Few people associate our nation’s capital with hiking, but the truth is that you walk in London more and further than pretty much anywhere else.
It’s a simple fact that London is the UK’s least driver-friendly city, and of course it’s by far the biggest.
And for all the criticism levelled at it – London’s public transport system is generally excellent; particularly the bus and tube network. You can get around quickly (though not always in comfort admittedly) almost all the time. It’s true that when it does go wrong, it tends to be on a fairly dramatic scale. But it’s also true that it doesn’t go wrong for an incredibly long time. You can use the system for years with few problems.
So what’s all this got to do with walking? Well the fact is that when you arrive at your destination (most usually a tube station) the walk is often a long one at the other end. Also, there may often be another tube you can take, but perhaps you decide to walk the extra half-mile or more for the sake of your health and the sheer joy of having a look at different areas our nation’s fascinating capital.
Having lived in London for many years, I can honestly say that I did more walking there than anywhere else – including the countryside. That’s because it’s often simply the most efficient way of getting around.
So whilst it may seem silly to don your hiking books, it actually isn’t – particularly in winter obviously. So use them and get the best pair you can afford – like the deep comfort and functionality of a pair of scarpa boots or something similar.
And don’t forget your thermal gloves. You can wrap up, but it your hands and feet that really feel the cold at this time of the year – until you get on the tube that is – which is when you start to really overheat! So get off and walk instead – it’s good for you and there’s nowhere more interesting to do it that London!
