London – The Definitive Walking Guide

A guidebook of the leisure walking opportunities in Greater London. Details of nearly 300 self-guided trails are included, covering over 2300km. 80 named trails and over 200 shorter routes, all with information about the nature of the walk, its amenities, transport and mapping required.

The following books were still in print at the time of writing (all paperback unless shown otherwise):

25 Walks in and around London (Andrew McCloy, The Stationery Office, 1997, 116 pages, ISBN 0-11-495797-5, £8.99). Within and outside Greater London, distances 5.5 to 16.0km (3.4 to 10.0ml), circular and linear.

40 Walks from Ally Pally (John Twistleton, Fiennes Print, 2000, 58 pages, ISBN 1-903290-00-7, £4.50). Distances 1.5 to 32.0km (0.9 to 20.0ml) circular and linear, all starting and/or finishing at Alexandra Palace (Wood Green) in North London.

50 Walks in Greater London (Deborah King, AA Publications, 2002, 128 pages, ISBN 0-74953-340-4). Walks of between 2 and 10 miles long with details of places to visit along the way.

100 Walks in Greater London (Peter Rudd, The Crowood Press, 1996, 192 pages, ISBN 1-85223-951-4, £8.99). Within and outside Greater London, distances 4.5 to 16.0km (2.8 to 10.0ml), circular and linear.

American Walks in London (Richard Tames, Interlink Books, 1997, 198 pages, ISBN 1-56656-213-9, £14.95). Ten walks in Central London of particular interest to visitors from North America. Distances not indicated but stated to take less than two hours.

Country Walks around London (Geoff Garvey and Leigh Hatts, Mainstream Publishing, 1998, ISBN 1-85158-968-6). 25 walks spread around outer London and beyond, based on the London Transport system.

Discovering Country Walks in North London (Merry Lundow, Shire Publications, 1981, 72 pages, ISBN 0-85263-915-5. £3.95). 20 walks in various parts of North London, distances 5.5 to 14.5km (3.4 to 9.1ml), circular and linear.

Discovering Off-beat Walks in London (John Wittich and Ron Phillips, Shire Publications, ISBN 0-7478-0263-7, £4.99). A collection of walks through historic parts of London, down byways and past unsuspected treasures.

Exploring Enfield’s Country Parklands (Enfield Preservation Society, 2001, ISBN 0-907318-18-5, £1.50). This booklet and its companion map contain details of country footpaths in the north of Enfield borough, together with 12 suggested short walks.

Family Walks in West London (Caroline Bacon, Scarthin Books, 1994, 80 pages, ISBN 0-907758-72-X, £5.95). 2.4 to 9.6km (1.5 to 5.9ml), all circular and graded in order of difficulty.

Green London Way (Bob Gilbert, Lawrence & Wishart, 1991, 195 pages, ISBN 0-85315-746-4, £9.99). Grand circular walk around Inner London, linking many parks and open spaces – similar to the Capital Ring, but longer at 147km (92ml).

Greenwich Riverside Path (Mary Mills, M.Wright, 2001, 32 pages, ISBN 0953-5245-3-1, £1.50). Describing the 4.0km (2.5ml) section of the Thames Path from Cutty Sark to North Greenwich.

Hampstead Heath – the walker’s guide (David McDowall and Deborah Wolton, David McDowall, 1998, 176 pages, ISBN 0-9527847-1-8, £6.99). 10 walks around the heath, 2.0 to 6.2km (1.2 to 3.9ml).

In and Around London Walks (Brian Conduit, Jarrold Publishing, Pathfinder Guide, 1999, 96 pages, ISBN 0-7117-1055-4, £9.95). 28 walks from easy to challenging within and just outside Greater London, distances 4.0 to 14.0km (2.5 to 8.8ml), linear and circular.

London by Pub (Ted Bruning, Prion Books, 2001, ISBN 1-85375-4315, £10.00). 15 walks of 2.0 to 6.5km (1.2 to 4.1ml) around pubs in London.

London Theatre Walks (Jim de Young and John Miller, Applause Books, 1998, 234 pages, ISBN 1-55783-280-3, £9.99). 13 walks linking various groups of theatres in Central London, distances one hour’s walking to a full day, depending on browsing time, all linear.

London Theme Walks (Frank Duerden, Cicerone Press, 2001, 144 pages, ISBN 1-85284-145-1, £5.99). 10 fascinating walks based on popular themes.

London Walks Map (Andrew Duncan, New Holland, 1999, ISBN 1-85368-991-2, £5.99). Fold-out sheet printed both sides and containing maps and main points of interest for 30 walks in and around Greater London, distances 3.0 to 9.0km (1.9 to 5.6ml), linear and circular.

Louis London walks An expanding series of pocket booklets (each about 16 pages) describing themed walks devised by their author, Paul Garner. They each cost £1.99 plus 50p p&p and can be obtained from Louis London Walks, also some bookshops, tourist information centres and bookstalls in tourist venues. Currently they include: The Beatles in London Walk (Westminster, ISBN 1-902678-03-6), A Historical Riverside London Pub Walk (City/Tower Hamlets, ISBN 1-902678-05-2), Jack the Ripper Walk (Tower Hamlets, ISBN 1-902678-02-8), A Walk Through Princess Diana’s London (Westminster/Kensington & Chelsea, ISBN 1-902678-01-X), Sherlock Holmes Walk (Westminster, ISBN 1-902678-04-4), A Walk Around Charles Dickens’ London (City, ISBN 1-902678-07-9).

Pub Strolls in Middlesex & West London (David Hall and Rosemary Hall, Countryside Books, 2002, 96 pages, ISBN 1-85306-728-8, £7.95). 30 circular walks of 2.4 to 8.4km (1.5 to 5.3ml).

Richmond Park – the walker’s historical guide (David McDowall – also publisher, 1996, 136 pages, ISBN 0-9527847-0-X, £5.99). 11 walks around the park, concentrating on historical aspects. 2.0 to 14.0km (1.2 to 8.7km).

Rural Walks Around Richmond (various authors, Ramblers’ Association Richmond Group, £2.25 including p&p – cheque payable to M Sharp). One of the most popular walk books in London, describing many linear and circular walks all in the southwest sector of Greater London, distances 4.0 to 24.0km (2.5 to 15.0ml) with optional extensions.

Short Walks in London’s Epping Forest (Fred Matthews and Harry Bitten, Matthews Bitten Publications, c/o Epping Forest Information Centre, 1998, 52 pages, £2.40). 24 circular walks in various parts of Epping Forest within and outside Greater London, all around 5.0km (3.1ml) but interlinking to provide longer options.

Time Out Book of London walks (various authors, Penguin, 1998, 304 pages, ISBN 0-14-027897-4, £9.99). 31 favourite walks of 31 different celebrity authors in various parts of London, distances 2.0 to 46.0km (1.3 to 28.8ml), linear and circular.

Time Out Book of London walks – Volume 2 Similar to the above but price £11.00, published 2001.

Travelcard Walks in West London (Margaret Sharp, Mainstream Publishing, 2000, 185 pages, ISBN 1-84018-312-8, £7.99). 25 walks all over the western half of Greater London, distances 4.0 to 10.5km (2.5 to 6.6ml), linear and circular.

Village Walks in Middlesex and West London (David and Rosemary Hall, Countryside Books, 1998, 96 pages, ISBN 1-85306-528-5, £6.95). 20 walks visiting old villages on the north and west sides of Greater London, distances 3.0 to 11.5km (1.9 to 7.2ml), all circular.

Walking Haunted London (Richard Jones, New Holland, 1999, 160 pages, ISBN 1-85368-992-0, £9.99). 25 walks visiting places in various parts of London and nearby that are said to be haunted, distances 1.5 to 24.0km (0.9 to 15.0ml), linear and circular.

Walking Literary London (Roger Tagholm, New Holland, 2001, 192 pages, ISBN 1-85974-555-5, £9.99). 25 circular and linear walks in the range 1.6 to 9.6km (1 to 6 miles).

Walking London (Andrew Duncan, New Holland, 1991, 184 pages hardbound, ISBN 1-85368-073-7, £9.99). 30 walks in various parts of and just outside Greater London, distances 3.0 to 9.5km (1.9 to 5.9ml), linear and circular.

Walking London’s Parks and Gardens (Geoffrey Young, New Holland, 1998, 176 pages, ISBN 1-85368-469-4, £9.99). 24 walks around a selection of London’s open spaces, distances not shown but suggested timings range from 30 minutes to 4 hours, linear and circular.

Walking Notorious London (Andrew Duncan, New Holland, 2001, 160 pages, ISBN 1-85974-464-8, £9.99). Nine walks in Central London (all circular except two), distances 2.8 to 6.0km (1.8 to 3.8ml), highlighting the scandals and lowlife of yesteryear.

Walking Village London (Andrew Duncan, New Holland, 1997, 160 pages, ISBN 1-85974-271-8, £9.99). 25 walks visiting villages all over Greater London, distances 3.0 to 7.0km (1.9 to 4.4ml), all circular except one.