Two waymarked circles round the city: the Capital Ring through inner London's parks, woods and old railways, and the London Loop through the green belt on the city's edge. Every section starts and ends at a station, so you can walk them one afternoon at a time.
Few cities have anything like them: two long, signposted walking routes that encircle the whole capital, linking the green spaces most visitors never see.
The Capital Ring, about 126 km in 15 sections, stays within inner and suburban London, typically 6–15 km from the centre. It strings together ancient woods, commons, old railway lines and riverside paths, and crosses the Thames twice: by the Woolwich foot tunnel in the east and at Richmond in the west.
The London Loop, about 240 km in 24 sections, runs near the edge of Greater London. It is more rural: farmland, chalk downs, river valleys and forests, with real countryside only an hour from Oxford Circus. Signs on both routes are distinctive: green and white for the Ring, a kestrel for the Loop.
Most people walk them a section at a time, from station to station, over months or years. Each section is a half-day or day walk with transport at each end and usually a pub or café somewhere along the way.
Two from each route, each an easy half-day from central London.
From Finsbury Park, the Ring follows the Parkland Walk, a disused railway line turned into a long green corridor, past old platforms and bridges to Highgate. It continues through Queen's Wood and Highgate Wood, remnants of the ancient Forest of Middlesex.
From Woolwich, the Ring climbs to Shooters Hill and through Oxleas Wood, ancient woodland with oaks and wild service trees, past Severndroog Castle, an 18th-century folly tower with a view over south-east London.
From Coulsdon South station, the Loop crosses Farthing Downs, open chalk grassland with ancient field systems and Saxon burial mounds, and views far across the North Downs. It feels like deep country, yet you are still inside Greater London.
The Loop's last sections run along the western edge of Epping Forest from Chingford towards the Lea valley, through old pollarded woods and across Chingford Plain. Combine with the Epping Forest walk.
Every section starts and ends at a Tube, Overground or rail station, all within London's contactless fare zones. Pay as you go works throughout.
Signs can be missing or vandalised in places. Carry the official section guides on your phone or a map app with the routes marked.
Many Londoners collect the sections over a year. Start with the four above, then fill in the gaps.
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Parliament Hill's skyline view, Kenwood and the ponds.
Ancient pollards, Connaught Water and High Beach.
The Tamsin Trail round London's largest royal park.
Narrowboats from Little Venice to Camden Lock.
Upriver from Richmond to the Tudor palace.
Stepping stones, chalk slopes and a vineyard lunch.
Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their Creative Commons licences.
