Best Running Routes in London

Running is a great way to keep fit, burn off any extra calories and can help you stay healthy in both body and mind. Unusually for such a large city, London is blessed with numerous excellent running routes and even in the middle of the urban jungle it's usually quite easy to find somewhere quiet to escape to and exercise. Whether you are an experienced athlete or a casual jogger, one of London's many running routes will have the ideal conditions for you.





Richmond Park is one of the most popular running routes in London and with good reason - its perimeter, often known as the Tamsin Trail, is 11km long and offers a good run for athletes of all levels. The trail's surface is a mixture of hard-packed sand and stone which offers plenty of grip without the impact being too hard on knees and ankles. There's also the option to go off the track and explore the park's interior, which is home to a large herd of deer, but the going can be tough in places for those not used to running off road.

Wimbledon Common is another excellent location for running in the capital, so much so that it has won the approval of numerous professional athletes the world over. The common is home to the Thames Hare and Hounds, the oldest cross country running club in the world and the weekly 5km park-run events every Saturday morning are perfect for those keen to make a start in competitive running. The park is criss-crossed by running tracks and is so large that the various joggers, dog walkers, cyclists and ever horse riders who also frequent the trails are rarely much bother.





For those keen to up their game and take on the professionals, London's Bushy Park in Richmond is the place to go. World class athletes, including long distance champions like Paula Radcliffe often train there for upcoming competitions and members of the armed forces often use the park for fitness exercises. It's not all serious business though; Bushy Park is home to several beginners running groups and in 2010 was the location for a festive charity fun run that saw hundreds of people dressed in red Santa Claus suits taking to the trails.





Hyde Park, and the adjoining Kensington Gardens, is home to another popular running route in the capital and is very flat, making it ideal for beginners and those keen to avoid hills. Due to its status as a Royal Park and its central location, Hyde Park tends to be very busy and the paths can often be packed with groups of tourists during the day. Early in the morning, however, there are few better places to run in London and Hyde Park is one of the few park running routes that is open from 5am all year round.





London is, of course, home to many other excellent
">running routes and most of the city's parks make an ideal place to get away from the world and exercise. Wherever you are in the capital, you're usually never far from a superb running trail.