Where To Go Urban Hiking In London
By
2 weeks ago
Here’s your ultimate guide to this walking trend
Londoners love to bemoan the city smog, the tube dust, the overpopulation and the urbanisation of the British capital – but it’s actually the greenest major city in Europe. Despite its 3,000 public green spaces (making up about 20 percent of London’s footprint), though, plenty of Londoners flock to the home counties come the weekend to hike and ramble across more expansive green spaces; think Box Hill, the Chilterns and the classic Seven Sisters clifftop walk.
But if you’re stuck for time, something closer to home might be what you’re craving. Introducing urban hiking, the walking trend encouraging city dwellers get out and about, exploring the hidden green pathways in their cities. A younger sibling to TikTok-favoured ‘soft hiking‘, Merrell Hiking Club has been running urban hikes since its inception in 2021. A women-centric community of hikers and an off-shoot of the outdoor active footwear brand, below, we teamed up with Merrell Hiking Club to share exactly what you need to know before you embark on your next urban hiking adventure..
What Is Urban Hiking?
‘Urban hiking involves intentionally exploring city landscapes through planned routes that might include parks, green corridors, and historic neighbourhoods,’ says Carla Khouri, an outdoor instructor and the UK community lead at Merrell Hiking Club. ‘While there’s no strict definition separating a hike from a walk, hiking typically involves deliberately planning a route, often in new or unfamiliar areas, as opposed to casual walks to local shops or familiar parks. Urban hiking differs from traditional hiking by embracing urban environments rather than rural, rugged landscapes.’
What Are The Benefits?
‘Urban hiking offers numerous physical and mental health benefits while introducing an element of adventure into everyday life,’ Carla says. ‘When done in groups, it fosters social connections and can deepen engagement with the wider community. Perhaps most significantly, urban hiking allows us to appreciate the resilience of nature within city environments – plants and wildlife thriving despite what can be considered a challenging environment to live in.’
Is London A Good Place To Urban Hike?
‘London is, in my opinion, the best city for urban hiking,’ Carla says. ‘It’s my home town, and there are just so many green spaces that can make you feel like you’re out of the city. There are the obvious big parks like The Royal Parks in London, but there are also countless lesser-known green spaces that can be explored.’
Rasheed Araeen, Untitled The Line, 2025 Painted steel 183 x 183 x 183 cm. (Photo by Angus Mill)
Best Urban Hikes In London
The Line
- Estimated time: 4 hours
- Length: 7.7 km
- Transport: Central, Jubilee, Mildmay and Elizabeth lines, and DLR
London’s ready-made walk for art lovers, The Line is a public art trail that connects Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the O2. You can walk the trail in either direction, following the waterways and the Greenwich Meridian line. Along the route, there is art by Anthony Gormley, Yinka Ilori, Zineb Sedira and plenty more – not to mention Anish Kapoor’s now-iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit created for the London 2012 Olympic Games. There is an easy-to-follow map, blue and red markers along the route and plenty of cafes to stop at for refreshments, as well as an audio guide to find out more about the artworks you are seeing, including commentary from the artists themselves. Find out more at the-line.org
Epping Forest
- Estimated time: 2 hours
- Length: 4 km – or as preferred
- Transport: Central line
Epping Forest is one of the capital’s three Special Areas of Conservation. It sits on a ridge between the valleys of the River Roding and the River Lee. With over 8,000 acres to explore, there is a wide variety of walking trails, whether you’re looking for a gentle stroll or a more vigorous hike. All of the trails are well sign-posted, simple to follow and start close to car parks and/or train stations. There is even a GPS-enabled app with 20 trails ready to follow. Find out more at efht.org.uk
New River Path
- Estimated time: 1.5 hours+
- Length: 4.8 km+
- Transport: Northern line and National Rail
The New River Path stretches for 45 km from Hertfordshire to Islington – so we are not suggesting you walk the whole thing. Following the course of the 17th century aqueduct, the New River, which was created to funnel clean water into London, 18 km of the total stretch lies within London, passing through Enfield, Haringey, Hackney and Islington. The southernmost stretch takes walkers from Alexandra Palace down to Angel via Stoke Newington. Between Canonbury and Islington, there is a lovely stretch that trails alongside the New River itself, now a shallow stream that attracts peaceful water birds (don’t forget your binos for some birdwatching).
Find more of our favourite London walks here.
Urban Hiking: The Kit List
‘The beauty of urban hiking lies in its simplicity,’ Carla says. ‘Unlike remote wilderness treks, you don’t need a lot of gear as there’ll likely be easy access to transport and help if needed. Focus primarily on comfort, especially for your feet. A quality pair of walking shoes or trainers will allow you to walk for miles.
‘I love Merrell’s SpeedARC Matis shoe for urban hiking,’ Carla recommends. ‘Appropriate clothing is also important. Even on sunny days, it’s wise to pack a lightweight raincoat in your bag so you’re always prepared for Britain’s unpredictable weather.’
Gorp core summer has officially landed. Here’s the C&TH urban hiking kit list.
Merrell
The SpeedARC Matis GORE-TEX® is not only waterproof but bouncy enough to propel you across a whole hike.
£190
BUY NOW
Antler
There is 28L of space and plenty of capacious pockets in this lightweight backpack, perfect for full-day adventures.
£98
BUY NOW
Barbour
If the weather is looking a little fickle, the Barbour Ballina Check Showerproof Jacket has you covered. With an oversized silhouette and stylish check pattern, it’s gorpcore but elevated.
£229
BUY NOW
Alltrails
Wherever you hike, the Alltrails app has thousands of trails, with live GPS directions and available to use offline.
Free–£2.99/month
BUY NOW
on
This lightweight trail hat hides a moisture-wicking sweatband and adjustable inner webbing for both the hottest and windiest walks.
£60
BUY NOW
LANX
LANX’s Ogden hiker boot comes with all the support, stability, durability and grip we want from our hiking boots, while looking beautifully stylish, too.
£240
BUY NOW
ACAI
These skinny outdoor trousers put ACAI on the map for good reason: they are shower-resistant, ultra-stretchy and uber-comfortable.
£79
BUY NOW
BAM Clothing
Feel cosy yet airy in this light-weight, packaway gilet complete with a double zip and two zip hip pockets.
£39.60
BUY NOW
Ocean Bottle
Staying hydrated is always important, but Ocean Bottle also keeps ocean-bound plastic at bay.
£35
BUY NOW
Finisterre
Made with organic cotton, Finisterre’s workwear shorts feel so gorpcore with large pockets and a flattering cut.
£80
BUY NOW
Silva
Add some birdwatching into the mix with a pair of binos – it’s what all the cool girls are doing.
£45.99
BUY NOW
Merry People
For wetter walks, Merry People’s Bobbi Ankle Wellies are 100 percent waterproof with cushioned comfort and traction soles, available in a kaleidoscope of stylish colours.
£89.95
BUY NOWWant to venture further afield? Here are four walks that are accessible by train from London, all while feeling a world away from the big smoke.
