A-Z London Hidden Walks: Discover 20 routes in and around the city

Product Information

Another gem nestled in Richmond Park is the Isabella Garden, 40-acres of woodland inside a Victorian garden planted in the 1830’s. Shaughan has made two Podcasts based on this walk. Listening to either or both of them will give you an exceptionally good idea of what’s on the menu – what you get on the walk – and how it’s served up, the guiding. Here’s the Hidden London –Podcast 1. And here’s Hidden London – Podcast 2. HIDDEN LONDON TOUR PRACTICALS Mayfair might feel like an unlikely place to discover London’s secrets. After all, anyone who has ever heard of The Ritz and Green Park knows that Mayfair’s all about the old-school spenny glamour. By 18th Century standards that meant fluted columns reminiscent of the reason of Ancient Athens (or would it be the might of Imperial Rome?) and a ceiling that evokes the Sistine Chapel: Far above you on that high ceiling is an enormous mural painted by Sir James Thornhill that depicts heroic fragments of English history, kings, battles, inventions. Clear your mind’s eye and think of an old London pub – we’re talking really old. What does it look like? Which part of town is it in? Got it?

From Highgate to Canary Wharf, Ealing to Embankment, London Tree Walks reveals all kinds of great greens. The book features architectural, social, and natural history as well, so it’s a good one if you have a variety of interests. Just remember that if it ever comes down to us being contenders for the last table. St James’s Palace Once you arrive in Newington Green, there’s plenty of cafes and pubs nearby so you can grab a well deserved bite to eat (and a pint, go for it!).There are aquatic displays, musical instruments, ethnography, natural history – all thoughtfully curated and engagingly presented. It really is one of the most underrated things to do in London. Want to find them? Read our handy guide (hint: there’s a map to help you along with the task) Mercato Mayfair If you want to do this London walk, you can find the route, map, and photos on my Spitalfields walk blog post. Book a room in the West End at the Karma Sanctum Soho Hotel for prime accommodation near to Kingly Court. Brompton Cross

London has no shortage of hidden palaces (see St James’s above) but we guarantee that you’ve never seen one quite like Eltham Palace before. If you’re up for going on it, you can take a look at my Dulwich walk post for the route, photos, video, and map. Each of the 50 cards comes with instructions for a self-guided walk in London on one side and a detailed map of the route on the other. They include numbered stopping points, so they’re easy to follow.Many of these establishments are temporary pop ups with new eateries opening most months. There’s always something different so your tastebuds never get bored.

Though the likelihood of you accidentally stumbling across this pub are about 0.00001% it’s the fact that it’s so well hidden that makes it one of London’s best kept secrets. Something of an M25 - minus the cars and plus a whole load of beaut scenes - the London Outer Orbital Path (LOOP) is 150 miles long. If you want the best walks near London by train for summer, we'd suggest section 12; a route from Uxbridge to Harefield West along the Grand Union Canal, with Broadwater Lake, the marina and a stunning mill house making up the sights.

Hidden Gems in London

Next on my list of the best London walking books is 33 Walks in London That You Shouldn’t Miss. This book features unusual places and under-the-radar areas of London, so it’s ideal if you like getting away from the busy parts of the city.

This 70 mile walk encircles a loop of London – not in the centre, not on the outskirts, rather somewhere in the middle, passing through nature reserves and grand estates along the way. So it was pretty much a given that we’d love London’s largest legal street art wall – Leake Street Tunnel. On the way, you’ll take in the best of Richmond, from the little lanes to the Thames Path. At the end, you’ll have options for continuing your walk in whatever way suits your tastes.Underneath the behemoth that is Waterloo Station, in the bowels of the maze of arches that crisscross below the ground, you’ll find another of London’s cool spots – Leake Street Tunnel. Giro, The Nazi Dog's Grave - Situated just off the Mall in London, close to both the heart of British government and monarchy, lies the country's only memorial to a Nazi... a Nazi dog, that is. We need to take a little detour off the towpath, but we’ll rejoin after the private section at Lisson Grove Legend has it it’s the very spot Henry VIII awaited a signal to confirm that Anne Boleyn had been executed at the Tower. True or no – it’s a classic London viewpoint.