London Borough of Ealing walks

The good thing about London is that you do not need to go far to track down some exceptionally decent walks. Take Horsenden Hill for instance: who would have thought that you could walk through meadows, a farm, a forest and along a Canal, all within a London postcode and accessible by tube? And you can! A walk through Horsenden Hill will definitely make you forget you are in the city.

The Brentford to Hanwell canal walk is a gentle stroll perfect for a quiet day out in London to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Accessible by train on the TFL network, this Oyster Card-friendly ramble takes you to the Grand Union Canal towpath, from a seventeenth-century manor house to a viaduct. There is so much to discover on our doorsteps!

This is a short urban walk exploring the 'lost landscapes of Middlesex'. I was recently introduced to a secret park which I never knew about, and realised this must be the summit of the original Sudbury Hill before it was swallowed up under the tide of suburban housing. The walk visits Elm Park and also takes you past the Harrow School sports fields. It starts and finishes near Harrow School, Harrow-on-the-Hill.

This is a short urban walk exploring another of the 'lost landscapes of Middlesex'. The Yeading Brook rises at Headstone Manor and can be tracked all the way to Ruislip Gardens. This walk starts and finishes in West Harrow, and follows the most attractive section of the river through two pretty linear parks : The Yeading Brook Open Space and Streamside Recreation Ground.

The Wealdstone Brook is one of the lost rivers of Middlesex. It's a short urban walk, one of my 'lost landscapes' routes around the Harrow area. Ironically, there is no trace of the river left in Wealdstone itself, where it has all been culverted. However, it meanders very prettily through Woodcock Park in Kenton, surrounded by grassy banks and willow trees. This is the best bit! There are further glimpses of it along the route of this walk.

These two London Underground stations are less than a few kilometres apart, which is shorter than the open-air route that follows the course of the Thames, first on the north side on the left bank and then on the south side on the right bank between Hammersmith Bridge, Battersea Power Station, the London Eye and Jubilee Bridge.Although mainly urban, the route does offer a few tree-lined sections, particularly in the two parks it passes through.

This walk tells the story of bridges and footbridges crossing the Thames and the Grand Union Canal. It also tells the story of two locks: Richmond Lock on the Thames and Brentford Lock, at the junction of the Thames and the Grand Union Canal.The original plan was for the route to follow the Thames between Richmond Lock and Kew Bridge, but as part of the towpath has collapsed, the route has been diverted to the other side of Old Deer Park and Kew Gardens… making the walk a little noisier! Whilst the stretch around the 4.5 km mark is rather gloomy, the start of the Grand Union Canal offers a glimpse into life on the houseboats.Syon Park and its castle, as well as Isleworth Church, are two unexpected gems on this route.

This is the first section of a 12 mile walking route which follows the River Pinn from Pinner to Uxbridge. Of all Middlesex's 'lost rivers' the River Pinn is perhaps the most visible.

This last walk describes a route from one end of the Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames to the other. It traverses many of the borough's parks and commons and shows how they can be linked by footpaths to form an impressive 15-mile country-style walk we proudly present as "Richmond's Green Trail".

An interesting walk along the Duke of Northumberland’s river from the Meadway in Twickenham, through old Isleworth, to Syon Park. The attractions in Syon Park include the house and gardens and one of the largest Garden Centres in the country. A short extension to Kew Bridge following a brief section of the Grand Union Canal with its docks and then the Thames, is included. The Musical Museum and London Museum of Water & Steam can be seen on this section. Return is made by bus or train.

When the sun makes an appearance, we all want to venture outside. But where to go in London to have a pleasant stroll without melting? Well, a walk around Welsh Harp, also known as the Brent Reservoir, comes as a nice surprise. Not so popular (except if you live locally), the Brent Reservoir offers shade and fresh air. It’s a perfect place for a nice day out with friends and family.

This walk has as its focal point the Leg o’ Mutton Nature Reserve (Formally Leg o’ Mutton" reservoir). The walk uses some of the intriguing network of paved footpaths lined with small terraced houses and cottages, which is characteristic of this part of Barnes and Mortlake. Next the Flood Wall Walkway provides excellent river views and leads on to the towpath. The return via pond, green and Mill Hill gives a taste of the village aspect of Barnes, also of the rural scenery of the Common.

The Thames Path provides easy walking and interesting surroundings. The section from Barnes to Richmond covered by this walk also includes the option to Visit Kew Gardens and enjoy the riverside 'attractions' at Richmond.

The walk connects Richmond Park with Wimbledon Common by two different routes, over varied terrain and with a wide range of views without any retracing of steps. It includes some of the best-loved features of the Park and Common, such as Isabella Plantation, the Windmill and Pen Ponds with, by way of contrast, a short section through the exclusive residential area of Coombe. Three alternative routes are given across Wimbledon Common.

Don't want to venture too far from London to find a countryside walk? This is when the Dollis Valley Greenwalk makes an entry. This decently long walk through Barnet and Finchley is that good surprise as it takes you through what is left of former countryside fields in the Capital city.