a wonderful spot, though, so make sure you get there sometime when you will have enough time to enjoy it.

This route begins at Kew Bridge, and then heads upriver to the west, heading out along one shore of the Thames, then returning on the other shore. There is a lot of variety: with nature, islands, houseboats, shipwrecks, canals, old shipyards and warehouses, a dam, parks and a big palace, Syon House.

Looking upriver along the route from Kew Bridge

So if you're ready to discover another cool corner of this great city, let's head off to Kew Bridge on South Circular Road. There is a nearby South Western Railway station and a couple of bus lines to get you there.

Cross the bridge to the south side, where Kew begins. Now, turn right to head west along the tree-lined riverside path.

NOTE: The pleasant neighborhood of Kew is worth running through, too, just south of the bridge. Go discover it sometime!

The start of the trail

Now run upstream along the Thames, first passing a group of houseboats. The wooded island of Brentford Ait lies in the middle of the river here.

The brick wall of Kew Gardens lines the way to our left. Unfortunately, we won't get any good views of the gardens from here, but the Thames itself is entertaining enough.

Most of this half of the run is full of nature, with woods lining both sides of the river.

After we pass Kew Gardens, at about the 2.5-km mark, it looks as if we're running along a narrow causeway, with water to both sides. This is the beginning of the golf course, which stretches off to the east.

The river now curves southwards and takes you by another wooded island, Isleworth Eyot. It kind of reminds me of Tom Sawyer country.

The obelisk in the Old Deer Park

You'll soon see a dam coming into view, Richmond Lock. That's where we'll cross the river and head back. Next to the dam on the left is a big meadow, the Old Deer Park, with its obelisk near the river trail.

Richmond begins right after that next bridge ahead, Twickenham Bridge, but that's part of the Richmond Park Run (try it!).

So let's go up the stairs to take the arched footbridge above the dam to Isleworth on the other side.

Richmond Lock

On the other side of the river, stay on the riverside trail, running westwards as we pass the 4-km mark. In a few hundred meters, it will turn left, away from the river, to go around a new, walled-in development. You'll come to Richmond Road, where you follow it northwards along the tall brick wall through Isleworth .

Beginning of trail in Isleworth

The road makes a sharp turn to the left at a little roundabout, then a little square follows a few steps later. Turn right at that square to continue northwards along North Street.

Crossing Isleworth Common

In just a few steps, we'll come to an open green square, the Isleworth Village Common. Cut diagonally across the square on the path towards the arched gate through the little shopping center. On the other side, you'll come to Church Street at the 5-km mark.

Start of Church Street

Continue northwards along the street, and we're now back at the river.

You'll pass a boat's ramp at All Saints Church, and then Church Street turns left to leave the river.

Along Church Street

In a hundred meters, you'll come to the entrance of the next highlight of the run: Syon Park. Turn right onto Park Road to go through the iron gates into this private residence belonging to the Duke of Northumberland. The house and lands are open to the public, and lots of visitors go there for a tour, and a Hilton Hotel is located across from the palace.

Syon Park meadows

The land used to be an abbey, and before that it was the site of a Roman village. Each year, a archaeological dig uncovers more of the site.

There are wide meadows at the beginning, then you'll pass Syon House, the duke's London home, at the 6-km mark. Keep going straight along the road, with the Hilton Hotel parking lot along the left side.

Syon House

The road will eventually exit the park at London Road, a pretty busy road which soon becomes Brentford's High Street. Turn right onto London Road.

But this road is a bit too loud for my taste, so when we cross the bridge over the River Brent, take the steps down to the right, leading to the tow path along the canal-like river.

NOTE: If you want to explore some more, you can also run the other direction, upriver along the Brent, past a quickly redeveloping area with some huge corporate headquarters.

The River Brent, from the High Street bridge

Heading eastwards along the Brent, you'll pass a long line of narrowboats and other houseboats at the 7-km mark. When you come to an old railroad trestle, turn right to go under the trestle and then back up the few steps over the dike to rejoin the tow-path. The tow-paths were used by men and horses in previous days to pull barges along the river.

Just before you come to a little harbor basin, the tow-path switches sides: you have to cross a narrow footbridge to the south side, then continue along the Brent until the next bridge.

Now turn left to cross the bridge along Dock Road, and head north away from the river. Dock Road will take you back to Brentford High Street in just a hundred meters, heading by some industrial businesses.

In Watermans Park

Back at busy Brentford High Street, turn right and continue eastwards. You'll see the huge brick water tower at the London Museum of Water and Steam farther down the road, near the end at Kew Bridge. The museum is located in a Victorian-era steam-powered pumping station, and the tower was used to keep the water pressure constant.

After passing Ealing Road and a McDonald's, you'll see Watermans Park to your right side, along the river. Run down into the park to continue running directly along the water.

There are some sunken boats along the waterfront here, across from Brentford Ait.

Cool old sunken steamship

The trail ends at the east end of the park, where you have to rejoin High Street again, for just a hundred meters. But you can get back to the river at the next little street on the right side.

Back along the quiet riverside, just keep running the few steps back to Kew Bridge, passing more houseboats and riverside pubs until you arrive at the old brick bridge.

There you are, another great London 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.