Start: Brentham Allotments, Lynwood Rd, London, W5 1JL
Finish: Kew Bridge Road, Brentford, TW8 0FJ
Distance: 15.4 km (9.6 miles)
Elevation change: +64m / -83m. Net -19m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Capital Ring, Thames Path
Other routes touched (cycle): C40, Grand Union Canal Towpath
Pubs / Cafes on route: Hanwell Zoo Cafe (7.3 km in), several at Brentford Lock (12.5 km in), One Over The Ait at the end.
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Brent River and Canal Society (BRCS), River Brent Park, Hanwell Zoo, Wharncliffe Viaduct, River Brent, Grand Union Canal, Brentford Dock, Brentford, Kew Bridge

In the heart of West London, Ealing is famed for its leafy suburbs and Victorian charm. But for those seeking a true escape from the pavement, look no further than the River Brent Path. This green corridor, tracing the meandering route of the River Brent, offers a surprisingly wild and tranquil journey right on your doorstep.

The Brent River Park is the result of dedicated campaigning by the Brent River and Canal Society (BRCS) to protect the river valley from development. The resulting linear park stretches for approximately 7 km within the Borough of Ealing, encompassing about 400 hectares of connected green space.

Starting near Greenford and winding its way south towards Hanwell and the Grand Union Canal, the path connects several major open spaces, creating an uninterrupted haven for both wildlife and people. As you walk, you traverse a brilliantly varied landscape, from formal grounds like Pitshanger Park and Brent Lodge Park to stretches of wilder, almost rural-feeling woodland and meadows.

The walk is much more than just a riverside path; it is a journey past local history and nature. Here are a few highlights you can look forward to:

Brent Lodge Park and Hanwell Zoo: A perfect detour for families. Brent Lodge Park is home to a small, popular zoo, affectionately known to locals as "The Bunny Park."
The Wharncliffe Viaduct: In Hanwell, keep an eye out for this magnificent brick structure. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it carries the Great Western Main Line over the valley. It was actually Brunel's very first major structural design, and if you look closely, the viaduct includes specially built hollows that act as a protected roost for a colony of Daubenton's bats!
The Grand Union Canal: The path eventually converges with the Capital Ring and the Grand Union Canal Walk. Here, you can watch colourful narrowboats navigate the locks, notably the famous Hanwell Flight, a steep series of six locks designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The route is well-signposted, often sharing its way with sections of the Capital Ring, making navigation straightforward and allowing for flexible starting and finishing points.

As a flat, easy walk, you could comfortably do it all in a day; however, we split it into two smaller walks of approximately 8 km, using Hanwell Zoo as the halfway point. There is a small free car park next to the Zoo on Church Road, and Hanwell Station (on the Elizabeth Line) is also very close to this midpoint. The River Brent officially meets the Thames at Brentford Creek, but rather than stopping exactly where the rivers meet, we continued a short distance along the Thames Path to finish the walk with a well-earned rest near Kew Bridge Station.

Walking The River Brent Path

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