When: April 1st 2024
Where: Regent’s Park London
Course: Flat-ish 3 loops of the northern half of the park.
Other routes touched: N/A
Finish time: 58 minutes 54 seconds
The Thames Barrier, London
This was a trip that had been at the back of my mind for 30 years. Back in the summer of 1994 I cycled the length of the Thames from the source near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier near Woolwich, London. The last day was a long one and we ended up at the Barrier after dark. At the time we had considered the adventure to be complete. A few years later I started to plan a second part: from the Barrier east along the Thames Estuary to Margate.
Over the intervening years I got more excited about other trips. I also either lost contact with a few of the old Thames Path gang or they got preoccupied with having babies. Early in 2024 the stars aligned and the Estuary adventure popped up to the top of my cycling backlog.
The route to Margate mostly follows NCN Route 1 with a bit of the Route 15 Viking Way at the end. It also runs parallel to the main rail line between London and Margate making trip logistics fairly simple. We did it over a weekend, staying both the Friday and Saturday night at the Chatham/Gillingham Victory Pier Premier Inn.
Day 1: Thames Barrier to Chatham
Start: Charlton Railway Station, London, SE7 7QG, United Kingdom
Finish: Premier Inn Chatham/Gillingham (Victory Pier) hotel, Blake Avenue, Gillingham, ME7 1GB, United Kingdom
Distance: 62.8 km (39 miles)
Elevation change: + 408m / -409m (Net +1m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Capital Ring, Jubilee Greenway, Green Chain Walk, London Loop. Cray River Way, Hoo Peninsula Path, Weald Way, Thames and Medway Canal Towpath, Saxon Shore Way, England Coast Path, Strood Community Trail,
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1, 125, 179, Q14
Pubs / Cafes on route: At Woolwich Arsenal (4km in), Erith (15km in), Dartford (25km in), Gravesend (39 km in), Rochester (57km in), Chatham (59km in)
Maps:
- Greenwich & Gravesend Map | East End, Docklands, Bromley, Sidcup & Thurrock | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 162
- Gravesend & Rochester Map | Hoo Peninsula | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 163
Links: Charlton, Thames Barrier, Woolwich Arsenal, Erith, Dartford, Gravesend, Thames and Medway Canal, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham
Like all Saturdays the day started with a parkrun, this time at Great Lines Heritage park, just over a mile from from the hotel. From there we headed to Chatham Station to get the train to Charlton. The Thames Barrier is a 1.4km ride from Charlton Station.
Navigation is straightforward, keeping to the NCN Route 1 all the way to Chatham. The first 20km hugs the riverside passing a mix of pleasant gentrified areas like Woolwich Arsenal and ugly industrial parts. After Erith the Route 1 cuts south away from the river to Dartford avoiding the entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Bridge. We had planned a coffee and cake stop in Dartford but nothing inspired us so we carried on. By the time we reached Gravesend we were really hungry and, as pubs were open by then, were optimistic about finding food. We found Gravesend equally inspiring so didn’t stop there either.
After Gravesend the scenery becomes much more pleasant. With the Route 1 following the disused Thames and Medway Canal. Watch out for the obelisk that marks the half-way point between the cities of London and Rochester. The Route 1 leaves the canal at Lower Higham which, conveniently for us, also has a train station. Brian was having problems with his wheel after several punctures and we’d run out of options to fix it at the road-side. Here we decided that Brian would head to Chatham by train and I would finish the first day on my own.
As it turned out Brian missed one of the best parts of the first day. The final section included quiet countryside and a descent down to Rochester. Had we kept together we would have stopped in Rochester for food ahead of the final few miles. I decided that I was on a mission to beat Brian’s train journey back to Chatham so I wasn’t hanging around. A 20 minute wait for the train meant that I was back at the hotel before Brian arrived at Halfords in Chatham. With a newly fixed wheel and fresh supplies of inner-tubes we were now ready for Day 2.
Day 2: Chatham to Margate
Start: Premier Inn Chatham/Gillingham (Victory Pier) hotel, Blake Avenue, Gillingham, ME7 1GB, United Kingdom
Finish: Margate Lighthouse, Harbour Arm, Margate, CT9 1AP
Distance: 87 km (54 miles)
Elevation change: + 514m / -513m (Net -1m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Saxon Shore Way, England Coast Path, Swale Heritage Trail, Invicta Way, Wantsum Walk,
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1, 174, 15: Viking Coastal Trail
Pubs / Cafes on route: At Sittingbourne (22km in), Faversham (40km in), Whitstable (59km in), Herne Bay (66km in), Westgate-on-Sea (83km in) and Margate.
- We stopped at Cafe Guild in Faverham (40 km in) and The Ship Inn, Herne Bay (66km in)
Maps:
- Gravesend & Rochester Map | Hoo Peninsula | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 163
- Sittingbourne & Faversham Map | Isle of Sheppey | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 149
- Canterbury & Isle of Thanet Map | Herne Bay, Deal & Whitstable | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 150
Links: Sittingbourne, Faversham, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Reculver, Westgate-on-Sea, Margate, Margate Lighthouse
Shortly after leaving the Chatham/Gillingham area, the Route 1 passes through Riverside Country Park. It was very popular with dog walkers early that Sunday morning so it was a good chance to take it slow as we warmed up for the day. After the Country Park the route cuts away from the estuary from Rainham to Sittingbourne.
Sittingbourne was our original plan for a breakfast stop but we were similarly uninspired by food options as we were on day 1. By the time we arrived in Faversham with 40km down we were starving. It was worth the wait though as Faversham is a very nice old Kent market town with several good cafes.
After Faversham the route heads back towards the coast then takes a detour up the steepest hill of the route to bypass Whitstable Town Centre. After a well-earned descent we reached the Invicta Way, a disused railway that once connected Whitstable to Canterbury. This was the point where we left the NCN 1, which follows the old railway line to the south. Instead we followed the Invicta Way north to join the Route 15 Viking Way at the Whistable coast.
The last 28km along the Viking Way from Whitstable to Margate was my favourite section of the whole route. This section keeps to the coast along flat boulevards passing seaside towns and the remains of Reculver Towers. We had made good time so we stopped for a while at a pub in Herne Bay to gaze across the estuary and contemplate future adventures.
Our 2-day adventure finished at Margate Lighthouse, an obvious place to mark the end of the Estuary adventure. We really enjoyed the trip and, baring the wheel & puncture issues at the end of day one, found it pretty easy going. I still didn’t get the sense of completion though. Yes, we had cycled the estuary to complete the Thames Path, but we had now left the southern section of the NCN Route 1 uncompleted. Within a couple of days I was already planning the next 2 day adventure to complete both the NCN Route 1 from Whitstable to Dover and the rest of the Viking Way.
The Full 2-Day Route
The Millennium Mileposts
Dotting the UK's National Cycle Network are over 1,000 unique markers known as the Millennium Mileposts. Unveiled in 2000, these cast-iron sculptures are more than just waymarkers. Designed by four artists, one from each nation of the UK, they celebrate the diversity of the cycling routes. These artistic mileposts come in various shapes and can be found in both bustling towns and scenic landscapes, adding a touch of artistic charm to a cycling adventure. Here’s the 14 Mileposts that I spotted on the 2 day estuary adventure.
If you would like a PDF version of my manual LonDone tracker, please BuyMeACoffee and let me know on the Contact Page. It’s a table of all current Greater London parkrun events, plus all events inside the M25, with space for future new events. You can track your date completed and finish time. It’s simple and you could easily make one yourself, but let me know if you want a copy of mine. 20% of each virtual coffee goes to parkrun Forever and the rest goes toward the running of this website.
Except from the full PDF
City Road Basin east of Angel
Start: Paddington Station, Praed St, London W2 1RH
Finish: Limehouse DLR Station, Commercial Rd, London, E14 7JD
Distance: 16.3 km (10.1 miles)
Elevation change: + 86 / -110m. Net -24m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Jubilee Greenway
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1, C1, 2, 6, 13, 27
Pubs / Cafes on route: Loads. It’s London.
Maps:
- London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
- Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Regent’s Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust), Paddington Basin, Little Venice, Camden Lock, Islington Tunnel, Limehouse Basin
The Regents Canal is a 13.8km waterway that links the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal at Little Venice with the River Thames at Limehouse Basin in the east of London. I’ve cycled or walked bits of it over the years but never a full end-to-end walk. So, with canals being the theme of our weekend adventures this winter, Timea and I set out to walk it.
Being in the north of London there’s excellent public transport links to the start and end. You can also cut the walk into smaller sections, returning to nearby tube or bus stops along the way to pick up where you left off. On a long summer’s day we might have tackled it all in one go. With a winter walk on shorter days and wanting to take our time through the interesting parts, we cut it in two using King’s Cross St Pancras as our middle-point. Navigation is very easy as you’ll be following the towpath, however there’s a few sections of tunnel where you’ll need to follow them above ground. The Juiblee Greenway follows the route of the canal and is well-signed, so follow the ground-level markers to keep on track.
We chose a west to east route starting from Paddington Station. There’s an exit near the Hammersmith and City Line platforms that leads directly onto the canal. Rather than start there we exited Paddington at the southern entrance to walk down Praed Street to start at Paddington Basin. The Basin had completely changed since I first went there as a child with my Dad on our many London outings. Back then it was unloved patch at the back of St Mary’s Hospital where my dad was born. Now it’s a busy and lively development of apartments, businesses and restaurants.
From Paddington Basin follow the canal for 1km to the junction with the Regents Canal at Little Venice. The bridge at Westbourne Terrace Road also brought back memories as it was the finish point of my first Ultra Marathon back in 2015. Once over the bridge and onto the northern side of Browning’s pool you’re on the Regent’s Canal.
For the first section you’ll need to keep off the towpath for a while as the Lisson Road Moorings are a private section, then you need to pass above-ground for ~250m over Maida Hill Tunnel. Once over the tunnel you can keep to the towpath for 5.4km to the Islington Tunnel at Angel. Along the way you’ll pass through the the back of London Zoo at Regent’s Park, Camden Lock and the redeveloped area to the back of Kings Cross.
When you reach the Islington Tunnel leave the towpath and follow the Jubilee Greenway south down Penton Street then east along Chapel Market to Angel. Cross over Upper Street and follow Duncan Street in an easterly direction to return to the Regent’s Canal towpath. This eastern section is quieter but no-less interesting. You’ll need to leave the path for food and drink but there’s good options along the way. We found a great cafe at the start of Broadway Market in Hackney just a couple of minutes off the path.
The final stretch passes along the edges of Victoria Park and Mile End Park before finishing at Limehouse Basin. Our original plan was to walk around the basin but it was getting dark so we cut straight across to Limehouse DLR to return home. We did get some great shots of Canary Wharf and friends lit up in the background. We’ll return another day to revisit the basin and walk the Hertford Union Canal and Limecut Cut.
The Bridges
Bridge numbers counting up from 1 at Little Venice to 64 near Limehouse Basin. Not all bridges have numbers on them.
Start: Slough Station, Railway Terrace, Slough, SL1 1XW
Finish: West Drayton Station, Station Approach, West Drayton UB7 9DY
Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 28m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Colne Valley Trail, Beeches Way, Shakespeare’s Way, Celandine Route, London Loop
Other routes touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, NCN 61
London Coal Duty Post: 69
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in West Drayton High Street
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Slough Arm Canal (Wikipedia / Canal & River Trust) Slough, Langley, Iver, Yiewsley, West Drayton, Colne Valley Regional Park,
The Slough Canal is an arm that branches off from the main Grand Union Canal at Yiewsley in Hillingdon, Greater London. It was opened in 1882, primarily to serve the brick industry. The arm closed to commercial traffic in 1960 and re-opened in 1975. There have been plans to extend the canal to join the River Thames between Windsor and Maidenhead, but that feels unlikely to happen.
I’ve cycled the Slough Arm on many occasions and crossed over it on other walks but, until now, hadn’t walked the whole length. It runs parallel to the GWR mainline and Elizabeth Line which makes it easy to walk as a single point-to-point between stations. We started at Slough Station and finished at West Drayton, with a short ride on the Elizabeth Line back to the start.
Leave Slough Station at the north entrance onto Railway Terrace and walk west to join the B416. Follow the B416 in a northerly direction to find the entrance to the canal basin on the right hand side of the road shortly after St. Paul’s church. The first 4km runs between a mix of residential and light industrial areas. There’s a lot of rubbish along the way despite the best efforts of the Friends of The Slough Arm local community group.
After the Langley park Road Bridge (#7), the canal becomes a parking area for boats lined up for the repair yard at bridge #6 at Hollow Hill Lane. From here the canal enters the Colne Valley Regional Park and soon joins the Beeches Way and Shakespeare’s Way. The towpath passes under the M25, then over the Colne Brook, River Colne and Frays River. Watch out for the two WW2 Pill Boxes that guard the rivers and the Coal Duty Post by the footbridge carrying the London Loop.
By the time you reach the junction with the Grand Union Canal you’ll have passed through Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, the Historic County of Middlesex and into the Greater London Borough of Hillingdon. When you reach the main line of the Grand Union, cross over the footbridge and take a right to follow the towpath for 800m to the West Drayton High Street Bridge. Leave the canal and cross the bridge to reach the end of the walk at West Drayton Station.
The Bridges
Bridge numbers counting down from the Basin to the Junction with the Grand Union. Bridges 5 and 2 have been destroyed.
Walking the line north of Fray’s River
Start & Finish: Buckinghamshire New University, Uxbridge Campus, 106 Oxford Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1NA
Distance: 6.3 km (3.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 27m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): London Loop, Colne Valley Trail, South Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath
Pubs / Cafes on route: Swan & Bottle pub (near start and end)
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Uxbridge, Fray’s River, Alderglade Nature Reserve, Colne Valley Regional Park, Grand Union Canal
This trip was a return to visit to Uxbridge following my previous week’s cycle adventure on the Staines West to Denham Lines. Although we cycled between the old Uxbridge High Street Station and Denham, we followed a more cycle-friendly route rather than the course of the old rail line. This week Timea and I returned to walk the true route of the line. As with last week’s longer route from Staines West to Denham, this trip was inspired by Geoff Marshall’s London’s Lost Railways videos. Check out Geoff’s video for more detail on each of the lines and stations.
The route starts at 106 Oxford Road, the site of the former Uxbridge High Street Station, now a campus for Buckinghamshire New University. It’s actually in Hillingdon, Greater London, though and not in Buckinghamshire which is just across the River Colne to the west. The line closely follows the Hillingdon/Buckinghamshire border staying in Hillingdon for most of it’s length apart from one very short section at the start of Alderglade Nature Reserve.
From 106 Oxford Road follow Braybourne Close in a northerly direction to the end then into Alderglade Nature Reserve. The path follows the left hand side of the old railway embankment then follows the top of it. You can see a few bits of remaining metal from the railway if it’s not too overgrown. At the 1.3 km mark you’ll reach an old graffitied bridge that goes under the railway. Here you’ll need to cross over the Shire Ditch (Stream) and divert away from the rail route as it passes through private property.
Keep heading north on the footpath closest to the rail line and you’ll pass under a raised section of the A40 and through the Graffiti Gallery. On the north side of the A40 follow a path taking you east back to the course of the old rail line. There was a lot of nettles when we were there in July which made if difficult to see the path. Once on it, you can follow the route of the rail line through wood most of the way to the old mainline junction.
This section after the A40 is littered with old railway sleepers and bits of old railway metal. It’s a great place to explore in an area that attracts relatively few people. Around 500m from the A40 you’ll cross over an old bridge over the River Frays. Climb down the embankment just to the south of the river to get a good view of the old bridge. After the bridge continue along the route of the old railway to the site of the triangle junction that took trains onto the GWR/Chiltern Main Line. The route now ends here as the triangle is now used by a concrete company. Here you have the choice of retracing your steps for 200m to the footpath junction or, as we did, take a circuit of the small fishing lake in the woods to the east.
Whichever route you take to return from the end of the line, take the footpath that crosses between the 2 lakes on the eastern side of the old rail line. Cross over the Grand Union Canal and take a left to head south back to Uxbridge. When you pass Denham Deep Lock you could take a right into Denham Country Park to follow the South Bucks Way to Denham Station. As I’d followed that route on the bike the previous week we continued south along the canal. When you return to Uxbridge the Swan and Bottle Pub (next to the canal bridge) is a good place to stop for a rest. Look out for old photos of Uxbridge on the wall and a great map of waterways in the area. From the Swan and Bottle cross the bridge to the eastern side of the canal and back to the start at 106 Oxford Road.
HS2 train parked up at Colnbrook Station
Start / Finish: Site of Staines West Station: The Old Station, Moor Lane, Staines, TW18 4BB
Distance: 22.9 km (14.2 miles)
Elevation: + 99m / -67m. Net +22m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Colne Valley Way, London Loop, Shakespeare’s Way, Celandine Route, South Bucks Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, NCN 6, 61
Pubs / Cafes on route: Fat Boys Cafe, Colnbrook (7.8k in), Several as you pass through West Drayton and Yiewsley (~14 km in), Swan and Bottle pub, Uxbridge (18.8k in), Colne Valley Cafe (21 km in)
Maps:
- Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell Map | Thames Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 160
- Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Staines-upon-Thames, Staines Moor, Stanwell Moor, Poyle, Colnbrook, Harmondsworth Moor, West Drayton, Yiewsley, Cowley, Uxbridge, Denham, Colne Valley Regional Park
This is a short cycle adventure inspired by 3 of Geoff Marshall’s London’s Lost Railways videos. It traces 3 separate disused railways that ran from Staines in Surrey to Denham in Buckinghamshire. Much of the route travels through the Colne Valley Regional Park, an interesting mix of countryside, industry and transport links on the western edge of Greater London. I cycled this route as a part of a 100 km circular tour of the Colne Valley, Chiltern Hills, South Bucks and Windsor. There’s a mix of road and off-road sections so it’s best to take a mountain bike or similar.
Check out Geoff’s videos for each section of the route for more detail on each of the lines and stations.
Line 1: Staines West to West Drayton
The Staines to West Drayton Railway was in existence from 1884 to 1965 and once also connected to the Reading to Waterloo Line at Staines. The Staines West Station building is still intact and now used as offices.
From Staines West Station follow Moor Lane until you reach a footpath on the right hand side just ahead of the A30 Staines Bypass. Follow this path to cross over the old bridge that crosses the River Wraysbury and the route of the old railway. Take a left after the bridge to pass under the A30 and onto Staines Moor. Keep to the south-western edge of the moor and find a gate leading to a bridge in the woods and the route of the old railway. Here you’ll find an information board about the railway and steps up to join the old rail line.
Follow the route of the old railway in a northerly direction to meet the site of the old Yeoveney Halt Station. There’s not much left but you can find some concrete remains in a clearing to the right hand side of the track.
Continue north following the edge of the M25 and River Wraysbury and take a path that passes through Junction 14 of the M25 to reach the western edge of the motorway. Just before you join Horton Road take a track heading south for about 100m to the approximate site of the old Poyle Halt Station. Nothing remains. You’re now also at the most westerly point of Greater London.
Retrace your route back from Poyle Halt to meet Horton Road following it west and then join Poyle Road at the roundabout. Take a right on the next roundabout onto Blackthorne road, following it east to the junction of Blackthorne Crescent where you’ll be at the approximate site of Poyle Estate Halt. As with the previous station, nothing remains.
Retrace your route back down Blackthorne Road and take a right back onto Poyle Road heading north, then a right onto Bath Road. Colnbrook Station can be found on the left hand side of Bath Road just after the junction with Meadowbrook Close. The old building still remains and is now a private house called Station Cottage. After Colnbrook Station the rail line is still in use but now only for cargo and not for passengers.
There was one extra station north of Colnbrook station called Colnbrook Estate Halt. There’s nothing left of it and I couldn’t find a way to get close to the location so we cycled on to West Drayton. To do this continue east along Bath Road over the M25 then take the first track on the left which takes you north to Harmondsworth Moor. Pass under the M4 near the M4/M25 junction and onto a road called The Common. Continue north, then right onto Cricketfield Road, right onto Mill Road, left onto Station Road, right onto Warwick Road where you’ll find West Drayton Station and the end of this section.
Line 2: West Drayton to Uxbridge Vine Street
This section follows the Uxbridge (Vine Street) branch line from West Drayton station. The line ran passenger services from 1884 to 1962 and completely closed in 1979. Today nothing remains of Uxbridge Vine Street Station or Cowley Station, the only other station on the route. You can still find evidence of the line in the shape of streets and some road names.
From West Drayton Station cross over High Street and follow Tavistock Road, following the curve of the old railway. Take a right onto Trout Road over the Grand Union Canal, a left through a path onto Chantry Close then a left onto the A408. Taking a right onto Moorfield Road then take a left onto St Martin Close, a right onto New Peachy Lane and a left onto Peachy Lane. Note that in Geoff’s video he found some alleyways between the houses that traced a closer route to the old line.
Take a left off Peachy Lane onto Kingdom Lane, a cycle path that directly follows the route of the old railway. Follow this for 0.5km to Station Road, near the site of the old Cowley Station. Cross Station Road and continue to follow the old rail route up Cleveland Road, Whitehall Road and Kendal Mews. You’ve now arrived at the busy A4020 (Hillingdon Road) dual carriageway that runs through Uxbridge. The Hertz building on the north side of the A4020 is on the site of the old Vine Street Station.
Line 3: Uxbridge High Street to Denham
From the site of Uxbridge Vine Street Station navigate round the roundabout to pick up Oxford Road to the site of the old Uxbridge High Street Station at 106 Oxford Road. There’s no remains of the old station and the site is now a building for the Buckinghamshire New University.
Geoff’s video on this section describes a walk along the route of the old line that connected Uxbridge to the Chiltern main line (formerly GWR) from 1907 to 1964. Having cycled through Alderglade Nature Reserve and Frays Farm Meadows before I remember it being a tricky ride and best tackled on foot. This time we opted for a more cycle-friendly route to the west of the old line. Timea (wife) and I went back to Uxbridge a week later to walk the true route of the old railway and you read about that in my next post.
From 106 Oxford Road we followed the Grand Union Canal Towpath from the Swan and Bottle pub to the southern entrance of Denham Country Park south of Denham Deep Lock. From here follow the South Bucks Way through the Country Park, Buckinghamshire Golf Course, Denham Village and along The Pyghtle to Denham Station. This is the end point of the route along the 3 disused rail lines.
The full cycle route from Staines West to Denham
The full cycle route: all 3 lines from Staines (south) to Denham (north)
Elevation plan for the full cycle route between Staines West and Denham
Stations on the Staines West to Denham Lines
Displayed in order of the cycle route from Staines West to Denham. Click on each photo to connect to the Wikipedia article for the station. Includes West Drayton and Denham which are still operating stations.
More Disused Railway Posts
HMS Warrior at the Portmouth Historic Dockyard
The idea for this trip came from a short walk that I did a few years ago in Surrey called Discover Downside. Half way through the walk we came across the Chatley Heath Semphore Tower, the best preserved of a series of towers that formed a line between London and Portsmouth in the 1800s. As I was reading the information board a new adventure started forming. I didn’t have to say anything I could almost hear my wife’s eyes rolling and wondering “what’s he up to now?”.
As described on the Chatley Heath information board: “In 1792, Frenchman Claude Chappe invented the Semaphore using moveable arms on a T-shaped mast. The British Initially stuck with their existing shutter or ball signalling systems even though they were less effective. In 1814 the Admiralty prematurely decommissioned their existing signalling stations. After Napoleon’s escape from Elba and the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the governament decided to reinstate a signal line from London to Portsmouth Dockyard. They chose to use the semaphore system invested by Sir Home Riggs Popham, as the most advanced of the day.”
“The Chatley Heath Tower was the fifth station in the 75 mile long line, which started on the roof of the Admiraly in Whitehall. It was to have been the junction for a further line to Plymouth, but this was never completed. […] The invention of the electric telegraph in 1839 meant the end for the mechanical semaphore. New telegraph lines were laid alongside the railways and messages travelled instantly down the wires. In 1847 the semaphore line was decommissioned and the mast dismantled.”
Over the next year the back-of-my-mind potential trip became a fully-planned weekend cycle trip for spring 2023. It turned out to be a weekend adventure with a Friday evening drive down to Portsmouth, a long Saturday ride to Godalming and a shorter section on the Sunday before heading back home. The original plan was to take the bikes down to Portsmouth by train but some organizational faffing meant that we left it too late to book and there we no bike spaces available. Instead we did a one-way van rental which was slightly more expensive than the trains would have been but got us there more quickly with less hassle.
The choice of doing the trip from Portsmouth to London rather than the other way around was mostly based on getting in a new (for me) parkrun at Southsea on the Saturday morning. Arriving in London on Sunday afternoon also gave us a shorter journey home.
I need to credit the excellent account of walking the Semaphore Line in the Jont.org.uk blog. This blog was invaluable in the planning process and provides more detail on the stations and route between them than I have covered here. In my post below I’ve covered some key details of the semaphore stations it’s not intended to be a turn-by-turn route guide. I’ll be happy to share my GPX files for the 2 days in return for a virtual coffee.
Day 1: Portsmouth to Godalming
Start: Semaphore Building, HMNB Portsmouth, Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LJ
Finish: A3100 Meadrow (road), Godalming, GU7 3HS
Distance: 88 km (55 miles)
Elevation change: + 1,301m / -1265m (Net +36m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Solent Way, The Shipwright’s Way, Langstone Harbour Waterfront Route, Wayfarers Way, Sussex Border Path, Monarch’s Way, Octagon Way, South Downs Way, The Serpent Trail, New Lipchis Way, Grayswood Walk, Greensand Way, The Fox Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 2, 22, 222, Surrey Cycleway
Semaphore Station 1: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Condition: The Semaphore Building was destroyed by fire in 1913, but it was rebuilt in 1930.
Distance into route: 0 km
Address: Semaphore Building, HMNB Portsmouth, Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LJ
Coordinates: 50°47'60"N 1°6'36"W
Grid Reference: SU 62826 00415
Elevation: 1m
Map: Meon Valley Map | Portsmouth, Gosport & Fareham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL3
Links: Jont Blog Post, Portsmouth, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
To get close to the Semaphore Building you need to pay to enter the Historic Dockyard. It’s well worth visiting but I had been before a few years ago and didn’t need to go back. The tower is tall though and can be easily seen from outside of the Historic Dockyard.
Semaphore Station 2: The Square Tower
Condition: Well maintained and now used for hosting functions such as weddings, christenings and funerals.
Distance into route: 1.7 km
Address: Broad St, Old Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2ND
Coordinates: 50°47'22.0"N 1°06'23.0"W
Grid Reference: SZ 63076 99244
Elevation: 2m
Map: Meon Valley Map | Portsmouth, Gosport & Fareham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL3
Links: Jont Blog Post, The Square Tower, Old Portsmouth
There seems to be some ambiguity about whether this was the first/last semaphore tower in the chain vs the one at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. For the purposes of this trip there was no need to decide as it’s easy to visit both.
Semaphore Station 3: Lumps Fort
Condition: Demolished after World War 1, now a Japanese Rose Garden and a Model Village
Distance into route: 5.0 km
Address: Japanse Garden, Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO4 9RU
Coordinates: 50°46'52.0"N 1°04'04.6"W
Grid Reference: SZ 65807 98359
Elevation: 5m
Map: Meon Valley Map | Portsmouth, Gosport & Fareham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL3
Links: Jont Blog Post, Lumps Fort, Southsea
Semaphore Station 4: Camp Down
Condition: Demolished, now a waste transfer facility.
Distance into route: 18.1 km
Address: L&S Waste Management Limited, Portsdown Hill Road, Farlington, Redoubt PO6 1BW
Coordinates: 50°51'13.0"N 1°01'34.0"W
Grid Reference: SU 68648 06449
Elevation: 60m
Map: Meon Valley Map | Portsmouth, Gosport & Fareham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL3
Links: Jont Blog Post, Camp Down, Portsdown Hill
Semaphore Station 5: Compton Down
Condition: Building now a private house without a tower.
Distance into route: 33.9 km
Address: Telegraph House, Telegraph Hill, Compton, Chichester, PO18 9QL
Coordinates: 50°55'40.0"N 0°53'12.0"W
Grid Reference: SU 78332 14861
Elevation: 161m
Map: Chichester Map | South Harting & Selsey | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL08
Links: Jont Blog Post, Compton Down, Compton
Semaphore Station 6: Beacon Hill
Condition: Intact, now a private house visible from the lane.
Distance into route: 43.4 km
Address: Telegraph House, North Marden, Chichester, PO18 9JX
Coordinates: 50°57'03.0"N 0°50'55.0"W
Grid Reference: SU 80980 17445
Elevation: 190m
Map: Chichester Map | South Harting & Selsey | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL08
Links: Jont Blog Post, Beacon Hill, West Sussex
Semaphore Station 7: Older Hill (Holder Hill)
Condition: Building possibly still remains but within private property.
Distance into route: 57.5 km
Address: Pine Hill House, Telegraph Hill, Midhurst, GU29 0BN
Coordinates: 51°01'50.0"N 0°45'34.0"W
Grid Reference: SU 87081 26429
Elevation: 203m
Map: Haslemere & Petersfield Map | Midhurst & Selborne | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL33
Links: Jont Blog Post, Woolbedding
Semaphore Station 8: Haste Hill
Condition: Demolished. Property became the Royal Naval Signals School then Whitwell Hatch Hotel and now private apartments.
Distance into route: 69.1 km
Address: Whitwell Hatch, Scotland Lane, Haslemere, GU27 3AW
Coordinates: 51°04'51.0"N 0°42'17.0"W
Grid Reference: SU 90828 32065
Elevation: 206m
Map: Haslemere & Petersfield Map | Midhurst & Selborne | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL33
Links: Jont Blog Post, Haste Hill
Semaphore Station 9: Bannicle Hill
Condition: Demolished, likely replaced by Hill House.
Distance into route: 77 km
Address: The Hill House, Church Lane, Witley, Godalming
Coordinates: 51°08'12.0"N 0°39'36.0"W
Grid Reference: SU 93847 38347
Elevation: 147m
Map: Haslemere & Petersfield Map | Midhurst & Selborne | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL33
Links: Jont Blog Post, Witley
Day 2: Godalming to The Admiralty, London
Start: A3100 Meadrow (road), Godalming, GU7 3HS
Finish: Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2AY
Distance: 62.3 km (38.7 miles)
Elevation change: + 435m / -458m (Net -23m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Wey-South Path, The Scholar’s Trail, North Downs Way, The Fox Way, Hogsmill Valley Walk, Thames Down Link, Beverley Brook Walk, Thames Path, Jubilee Walkway
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 2, 223, 4, Surrey Cycleway, C30, C3
Semaphore Station 10: Pewley Hill
Condition: Restored and now a listed building and a private house.
Distance into route (Day 2): 7 km / Full Route: 95 km
Address: Semaphore House, Pewley Hill, Guildford, GU1 3SN
Coordinates: 51°13'59.0"N 0°33'57.0"W
Grid Reference: TQ 00231 49197
Elevation: 112m
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Jont Blog Post, Pewley Hill, Semaphore House (Historic England), Semaphore House (British Listed Buildings)
Semaphore Station 11: Chatley Heath
Condition: Restored and now managed by the Landmark Trust.
Distance into route (Day 2): 22.6 km / Full Route: 110.6 km
Address: Pointers Road, Cobham, KT11 1PQ
Coordinates: 51°18'55.0"N 0°26'18.0"W
Grid Reference: TQ 08941 58501
Elevation: 55m
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Jont Blog Post, Chatley Heath, The Semaphore Tower (Landmark Trust),
Semaphore Station 12: Coopers Hill
Condition: Restored, now a private house.
Distance into route (Day 2): 35.5 km / Full Route: 124.3 km
Address: Semaphore House, Esher, KT10 0DX
Coordinates: 51°22'11.0"N 0°20'17.0"W
Grid Reference: TQ 15793 64726
Elevation: 49m
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Jont Blog Post, Claygate, Esher
Semaphore Station 13: Coombe Warren
Condition: Demolished, replaced by a large private house called Telegraph Cottage.
Distance into route (Day 2): 45 km / Full Route: 133.8 km
Address: Telegraph Cottage, Warren Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7LF
Coordinates: 51°25'15.0"N 0°16'05.0"W
Grid Reference: TQ 20523 70523
Elevation: 53m
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Jont Blog Post, Coombe, Kingston upon Thames
Semaphore Station 14: Putney Heath
Condition: Demolished, presumably replaced by the Telegraph Pub
Distance into route (Day 2): 50 km / Full Route: 138.8 km
Address: The Telegraph, Putney Heath, London SW15 3TU
Coordinates: 51°26'55.0"N 0°13'34.0"W
Grid Reference: TQ 23359 73661
Elevation: 53m
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Jont Blog Post, The Telegrpaph Pub,
Semaphore Station 15: Chelsea
Condition: Tower no longer there / presumed site of this tower.
Distance into route (Day 2): 57.8 km / Full Route: 146.6 km
Address: Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4SR
Coordinates: 51°29'16.0"N 0°09'31.0"W
Grid Reference: TQ 27938 78142
Elevation: 6m
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Jont Blog Post, Royal Hospital Chelsea,
An alternative location of this telegraph station is the Duke of York's Headquarters, now the Saatchi Gallery. We dodged traffic on a very busy Sunday to visit both.
Semaphore Station 16: The Admiralty
Condition: Admiralty buildings still intact and in use by various government departments.
Distance into route (Day 2): 62.3 km / Full Route: 151.1 km
Address: Old Admiralty Building, London, SW1A 2AY
Coordinates: 51°30'22.0"N 0°07'43.0"W
Grid Reference: TQ 29979 80241
Elevation: 5m
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Jont Blog Post, Admiralty buildings, Horseguards Parade, Whitehall
A good learning from us if you’re planning to end your ride at The Admiralty is to not do it just as the London Marathon is finishing. It was only a few days before our trip that I discovered the dates clashed. The London Marathon uses Horseguards Parade as a post-race meeting spot for family and friends so it’s really busy. We still managed to get to our finish spot though after a bit of navigation around blocked off streets.
The Full 2-Day Route
Elevations of each Semaphore Station in metres
Day 2 cycling route elevation map
Day 2 cycling route elevation map
Significance: Highest "peak" in Middlesex (Traditional CT), High Point of London Borough of Harrow
Member of: London Borough High Points
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill. NHN = Pavis Wood
Elevation (Bushey Heath): 155m, (Bushey Heath-Boundary): 153m
Date “climbed”: 13th May 2013 and 21st January 2023
Coordinates (Bushey Heath): 51° 37' 56'' N, 0° 20' 18'' W
Coordinates (Bushey Heath-Boundary): 51° 37' 52'' N, 0° 20' 10'' W
Nearest Station: Bushey (Overground, West Midland Trains): 4 km
On route of: On route of: N/A. The London Loop is 0.7 km to the south-east
Map: OS Explorer 173 London North and OS Explorer 172 Chiltern Hills East
Guidebooks: The UK's County Tops, Jonny Muir, Walking the County High Points of England, David Bathurst
Links:
- Wikipedia: Middlesex, Harrow, Bushey
- Peakbagger: Bushey Heath, Bushey Heath Boundary
- Hillbagger: Bushey Heath, Bushey Heath Boundary
My first visit to the Bushey Heath high point was in May 2013 in the early days of my County Top adventures. Knowing that this would be a boring destination I made a more interesting trip of it by cycling there along the Ebury Way from Rickmansworth. I found the point noted in Jonny Muir’s book, took a photo and considered it “bagged”. Or so I thought …
As it turned out, to fully tick the box of visiting the high point of both the Historic County of Middlesex and the London Borough of Harrow you need to also go a bit further to the North-West. The historic boundary of Hertfordshire and Middlesex is marked by a boundary stone on the A4140 opposite the Windmill Harvester. In 1965 this became the boundary of Hertfordshire and Harrow. In 1993 the Herts/Harrow boundary was moved to its current position running along Common Road / Magpie Hall Road.
So, nearly 10 years after my original visit to Bushey Heath, I returned to visit the old boundary stone to properly bag the high point.
Greater London Borough High Points formerly within Middlesex
Westerham Heights (245m) Bromley Borough High Point
Bushey Heath-Boundary (153m) Harrow Borough High Point
Highwood Hill (146m) Barnet Borough High Point
Hampstead Heath (134m) Camden Borough High Point
Potter Street Hill (134m) Hillingdon Borough High Point
Highgate (129m) Haringey Borough High Point
Bournwell Hill-West Slope (119m) Enfield Borough High Point
Highgate Hill (100m) Islington Borough High Point
Wakemans Hill Avenue (92m) Brent Borough High Point
Sudbury Hill (91m) Brent (alternative) Borough High Point
Horsenden Hill (85m) Ealing Borough High Point
Saint John's Wood Park (52m) City of Westminster Borough High Point
College Park (45m) Hammersmith and Fulham Borough High Point
Harrow Road (45m) Kensington and Chelsea Borough High Point
Seven Sisters Road (39m) Hackney Borough High Point
Heston The Vale (35m) Hounslow Borough High Point
High Holborn (22m) City of London High Point
LonDone is the term for completing all parkrun events in Greater London. There are currently 62 parkrun events in Greater London. The first was Bushy Park which started on October 2nd 2004 and there’s typically a couple of new events added to the region each year. London is blessed with great public transportation links with most parkrun events within walking distance of a train, tube, tram or DLR stop. Travelling by bus gives you even more options.
Driving to the events is generally discouraged, but it will be the preferred option for some parkrunners for some events. Key considerations for drivers are parking options and whether the event is in, or the trip is through, the ULEZ or Congestion Charge zone.
Content on this page is sourced from the individual event pages, desktop research and input from the parkrun community. There make be some errors in the early release of this page and things can change. When planning your trip use this as a guide but always check the Course page of the relevant parkrun event and check other travel sites for any issues on your route for the day. Let me know if you spot any errors or have new information and I’ll make a quick update.
Links to key sections:
See my main parkrun LonDone page for more geekery on the Greater London parkrun events.
Public Transport: Nearest Stations and Stops
Notes:
Nearest station, excluding bus stops, is shown with a white background. Nearest alternative type shown with a light blue background.
Nearest and nearest alternative stations are all within walking distance of the start line. “Walking distance” is subjective but for the purposes of this I’ve determined it as “half-a-parkrun” (2.5 km).
Stations with an orange background are longer walks of between 2.5 km and 5 km.
“N/A” indicates that there’s no station of this type within a 5 km walk for the start line.
The Bus column shows the nearest stop to the start line. There’s normally several other stops nearby and on different routes.
Ally Pally to Hilly Fields:
Hoblingwell to Wormwood Scrubs:
Parking, ULEZ and Congestion Charges
Driving to London parkrun events is generally discouraged and it can often be expensive. I learned that the hard way when I running late for Victoria Dock had to pay £20 for a short stay in the nearest car park.
If you are driving the main three things to know are about parking, the ULEZ zone and Congestion Charge.
Most events have a car park either in the park or nearby. Some can be small so plan to arrive early to make sure you get a space and have time to pay (if needed) and walk to the start. If there’s a charge many car parks have pay-by-app options. This is great if you already have the app but takes time if you’re a first-time user and need to set it up. Northala Fields is an example of app-only parking with no options to pay by cash or card at a machine. I’ve made note of any specific details on parking, but let me know if you have additional local knowledge.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a large area of London where you have to pay a charge if your car doesn’t meet certain emissions standards. You can find out if your car is exempt, see the area covered, and pay the fee on this TFL page. From August 29th 2023 the ULEZ zone was expanded to include most of Greater London, and all London parkruns are now in the zone. 2 events; Bedfont Lakes and Riddlesdown are right on the edge of the zone. It’s possible to reach these by car and park outside of the ULEZ zone, however be careful not to cross into it on the drive there.
There are currently no parkrun events inside the Congestion Charge zone. As with the ULEZ Zone, be careful when planning your drive as you may have to pass through the zone even if the parkrun event is outside of it.
Ally Pally to Hilly Fields:
Hoblingwell to Wormwood Scrubs:
Café and Toilets
Knowing whether there’s a toilet at the event is often important when planning your trip. Most events have one near the start line but if they don’t it’s worth checking to see what’s on your route, especially for long trips. The original information here is from the Course pages from each event. Let me know if you have additional information (e.g. opening times, disabled access) on each that would help other parkrunners.
The cafés shown here are either ones noted on the Course pages or the closest one if not mentioned. These are not recommendations.
Ally Pally to Hilly Fields:
Hoblingwell to Wormwood Scrubs:
The LonDone parkrun tube and train map
There’s often chat in the Facebook parkrun groups about having a transport map showing the nearest stations to the London parkrun events. I’m certainly not the first to have this idea or to give it a go. Here’s my attempt at putting one together. Things to know are:
It shows nearest stations to parkruns and key interchanges, not all stations and lines.
Other stations may be more convenient for each parkrun, depending on where you’re coming from. Check the tables above for alternatives.
It’s intended to be an “artistic impression”, not for navigation.
There’s likely mistakes in this version. Please let me know if you spot any.
Nearest airports to London parkrun events
I’m guessing that parkrun’s encouragement of using public transport doesn’t include flying to events. This section is likely to be pretty niche, but I included it anyway. The map and table below shows the nearest major London airport to each parkrun event. “Nearest” is defined as the quickest route via public transport rather than as the crow flies.
The reality is that anyone flying to London for a parkrun is likely to choose whichever airport has the best cost and route options from wherever they are flying in from. Every parkrun event is accessibly from each of these airports within 90 minutes, so flying into any London airport on a Friday gives you lots of options to get to the event by parkrun o’clock on the Saturday.
A few notes on the exercise:
I included major commercial airports and excluded RAF or smaller airfields such as Northolt or Biggin Hill.
London Southend (SEN) was in-scope but there is no London parkrun that is closer to it by public transport than to a different airport. Harrow Lodge is the closest event to SEN but it’s quicker to get there by public transport from London City Airport (LCY).
Walthamstow is the only parkun event that is closer to London Stansted (STN) than any other London airport. This is mostly due to LCY being very well connected to many public transport routes with fewer options into London from STN.
Ally Pally to Foots Cray Meadows:
Fulham Palace to Orpington:
Osterley to Wormwood Scrubs:
More parkrun posts
parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.
Featured and popular parkrun posts:
View of the Thames from the southern border of The City at the City/Tower Hamlets/Southwark Tri-point
The City of London is a unique place in the UK’s geography and governance. It’s part of Greater London but not one of the 32 London Boroughs. It’s inside a city but is a city itself. It’s a Ceremonial County and was within the boundaries of the Historic County of Middlesex but was self-governing.
The City is nicknamed the Square Mile as it’s internal area is 1.12 m² (2.9 km² ). The boundary is less that 11 km with negligible elevation change which makes it a very manageable walk of approximately 3 hours. As as walk it’s also fascinating as you’ll pass the 14 dragons that guard the boundary, 7 tri-points with the London Boroughs and the highest point of the City of London.
The dragons are cast iron statues the guard the main road entrances to the City of London. They were designed and installed in the 1960s. For a more detailed history of the dragons, see the post on IanVisits.
The page below describes the walk that we did in October 2022. Directions start at the Victoria Embankment Dragon, close to Temple Station, but there’s several other good starting points close to tube or rail stations. Let me know if you spot an error or have an interesting fact about the boundary to share. I’ll donate £1 to one of my causes for each update to the page.
Start & Finish: At the Embankment Dragons, Victoria Embankment, Temple, London, WC2R 2PN
Distance: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 89m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Jubilee Walkway, Jack The Ripper Walk, Jubilee Greenway
Other routes touched (cycle): CS 3,7, C2,6
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: City of London, Dragon Boundary Mark
Route of the boundary walk showing locations of the Dragons (liliac icon), Tri-points (brown icon) and high point (red icon)
The City / Borough Tri-Points
Our boundary walk was partly inspired by David Natzler’s project to visit the Borough Tri-Points of Greater London. David’s project, documented in this blog post, visits 32 points where three London Borough’s connect. The City of London isn’t a borough so the 7 Tri-Points of the City with 2 boroughs was out of scope for that project. Given that all 7 of these are on the City of London boundary I wanted to find them all.
David had the great idea of using an oak sprig in photos of each Tri-Point. I wanted to do something slightly different and used a fridge magnet of a London postbox to show the Tri-Point location. Scroll down to see details and the photo of each Tri-Point at the relevant part of the walk.
Dragons 1 & 2: Embankment
Type: Twins, either side of Victoria Embankment, mounted on stone pedestals.
Distance into walk: 0 km
Address: Victoria Embankment, Temple, London, WC2R 2PN.
Nearest Station: Temple (Circle, District)
Coordinates: 51°30'40.0"N 0°06'41.5"W
Links: Victoria Embankment, Inner Temple Gardens
Dragon 3: Temple Bar
Type: Large single dragon on top of a memorial obelisk.
Distance into walk: 0.4 km
Address: The Strand, Temple, London, EC4A 2LT
Nearest Stations: Temple (Circle, District) or City Thameslink
Coordinates: 51°30'49.4"N 0°06'42.9"W
Directions from previous point: Right onto Temple Place, up the Milford Lane steps, along Essex Street, right onto The Strand. Note that the boundary runs through the buildings east of Essex Street. Essex Street itself is actually in the City of Westminster.
Links: Temple Bar, Temple Bar Memorial, Royal Courts of Justice
City of London High Point
Distance into walk: 1 km
Address: Junction of Chancery Lane and High Holborn.
Nearest Station: Chancery Lane (Central)
Coordinates: 51°31'05.3"N 0°06'49.5"W
Directions from previous point: Left onto Chancery Lane, continue to the junction with High Holborn.
See this related post for more details and photos of the City of London High Point
Dragons 4 & 5: High Holborn
Type: Twin dragons on stone plinths either side of the road.
Distance into walk: 1.2 km
Address: Either side of High Holborn near exit to Chancery Lane Underground. Staple Inn 5, London, WC1V 7QH.
Nearest Station: Chancery Lane (Central)
Coordinates: 51°31'05.1"N 0°06'40.7"W
Directions from previous point: Turn right out of Chancery Lane onto High Holborn, continue east.
Links: Chancery Lane, High Holborn
This one is often referred to as the Chancery Lane Dragon, however High Holborn is a more accurate name for its location.
Tri-Point: City of London / Westminster / Camden
Distance into walk: 1.3 km
Address: Between the two carriageways of High Holborn at the corner of High Holborn and Furnival Street, WC1V 7QU.
Nearest Station: Chancery Lane (Central)
Coordinates: 51°31'05.0"N 0°06'37.6"W
Directions from previous point: Continue east along High Holborn.
Links: City of Westminster, Camden
Dragon 6: Farringdon
Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 1.7 km
Address: South side of junction of Charterhouse Street and Furnival Street, EC4A 4LL.
Nearest Station: Farringdon (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Elizabeth Line, Thameslink)
Coordinates: 51°31'06.6"N 0°06'19.1"W
Directions from previous point: Turn left onto Charterhouse Street at Junction of High Holborn/Hatton Garden/Charterhouse/New Fetter Lane.
Links: Farringdon, Smithfield, Smithfield Market
Look out for the 2 “bonus” dragons either side of the arch at the entrance to Smithfield Market on Charterhouse Street.
Tri-Point: City of London / Camden / Islington
Distance into walk: 1.7 km
Address: South side of junction of Charterhouse Street and Furnival Street, EC4A 4LL.
Nearest Station: Farringdon (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Elizabeth Line, Thameslink)
Coordinates: 51°31'06.6"N 0°06'19.1"W
Directions from previous point: N/A - at Farringdon Dragon.
Links: Camden, Islington
Dragon 7: Barbican
Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 2.5 km
Address: Junction of A1 Goswell Road and Baltic Street West. 38 Goswell Road, Golden Lane Estate, London, EC1M 7AA.
Nearest Station: Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan)
Coordinates: 51°31'06.6"N 0°06'19.1"W
Directions from previous point: Continue along Charterhouse Street until end, turn left onto A1 Goswell Road, continue north.
Links: Barbican, Barbican Estate, Golden Lane Estate
Dragon 8: Moorgate
Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 3.6 km
Address: South-east side of junction of Ropemaker Street/A501 Moorgate/South Place, EC2M 2RB.
Nearest Station: Moorgate (National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°31'08.5"N 0°05'15.9"W
Directions from previous point: Turn right into Baltic Street West, onto Baltic Street East, right onto Golden Lane, Left onto B100 Beech Street, onto B100 Chiswell Street, right onto Moor Lane, left onto Ropemaker Street.
Links: Moorgate
At the time that we visited in October 2022 the Moorgate Dragon was looking shiny and new having been recently replaced. The original had been removed to allow room for lorries accessing the construction site for Crossrail / The Elizabeth Line.
Tri-Point: City of London / Islington / Hackney
Distance into walk: 3.9 km
Address: North-West Corner of Finsbury Square / Sun Street and Wilson Street, EC2M 2PA.
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Central, Elizabeth Line, Overground, National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°31'13.2"N 0°05'06.9"W
Directions from previous point: Continue east along South Place, left onto Wilson Street, continue to junction with Sun Street.
Links: Islington, Hackney
Dragon 9: Bishopsgate
Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 4.5 km
Address: Corner of Worship Street and A10 Norton Foldgate.
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Central, Elizabeth Line, Overground, National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°31'08.5"N 0°05'15.9"W
Directions from previous point: Turn right onto Sun Street, curve to the left onto Appold Street, right onto Worship Street.
Links: Bishopsgate
This one is often referred to as the Liverpool Street Dragon, however Bishopsgate is a more accurate name for its location.
Tri-Point: City of London / Hackney / Tower Hamlets
Distance into walk: 4.5 km
Address: East side of A10 Shoreditch High Street opposite junction with Worship Street.
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Central, Elizabeth Line, Overground, National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°31'17.4"N 0°04'42.5"W
Directions from previous point: Opposite side of A10 North Foldgate to the Liverpool Street Dragon.
Links: Hackney, Tower Hamlets
Dragon 10: Aldgate
Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 5.5 km
Address: South-west corner of Middlesex Street and Aldgate High Street, E1 8AX.
Nearest Stations: Aldgate (Circle, Metropolitan) and Aldgate East (District, Hammersmith & City)
Coordinates: 51°31'08.5"N 0°05'15.9"W
Directions from previous point: Turn right out of Worship Street onto A10 North Foldgate, left onto Brushfield Street, right onto Fort Street, (briefly) right onto Artillery Lane, left onto Sandy’s Row, left onto Middlesex Street, left onto St Botolph Street.
Links: Aldgate
Dragon 11: Tower Hill
Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 6.6 km
Address: South side of Byward Street/Tower Hill, at 1 Tower Hill Terrace, London, EC3N 4EE.
Nearest Station: Tower Hill (Circle, District)
Coordinates: 51°30'34.1"N 0°04'43.1"W
Directions from previous point: Cross over Aldgate High Street onto A1210 Mansell Street, right onto Shorter Street, cross over The Minories and follow the north side of Trinity Square Gardens to Tower Hill (road). Cross over to South Side of Tower Hill (road).
Links: Tower Hill, Tower of London
Tri-Point: City of London / Tower Hamlets / Southwark
Distance into walk: 6.8 km
Address: In River Thames between west end of Millennium Pier (north-side) and east end of HMS Belfast (south-side).
Nearest Station: Tower Hill (Circle, District)
Coordinates: 51°30'24.7"N 0°04'48.7"W
Directions from previous point: Turn right onto Tower Hill Terrace, continue onto Petty Wales then to the Thames Path.
Links: Tower Hamlets, Southwark
Dragon 12 and 13: London Bridge
Type: Twin dragons on stone plinths either side of southern entrance to bridge.
Distance into walk: 7.7 km
Address: On A3 London Bridge (road) at south end of #1 London Bridge (plus twin on opposite side of road), SE1 9AJ.
Nearest Station: London Bridge (Jubilee, Northern)
Coordinates: 51°30'23.6"N 0°05'16.5"W
Directions from previous point: Follow Thames Path in a westerly direction to London Bridge. Cross bridge to south side.
Links: London Bridge. Other bridges between London and Blackfriars: Southwark Bridge, Millennium Bridge.
The actual boundary of the City of London runs through the middle of the Thames between the City/Tower Hamlets/Southwark Tri-Point in the east and the City/Southwark/Lambeth Tri-Point in the west. Both London Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge are wholly within the City boundary and are overseen by the City of London Corporation (through Bridge House Estates). Two other bridges, between these: Southwark Bridge and Millennium Bridge are not part of the City of London, however the northern half of each is within the river boundary.
Dragon 14: Blackfriars Bridge
Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 9.7 km
Address: Middle of carriageway at southern end of A2021 Blackfriars Bridge (road), SE1 9UD.
Nearest Station: Blackfriars (Circle, District, Thameslink, National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°30'30.7"N 0°06'15.8"W
Directions from previous point: Cross back over London Bridge to north side of the Thames, continue along Thames Path in a westerly direction to Blackfriars Bridge. Cross bridge to south side.
Links: Blackfriars Bridge
Tri-Point: City of London / Southwark / Lambeth
Distance into walk: 10.5 km
Address: In River Thames between Inner Temple Gardens (north-side) and west end of the Oxo Building (south-side).
Nearest Stations: Temple (Circle, District) or Blackfriars (Circle, District, Thameslink, National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°30'35.2"N 0°06'41.3"W
Directions from previous point: Cross back over Blackfriars Bridge to north side of the Thames, continue along Thames Path in a westerly direction.
Links: Southwark, Lambeth
Tri-Point: City of London / Lambeth / Westminster
Distance into walk: 10.6 km
Address: In River Thames between east end of HQS Wellington (north-side) and The London Studios (south-side).
Nearest Station: Temple (Circle, District)
Coordinates: 51°30'35.5"N 0°06'33.1"W
Directions from previous point: Continue along Thames Path in a westerly direction.
Links: Lambeth, City of Westminster
A Load of Bollards
If collecting the dragons, the tri-points and the high point isn’t geeky enough for you, there’s also the bollards. We noticed that most of the bollards have a date at the bottom and decided to see if we could get the full set. We completed 1991 through to 2000 plus 1988 and 2007.
Other articles and blog posts on the City of London Boundary
More London posts
When: March 27th 2022
Where: Lee Valley White Water Centre, Station Road, Waltham Cross, EN9 1AB
Course: Start and finish at the Lee Valley White Water Centre. Single loop around the lee Valley Country Park on tarmac paths. Fast and flat.
Other routes touched (walk): Lea Valley Walk / River Lea Navigation Footpath, Greenwich Meridian Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1
Finish time: 52:06
Kenwood House to St Paul’s Cathedral Protected Sight Line
London’s Protected Views are 13 sightlines of either St Paul’s Cathedral or Westminster Palace that are protected in planning law. Essentially it means that new buildings can’t obstruct these views. I’ve visited all but one of them so far, many as a part of my Greater London High Points series. Here’s the details on each:
Alexandra Palace to St Paul's Cathedral
From: Alexandra Palace: 51°35′38″N 0°07′48″W
To: St Paul's Cathedral: 51°30′49″N 0°05′53″W
Distance: 9.2 km
Elevation Difference: -57m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Bounds Green (Piccadilly Line): 1 mile.
Nearest Rail Station to view point: Alexandra Palace Station (Great Northern & Thameslink): 0.4 miles
Nearest Underground Station to target point: St Paul’s (Central Line): 0.1 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to target point: City Thameslink (Thameslink): 0.2 miles
On route of: Alexandra Palace and the Parkland Walk
Parliament Hill Summit to St Paul's Cathedral
From: Parliament Hill: 51°33′35″N 00°09′35″W
To: St Paul's Cathedral: 51°30′49″N 0°05′53″W
Distance: 6.6 km
Elevation Difference: -53m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Belsize Park (Northern Line): 0.9 miles
Nearest Rail Station to view point: Hampstead Heath (Overground): 0.4 miles
Nearest Underground Station to target point: St Paul’s (Central Line): 0.1 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to target point: City Thameslink (Thameslink): 0.2 miles
On route of: Walking The Hampstead and Highgate London Borough High Points
Parliament Hill Summit to the Palace of Westminster
From: Parliament Hill: 51°33′35″N 00°09′35″W
To: The Palace of Westminster: 51°29′57″N 00°07′29″W
Distance: 7.1 km
Elevation Difference: -69m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Belsize Park (Northern Line): 0.9 miles
Nearest Rail Station to view point: Hampstead Heath (Overground): 0.4 miles
Nearest Underground Station to target point: Westminster (Circle, District & Jubilee Lines): 0.1 miles
Nearest Rail Station to target point: Waterloo (South Western): 0.6 miles
On route of: Walking The Hampstead and Highgate London Borough High Points
Parliament Hill Prominent Oak to the Palace of Westminster
From: Parliament Hill Prominent Oak: 51°33'37.4"N 0°09'27.6"W
To: The Palace of Westminster: 51°29′57″N 00°07′29″W
Distance: 7.2 km
Elevation Difference: -64m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Belsize Park (Northern Line): 1.0 miles
Nearest Rail Station to view point: Hampstead Heath (Overground): 0.5 miles
Nearest Underground Station to target point: Westminster (Circle, District & Jubilee Lines): 0.1 miles
Nearest Rail Station to target point: Waterloo (South Western): 0.6 miles
On route of: Walking The Hampstead and Highgate London Borough High Points
Kenwood House to St Paul's Cathedral
From: Kenwood House: 51°34'19.0"N 0°09'54.1"W
To: St Paul's Cathedral: 51°30′49″N 0°05′53″W
Distance: 7.9 km
Elevation Difference: -81m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Highgate (Northern): 1.1 miles
Nearest Rail Station to view point: Hampstead Heath (Overground): 1.4 miles
Nearest Underground Station to target point: St Paul’s (Central Line): 0.1 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to target point: City Thameslink (Thameslink): 0.2 miles
On route of: Walking The Hampstead and Highgate London Borough High Points
Summit of Primrose Hill to the St Paul's Cathedral
From: Primrose Hill: 51°32'22.5"N 0°09'38.6"W
To: St Paul's Cathedral: 51°30′49″N 0°05′53″W
Distance: 5.2 km
Elevation Difference: -25m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Chalk Farm (Northern): 0.5 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to view point: South Hampstead (Overground): 1 mile
Nearest Underground Station to target point: St Paul’s (Central Line): 0.1 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to target point: City Thameslink (Thameslink): 0.2 miles
Summit of Primrose Hill to the Palace of Westminster
From: Primrose Hill: 51°32'22.5"N 0°09'38.6"W
To: The Palace of Westminster: 51°29′57″N 00°07′29″W
Distance: 5.1 km
Elevation Difference: -41m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Chalk Farm (Northern): 0.5 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to view point: South Hampstead (Overground): 1 mile
Nearest Underground Station to target point: Westminster (Circle, District & Jubilee Lines): 0.1 miles
Nearest Rail Station to target point: Waterloo (South Western): 0.6 miles
Greenwich Park to St Paul's Cathedral
From: Greenwich Park, north east of the General Wolfe statue: 51°28'40.6"N 0°00'02.9"W
To: St Paul's Cathedral: 51°30′49″N 0°05′53″W
Distance: 7.8 km
Elevation Difference: -6m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Canary Wharf (Jubilee): 2.7 miles. Connect via the DLR from Cutty Sark Station: 0.6 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to view point: Maze Hill (Thameslink, Southeastern): 0.6 miles.
Nearest Underground Station to target point: St Paul’s (Central Line): 0.1 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to target point: City Thameslink (Thameslink): 0.2 miles
On route of: Cycling the Prime Meridian
Blackheath to St Paul's Cathedral
From: Point Hill Park, Blackheath, near the orientation board: 51°28'24.5"N 0°00'39.5"W
To: St Paul's Cathedral: 51°30′49″N 0°05′53″W
Distance: 7.5 km
Elevation Difference: 0m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Canary Wharf (Jubilee): 2.9 miles. Connect via the DLR from Greenwich Station: 0.5 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to view point: Deptford Bridge (Overground): 0.6 miles.
Nearest Underground Station to target point: St Paul’s (Central Line): 0.1 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to target point: City Thameslink (Thameslink): 0.2 miles
Westminster Pier to St Paul's Cathedral
From: Westminster Pier: 51°30'06.2"N 0°07'25.4"W
To: St Paul's Cathedral: 51°30′49″N 0°05′53″W
Distance: 2.2 km
Elevation Difference: +23m
Nearest Underground Station to target point: Westminster (Circle, District & Jubilee Lines): 0.1 miles
Nearest Rail Station to target point: Waterloo (South Western): 0.5 miles
Nearest Underground Station to target point: St Paul’s (Central Line): 0.1 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to target point: City Thameslink (Thameslink): 0.2 miles
On route of: Walking Central London’s Protected views (see below)
Richmond Park to St Paul's Cathedral
From: King Henry VIII's Mound in Richmond Park: 51°26'41.8"N 0°17'41.1"W
To: St Paul's Cathedral: 51°30′49″N 0°05′53″W
Distance: 15.6 km
Elevation Difference: -25m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Richmond (District Line): 1.5 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to view point: Richmond (Overground, South Western Railway): 1.5 miles.
Nearest Underground Station to target point: St Paul’s (Central Line): 0.1 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to target point: City Thameslink (Thameslink): 0.2 miles
On route of: Walking The Merton, Wandsworth and Richmond London Borough High Points
Links: BBC News Article 2006
The Serpentine to the Palace of Westminster
From: The centre of the bridge over the Serpentine: 51°30'22.0"N 0°10'21.6"W
To: The Palace of Westminster: 51°29′57″N 00°07′29″W
Distance: 3.4 km
Elevation Difference: -5m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Lancaster Gate (Central Line): 0.6 miles.
Nearest Rail Station to view point: Paddington (GWR, Heathrow Express): 09 miles.
Nearest Underground Station to target point: Westminster (Circle, District & Jubilee Lines): 0.1 miles
Nearest Rail Station to target point: Waterloo (South Western): 0.6 miles
On route of: Walking Central London’s Protected views (see below)
The Queen's Walk at City Hall to the White Tower
From: The Queen's Walk at City Hall: 51°30'18.4"N 0°04'42.5"W
To: The White Tower, Tower of London: 51°30′29″N 00°04′34″W
Distance: 0.4 km
Elevation Difference: +10m
Nearest Underground Station to view point: Tower Hill (Circle, District Lines): 0.7 miles
Nearest Rail Station to view point: London Bridge (Southern, Thameslink, Southeastern): 0.5 miles
Nearest Underground Station to target point: Tower Hill (Circle, District Lines): 0.2 miles
Nearest Rail Station to target point: London Fenchurch Street (c2c): 0.2 miles
On route of: Walking Central London’s Protected views (see below)
All of London’s Protected Views
Walking Central London’s Protected Views
The three shortest sightlines in Central London can be visited on a scenic 10km walk. The sightlines included are:
The Queen's Walk at City Hall to the White Tower.
Westminster Pier to St Paul's Cathedral
The Serpentine to the Palace of Westminster
The 10km distance includes starting and ending at the closes London Underground Stations. Navigation is very simple as you’re mostly following the Thames Path and/or Jubilee Greenway and it passes many of the iconic London sights. I went on a chilly December day and didn’t hand around so it took me about 2 hours. It’s worth doing it more slowly in the Summer to appreciate more of the points of interest along the way.
Tower Hill on the Circle and District Line is the closest station to the start. From here you’ll pass the Tower of London and over Tower Bridge to get to the first sightline. From City Hall it’s only 400m to the White Tower and most of that is river. It’s a great view but practically impossible to obscure by buildings so it’s a strange one to include as a protected sightline.
From City Hall follow the Thames Path in an easterly direction for ~400m until you reach Westminster Bridge. Cross over the bridge towards the Palace of Westminster then take a right onto Victoria Embankment. You’ll find the sight-line to St Paul’s near the top of the steps down to the lower level. Here you can see the dome of St Paul’s between the roof of the Royal Festival Hall and the London Studio’s Tower.
From Westminster Pier, return to Westminster Bridge Road and take a right onto George Street. Follow this to the edge of St James’ Park. Either follow the Jubilee Greenway around the edge of the park or cut through the centre to get to Buckingham Palace. Cross The Mall and into Green Park, following the Jubilee Greenway parallel to Constitution Hill to Hyde Park Corner. Cross the island at Hyde Park Corner, still following The Jubilee Green Way and into the south-east corner of Hyde Park. Once in Hyde Park either follow the Jubilee Greenway, or the path closest to the southern edge of The Serpentine to West Carriage Drive. Turn right onto West Carriage Drive and onto the bridge over The Serpentine. The protected sightline to the Palace of Westminster is half way along the bright on the right hand side.
From the Serpentine Bridge continue north and take the first footpath on the right, following the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk. This will take you to the northern edge of the park and the Bayswater Road. Lancaster Gate Underground Station, on the Central Line is on the opposite side of the road. On the Central Line change at Notting Hill Gate (heading west) or Bank (heading east) to pick up the Circle Line to return to the start.
Start: Tower Hill Underground Station: London, EC3N 4DJ
Finish: Lancaster Gate Underground Station: Bayswater Rd, London W2 2UE
Distance: 9.8 km (6.1 miles)
Elevation change: +84m / -71m. Net +13m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Jubilee Greenway, Jubilee Walkway, Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4, CS 3, 6 7,
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots on Queen’s Walk
Maps:
- London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
- London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Tower of London, The White Tower, Tower Bridge, Queen’s Walk, City Hall, Westminster Pier, Palace of Westminster, St James’ Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, The Serpentine
More London posts
Protected View to St Paul’s Cathedral
Start & Finish: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY
Distance: 11.1 km (6.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 138m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): New River Path, Capital Ring
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Many, including: Finsbury Park Cafe, Goods Office (Parkland Walk South), Queens Wood Cafe (Highgate Wood)
Map: OS Explorer 173 London North
Links: Alexandra Palace, New River, Finsbury Park, Parkland Walk, Highgate Wood, London’s Protected Views
This is a short circular walk in north-west London that takes in Alexandra Palace, The New River Path and The Parkland Walk. The Parkland Walk follows a disused railway line and is now an area of calm in a busy part of the capital.
If you’re driving there’s a large car-park at Alexandra Palace that, at the time of writing, takes donations rather than a fixed charge. To access the route by public transport, the route passes close to Hornsea and Harringay rail stations and Highgate tube on the Northern Line.
At Alexandra Palace find the view point on the terrace at the centre of the south side of the main building. This is a Protected View to St. Paul’s Cathedral, although we couldn’t see St Paul’s even through the viewfinder. Must have been hiding.
From the view point take the paths through Alexandra Park to the southern exit to North View Road. Here you can either take a left onto the path following the southern edge of the park, or follow North View Road and Newlands Road as they run parallel to the path. We were there after a lot of rain and the path was muddy so we took the roads. The path and Newlands Road join just before Campsbourne Play Centre. Follow Newlands Road, then Greenways in an easterly direction until you reach the New River Path.
Follow the New River Path in a southerly direction for 2.6km until the junction of Alroy Road and Endymion Road. Take a right onto Endymion Road and follow it south until the entrance to Finsbury Park. Enter the park and follow the path on the western edge down to meet the Capital Ring just south of the Finsbury Park Café. Take a right onto the Capital Ring, cross the footbridge over the rail line and join the Parkland Walk.
Parkland Walk South
The Parkland Walk follows the route of the old railway line that ran from Finsbury Park station to Alexandra Palace. The route of the southern, and longer, section of the Parkland Walk runs from Finsbury Park (the park not the station) to the Holmesdale Tunnels near Highgate tube station.
Disused Stations Passed:
Stroud Green: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Platforms no longer exist. The Station Master’s House survives and is in alternative use.
Crouch End Station: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Both platforms survive.
Highgate: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Still exists but not publicly accessible.
When you reach the western end of Parkland Walk have a look at the entrance to the tunnels before leaving the path. These are now blocked off to protect the bats that now live there. Leave the Parkland Walk at Holmesdale Road and follow signs for the Capital Ring. You’ll pass through Priory Gardens, Queen’s Wood and Highgate Wood. The Queen’s Wood Café is a great place to stop for a rest ahead of the final 2 km. Once you have crossed Muswell Hill Road from Queen’s Wood into Highgate Wood, leave the Capital Ring and follow the path on the eastern edge of Highgate Wood to the north-east corner at Cranley Gardens.
If you want to stay true to the route of the old rail line, you could follow the path on the western side of Highgate Wood instead.
Parkland Walk North
After Highgate Wood, the Parkland Walk can be picked up again on the junction of Muswell Hill Road and Cranley Gardens (road). This section of the Walk exits into Alexandra Park where you’re a very short walk back to the start.
Disused Stations Passed:
Cranley Gardens: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. No longer exists, site now used for housing and St. James primary school.
Muswell Hill: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. No longer exists, site now used for Muswell Hill primary school.
Alexandra Palace: Disused Stations / Wikipedia. Platforms removed but the station building survives and is in alternative use.
More Disused Railway Posts
The Colne Valley Regional park is a fascinating mix of countryside and industry to the west of London. As the name suggests, it follows the River Colne and stretches from Rickmansworth in the north to Staines in the south. Rickmansworth is where the Colne picks up the waters carried by the Chess, Gade and Ver from the central Chilterns. Exploring further down the valley you’ll find rivers, streams canals and lakes before the waters reach the Thames at Staines.
There’s a lot of industry too, with the park cut through with the M25, M4, M40, train and tube lines and, under construction, HS2. For those, like the Colne Valley Landscape Partnership who protect the park, it’s a never-ending mission. For unspoilt beauty, the nearby Chiltern Hills AONB is the place to go. For interesting walks, diverse landscapes and accessibility to London, there’s a lot to do in the Colne Valley.
Living nearby and needing to stay local during the Covid lockdowns, I spent a lot of time exploring the Colne Valley Trails. Most are medium-distance point-to-point trails that can be completed in short sections or one long summer day. Although we had the benefit of use of 2 cars for our trips, the start and end of most of the trails or sections can also be accessed by public transport.
Here’s the map of the routes with links to each below.
The Trails
Beeches Way. Runs for 27 km from Cookham to West Drayton. The Shakespeare’s Way follows the Beeches Way through the Colne Valley
Celandine Route. Runs for 19 km along the River Pinn from Pinner to the Grand Union Canal at Yiewsley
Chess Valley Walk. Runs for 16 km along the River Chess from Chesham to Rickmansworth.
Colne Valley Trail. Runs for 33 km along the River Colne from Rickmansworth to Staines. The southern parts of the trail are called the Colne Valley Way.
Grand Union Canal Towpath. Runs for 220 km from Birmingham to London.
Hillingdon Trail. Runs for 32 km from Springwell Lock on the Grand Union to Cranford Park near Heathrow.
London Loop. Runs for 242 km in a circle around London.
Slough Arm Canal. Runs for 10km from Slough to Yiewsley.
Thames Path. Runs for 298 km from Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Estuary, east of London.
The London Borough Tri-Points are the points where 3 of the 32 Greater London Boroughs meet. In an earlier post I showcased the the excellent work of David Natzler who visited and documented the tri-points in 2020 and 2021. David’s travels took him to the tri-points of all of the boroughs except for those that meet in the River Thames and those with the City of London. I have visited the 7 tri-points with The City later on a City of London Boundary Walk and I plan to visit the 14 tripoints that are in the centre of the River Thames. Rather than get a boat or swim I’ll be OK with getting as close as possible on one side of the river to get a photo.
When I get to visiting the Tri-Points this post will describe them in more detail. For now, here’s what I’ve found from desktop research only. Contact me or comment below if you have any input or corrections and I’ll donate £1 to one of my Causes.
The 14 Greater London Borough Tri-Points in the River Thames.
(1) Hounslow / Richmond-upon-thames / hammersmith & Fulham
North-east of Chiswick Eyot between Chiswick Mall on the north bank and St Paul’s School on the south bank.
Coordinates: 51°29'16.4"N 0°14'36.2"W
Nearest Station: Hammersmith (District Line, Piccadilly): 1.6 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Hounslow, Richmond upon Thames, Hammersmith and Fulham
(2) Richmond-upon-thames / hammersmith & Fulham/Wandsworth
Between the confluence with the Beverley Brook on the south bank and Fielders Meadow on the north bank.
Coordinates: 51°28'20.4"N 0°13'18.3"W
Nearest Station: Putney Bridge (District Line): 1.3 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Richmond upon Thames, Hammersmith and Fulham, Wandsworth
(3) hammersmith & Fulham/Wandsworth/ Kensington & Chelsea
Between the confluence with the Chelsea Creek on the north bank and St. Mary’s Church Battersea on the south bank.
Coordinates: 51°28'39.3"N 0°10'40.0"W
Nearest Station: Imperial Wharf (Overground / Southern): 0.5 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Hammersmith and Fulham, Wandsworth, Kensington and Chelsea
(4) Wandsworth/ Kensington & Chelsea / Westminster
In the middle of the Chelsea Bridge.
Coordinates: 51°29'04.4"N 0°08'59.4"W
Nearest Station: Battersea Power (Northern): 1 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Wandsworth, Kensington and Chelsea, City of Westminster
(5) Wandsworth / Westminster/ Lambeth
South-west of Vauxhall Bridge between the Grosvenor Pub on the north bank and Riverside Gardens on the south bank.
Coordinates: 51°29'09.2"N 0°07'46.2"W
Nearest Station: Vauxhall (South Western): 0.5 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Wandsworth, City of Westminster, Lambeth
(6) Westminster/ Lambeth / City of London
Between east end of HQS Wellington (north-side) and The London Studios (south-side).
Coordinates: 51°30'35.5"N 0°06'33.1"W
Nearest Station: Temple (Circle, District) : 0.3 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: City of Westminster, Lambeth, City of London
(7) Lambeth / City of London / Southwark
Between Inner Temple Gardens (north-side) and west end of the Oxo Building (south-side).
Coordinates: 51°30'35.2"N 0°06'41.3"W
Nearest Station: Temple (Circle, District): 0.4 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Lambeth, City of London, Southwark
(8) City of London / Southwark / Tower Hamlets
Between west end of Millennium Pier (north-side) and east end of HMS Belfast (south-side).
Coordinates: 51°30'24.7"N 0°04'48.7"W
Nearest Station: Tower Hill (Circle, District): 0.3 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: City of London, Southwark, Tower Hamlets
(9) Southwark / Tower Hamlets / Lewisham
Between the river entrance to Surrey Quays on the south/west bank and Millwall Outer Dock on the north/east bank.
Coordinates: 51°29'36.6"N 0°01'48.4"W
Nearest Station: Surrey Quays (Overground): 1.3 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham
(10) Tower Hamlets / Lewisham /Greenwich
Between the Master Shipwright’s House on the south bank and Masthouse Terrance Pier on the north bank.
Coordinates: 51°29'12.4"N 0°01'24.4"W
Nearest Station: Deptford (Thameslink, southeastern): 0.8 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Greenwich
(11) Tower Hamlets / Greenwich / Newham
Between the O2 on the south bank and the confluence with the River Lea on the north bank.
Coordinates: 51°30'19.8"N 0°00'27.5"E
Nearest Station: North Greenwich (Jubilee): 0.8 km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, Newham
(12) Greenwich / Newham/ Barking & Dagenham
Between West Lake, Thamesmead on the south bank and the confluence with the River Roding on the north bank.
Coordinates: 51°30'43.0"N 0°05'58.8"E
Nearest Station: Abbey Wood (Elizabeth Line, Thameslink, southeastern): 3.5 km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Greenwich, Newham, Barking & Dagenham
(13) Greenwich/ Barking & Dagenham/ bexley
Between Marlborough Care Home on the south bank and Barking Riverside Pier on the North Bank
Coordinates: 51°30'48.9"N 0°07'05.9"E
Nearest Station: Barking Riverside (Overground): 0.5 km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Greenwich, Barking & Dagenham, Bexley
(14) Barking & Dagenham/ bexley / Havering
Between Riverside Resource Recovering on the south bank and the confluence with the Beam River on the north bank.
Coordinates: 51°30'31.5"N 0°09'28.4"E
Nearest Station: Belvedere (southeastern): 3.7 km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Havering
David with his completed collection.
The London Borough Tri-Points are the points where 3 of the 32 Greater London Boroughs meet. Have you ever wondered where they are and got the inspiration to visit them all? Probably not, but it has been done! This post is based on the excellent work of David Natzler who visited and documented the tri-points in 2020 and 2021. Descriptions and photos are all from David with some formatting, references and graphics from myself. I love David’s idea of the oak sprig in the vase to represent the boundary oak.
David’s travels took him to the tri-points of all of the boroughs except for those that meet in the River Thames and those with the City of London. I visited the 7 tri-points with The City later on a City of London Boundary Walk.
(1) The Oaks – Bexley/Bromley/Greenwich
A bleak spot on the A 20 Sidcup by-pass, marked by a speed camera and a Welcome to Greenwich sign. But right on the border is the suitably named The Oaks, a home for dementia sufferers. Over the fence in Bexley is Mr Mulligan’s Mini Golf, one of a chain of a dozen such venues in England offering family crazy golf, outsize plastic balls in a landscape dominated by weirdly coloured plastic dinosaurs and small crashed aeroplanes.
Coordinates: 51°25'55.1"N 0°04'31.2"E
Nearest Station: New Eltham (southeastern): 1 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich
(2) The Cooling Centre – Bromley/Greenwich/Lewisham
Winn Road, the Greenwich/ Lewisham frontier ends in a pleasant green space with chestnut trees. Over the Quaggy stream are the leafy hills of Mottingham in Bromley, including WG Grace’s villa. Beside the tripoint is the Winn Road National Grid cooling establishment. It cools the water around the 350,000 volt main electricity supply cable which runs underground here. Hence the genuine Danger of Death warning on the railings.
Coordinates: 51°26'30.2"N 0°01'45.7"E
Nearest Station: Mottingham (southeastern): 1.9 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham
(3) Paxton Corner – Bromley/Lewisham/Southwark
Where the roads up from Sydenham in Lewisham, and Penge in Bromley, breast the ridge of Sydenham Hill, the westward slopes of which are in Southwark. The old brick wall and metal posts are all that is left of Rockhills, the London home of Sir Joseph Paxton, who designed the palace of glass for the 1851 Great Exhibition down in Hyde Park and then oversaw its re-erection on the Sydenham ridge. The two ancient Lewisham parish markers sit below a splendid oak tree, probably a real boundary oak.
This tri-point is roughly half way between the highest points in Lambeth (Westow Hill) and Southwark/Lewisham (Sydenham Hill). It’s a ~1 mile walk along the A212 and Sydenham Hill road, via the tri-point between the 2 high points.
Coordinates: 51°25'34.2"N 0°04'26.2"W
Nearest Station: Gipsy Hill (southern): 1.5 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Bromley, Lewisham, Southwark
(4) Café corner – Bromley/Lambeth/Southwark
Southwark and Lambeth march up Farquhar Road: below the precipice of Crystal Palace Parade was the pinnacled Crystal Palace upper station, specially built to access the palace by a subway under the road. The subway survives but not the station, or the railway, painted further down the track at Lordship Lane by Camille Pissarro. There are two continental cafes here, Café Paradou and Café St Germain.
This tri-point is less than 100m from Westow Hill, the highest point in the London Borough of Lambeth.
Coordinates: 51°25'14.2"N 0°04'42.0"W
Nearest Station: Crystal Palace (southern): 0.6 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Bromley, Lambeth, Southwark
(5) The Vicar’s Oak – Bromley/Croydon/Lambeth
Croydon takes over from Bromley once the park ends. The park has a Boundaries Gate in honour of the meeting here in times gone by of four parish boundaries. In 2018 the stump of an old oak was installed, together with a panel about parish boundaries, beating the bounds and the Vicar’s Oak which once stood here. It is [so far] the only tripoint monument in London, and it is therefore a special place.
This tri-point is at Westow Hill, the highest point in the London Borough of Lambeth.
Coordinates: 51°25'12.0"N 0°04'42.7"W
Nearest Station: Crystal Palace (southern): 0.5 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth
(6) The Inaccessible Graveney Triangle – Lambeth/Merton/Wandsworth
Railway lines forking beyond protective fencing, in a world of allotments, and the hidden river Graveney. The railway signs help mark the spot, which can at least be glimpsed by enthusiasts from the windows of trains between Streatham and either Tooting or Mitcham Eastfields.
Coordinates: 51°25'09.3"N 0°08'25.4"W
Nearest Station: xxx
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Lambeth, Merton, Wandsworth
(7)Streatham Races – Croydon/Lambeth/Merton
Still in Graveney country, now in Norbury, where the back gardens of Woodmansterne Road separate Merton from Lambeth. There is a well concealed open space in Merton behind a locked gate, once the site of the short-lived and disorderly Streatham racecourse on Lonesome Farm. This led to the installation of ramps for horses at the new Norbury station, and then to the 1879 Racecourse Licensing Act which bore down on courses less than 10 miles from the centre of London. Pity….
Coordinates: 51°24'44.4"N 0°07'39.9"W
Nearest Station: Norbury (southern): 0.5 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Croydon, Lambeth, Merton
(8)Mitcham Common Gateway – Croydon/Merton/Sutton
Between Croydon’s Beddington sewage works and derelict hand car wash sites lies the unexpected joy of Mitcham Common, looked after by Conservators. It has suffered from gravel extraction and waste disposal: but it offers ponds with ducks, covered reservoirs, sandy paths, a golf course, and a tramway with bright green silent trams. Near the tripoint is a fine white high vehicle gateway leading to nowhere.
Coordinates: 51°23'27.1"N 0°08'03.7"W
Nearest Station: Beddington Lane (tram): 0.6 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Croydon, Merton, Sutton
(9) Beverly Brook 1 – Kingston/Richmond/Wandsworth
A few hundred yards north of no 10, by way of the Robin Hood Gate to Richmond Park, is the border with Richmond, where two little bridges cross the Beverly Brook as it emerges from beneath the A3: a footbridge leading to the new golf clubhouse and a weir, to catch old footballs and supermarket trolleys rather than salmon.
Coordinates: 51°26'14.2"N 0°15'14.7"W
Nearest Station: Barnes (southwestern): 3.7 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames, Wandsworth
(10) Beverly Brook 2 - Kingston/ Merton/ Wandsworth
By the banks of the Beverly Brook – a brook for beavers but no longer, and London’s best boundary stream – is an 1861 parish boundary stone, overhung and surrounded by the oaks of Wimbledon Common, which could be known as Wimbledon Forest: this tripoint is one of the most attractive and one of the hardest to pinpoint. The track alongside the brook is used by cyclists and pedestrians and mounted rangers.
Coordinates: 51°25'57.2"N 0°15'03.9"W
Nearest Station: Wimbledon (southwestern, Thameslink): 3.7 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Wandsworth
(11) Beverly Brook 3 – Kingston/ Merton/Sutton
Upstream from No 10, still on the edges of the brook, but here heavily channelled and overlooked by two gasometers on the Kingston side, within a beautiful piece of preserved woodland. The wood and adjoining playing fields in Merton were given to the public by local magnate and MP Sir Joseph Hood. Hood made his money with British American Tobacco, but the air here is clean, despite the littering, and the wood is full of birdsong.
Coordinates: 51°23'21.4"N 0°14'23.0"W
Nearest Station: Motspur Park (South Western): 0.9 km
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia: Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Sutton
(12) Bulls Bridge – Ealing/Hillingdon/Hounslow
The Grand Union Canal’s Paddington branch starts here, miles of canal-boats and waterfowl and the backsides of commercial estates. The tripoint is where the canals meet, at Bulls Bridge where the Grand Union Canal heads west. The delightful towpath along the Paddington branch is the border between Ealing and Hillingdon: past the Blair Peach school named after the young New Zealander killed by a policeman during an April 1979 anti-National Front demonstration.
Coordinates: 51°29'58.8"N 0°24'25.0"W
Nearest Station: Hayes & Harlington (GWR, Elizabeth Line): 1.6km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow
(13) Northolt Mandeville - Ealing/Harrow/Hillingdon
In Northolt, by the railway lines and in the shadow of the Solid Waste Transfer Station to the west between the tracks. Northolt is of course famous for its aerodrome, where 32 Squadron The Queen’s Flight is based: memorably, the flight carrying the body of Lady Diana back from Paris landed there back in 1997. But it also has roots in the Domesday Book and the local government ward is named for the local Norman grandee who was Constable of the Tower of London.
Coordinates: 51°33'17.9"N 0°22'40.3"W
Nearest Station: Northolt Park (Chiltern Railways): 1.6km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon
(14) Sudbury Hill – Brent/Ealing/Harrow
The tripoint is a tiny step from one of the classic 1930s London Underground stations designed by Charles Holden: Pevsner notes “how satisfying …such unpretentious buildings can be”. Harrow on the Hill is just beyond, a much more challenging hill than Sudbury Hill for cyclists or pedestrians, with the added interest of the school buildings of Harrow School: “hearty and confident gloom”, to quote Pevsner again. The area is alive with railway lines going off in all directions.
This Tri-point is 1.3 km from the high point of the London Borough of Brent. See the blog post Walking The Capital Ring: Harrow on the Hill to Horsenden Hill for details.
Coordinates: 51°33'23.6"N 0°20'08.1"W
Nearest Station: Sudbury Hill (Piccadilly Line): <100m
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Brent, Ealing, Harrow
(15) Burnt Oak Corner – Barnet/Brent/Harrow
On Watling Street. A foodshop called Neam Bucovinean next to the Gormandu traditional Romanian restaurant suggest a local concentration of Europeans from the frontiers of the EU. The first ever Tesco store was near here. The area is called Burnt Oak, one of several post-war LCC cottage housing estates. The vase in the photograph is empty in homage to the hint in that name of a phantom boundary oak.
Coordinates: 51°36'01.3"N 0°16'01.7"W
Nearest Station: Burnt Oak (Northern Line): 300m
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Barnet, Brent, Harrow
(16) Emlyn Corner - Ealing/Hammersmith and Fulham/Hounslow
Contrasting cultures meet here: on one hand the leafy roads of Bedford Park and Turnham Green, where the Trained Bands turned back King Charles in the Civil War, but now endowed with Royalist street names - Queen Anne, Rupert, Woodstock, Blenheim; and on the other Acton, where the Emlyn Gardens estate boasts blocks delightfully named for Greater London’s rivers, including the Beverly, the Lea and the Roding, all of which host tripoints.
Coordinates: 51°30'05.1"N 0°15'11.1"W
Nearest Station: Stamford Brook (District Line): 1km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow
(17) Welcome to Harlesden – Brent/Ealing/Hammersmith and Fulham
Willesden Junction is a desert of railway tracks requiring two separate bridges to cross the local lines and the West Coast Main line, and then lead south into Ealing and the calm of the Paddington Branch of the Union Canal. There is an official Brent noticeboard inscribed “Welcome to Harlesden.” Harlesden is the home of Digestives and Hobnobs. Welcome indeed.
Coordinates: 51°31'57.8"N 0°14'46.7"W
Nearest Station: Willesden Junction (Overground): 140m
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham
(18) By Way of Kensal Green – Brent/Hammersmith and Fulham/Kensington and Chelsea
There is a Brazilian steakhouse and the promise of Sunrise Brazilian hair in Brent, opposite the Anglican chapel and the entrance to the Roman Catholic part of the massive Kensal Green cemetery, and above the Kensal Green railway tunnels: a faintly disturbing juxtaposition. “For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen, Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green”.
This tri-point is also at the highpoint of the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and very close to the high point of Hammersmith and Fulham. See the Central London Five Summits blog post for details.
Coordinates: 51°31'49.2"N 0°13'42.5"W
Nearest Station: Kensal Green (Overground, Bakerloo): 160m
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea
(19) The towers of St John’s - Brent/Kensington and Chelsea/Westminster
Ladbroke Grove in the Royal Borough peters out here in the shadow of the twin towers of St John the Evangelist’s Kensal Green. Next to it is a private school called Bales College. But there is little sign here of the alleged gentrification of Kensal Green which in 2014 produced a Mulberry handbag named Kensal.
Coordinates: 51°31'40.5"N 0°12'57.8"W
Nearest Station: Kensal Green (Overground, Bakerloo): 0.8 km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Brent, Kensington and Chelsea, City of Westminster
(20) St Augustine’s junction – Brent/Camden/Westminster
The second tripoint in the middle of Watling Street. Camden has a modern Library here, hopefully also accessible also to the citizens of Westminster and Brent. Down the road in Westminster is St Augustine’s CofE High School, St Augustine’s Sports Centre, and finally the magnificent St Augustine’s church, the vast late 19th century “cathedral of north London”, named for the Augustine whom Pope Gregory sent to England to convert it to Christianity.
Coordinates: 51°32'10.6"N 0°11'29.4"W
Nearest Station: Kilburn High Road (Overground): 120m
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Brent, Camden, City of Westminster
(21) All Souls Ridge – Brent/Camden/Barnet
The third Watling Street tripoint as it climbs up the inimitably delightfully named Shoot Up Hill between Camden and Brent and on the shoulder of the hill meets Barnet at Cricklewood, beside the Mediterranean bar and restaurant Elementree - “ the location is very romantic” . All Souls College Oxford once owned much of the land on the western side of the highway, including dozens of oaks: now gone but not forgotten.
Coordinates: 51°33'18.7"N 0°12'48.6"W
Nearest Station: Cricklewood (Thameslink): 0.5 km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Brent, Camden, Barnet
(22) Kenwood Corner – Camden/Barnet/Haringey
This prosperous tripoint is at edge of Hampstead Heath, which is managed by the City. The tripoint is where Bishops Avenue, home of the mega-rich, and technically in Barnet, meets the Heath. This is unmistakeably Highgate, a ward name used by both Camden and Haringey: unusual if not unique? A few hundred yards away is the old new wealth of Kenwood House, built from Mansfield’s legal practice and probably family slave estates in the Caribbean. There are several tremendous oaks on this boundary.
This tri-point is close to the London Borough High Points of Islington, Haringey and Camden and the Kenwood House and Parliament Hill Protected Views. See the post Walking The Hampstead and Highgate London Borough High Points for details
Coordinates: 51°34'21.1"N 0°10'16.5"W
Nearest Station: Golders Green (Northern Line): 2.1 km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Camden, Barnet, Haringey
(23) New Southgate Tunnel – Barnet/Enfield/Haringey
Sadly this has little to do with Southgate itself, where Pevsner mentions several appetisers. The North Circular enters a long, unlit and seemingly unventilated abyss under the main railway line going north. The arch is decorated with graffiti tags RAS10FOOT or maybe 10FOOTRAS, presumably acrobatically carried out from above. By some way the most hazardous tripoint in London.
Coordinates: 51°36'36.7"N 0°08'19.7"W
Nearest Station: New Southgate (Great Northern, Thameslink): 1 km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Barnet, Enfield, Haringey
(24) Waterlow Corner – Islington/Haringey/Camden
Islington comes up Highgate Hill past the Whittington Hospital and the Passionist RC Church of St Joseph to meet Hornsey Lane from Haringey. On the Camden side of the corner is Lauderdale House, built in 1582 by the goldsmith Richard Martin, sponsor of Drake’s circumnavigation. It is now a community hub. Behind and around is Waterlow Park, a “garden for the gardenless” given to the LCC by Sir Sidney Waterlow, a Liberal Lord Mayor.
This tri-point is also the high point of the London Borough of Islington. See the post Walking The Hampstead and Highgate London Borough High Points for details
Coordinates: 51°34'08.8"N 0°08'32.7"W
Nearest Station: Archway (Northern Line): 0.6 km
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Islington, Haringey, Camden
(25) The Twelve Pins – Islington/Haringey/Hackney
Finsbury Park is a railway station named after a large park in Hornsey, created in 1869 from Hornsey Wood House pleasure gardens for the gardenless people of Finsbury in inner London. The borders meet in the middle of Seven Sisters Road outside the Twelve Pins pub, painted a vibrant blue. The Twelve Pins are not an inebriate vision of tenpin bowling but the Twelve Pins (or Bens) hilltops in Connemara, a great ridge walk. One of a small handful of tripoint pubs.
This Tri-point is 0.6km along Seven Sisters Road from the high point of the London Borough of Hackney. See the Central London Five Summits blog post for details.
Coordinates: 51°33'53.2"N 0°06'15.8"W
Nearest Station: Finsbury park (Great Northern, Overground, Thameslink, Piccadilly, Victoria): 150m
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Wikipedia: Islington, Haringey, Hackney
(26) Pymme’s Brook – Haringey/Enfield/Waltham Forest
First of three tripoints in the middle of the Lea. The land route lies through Northumberland Park - the Percy connection which brought the Hotspur to Tottenham - and past an Edmonton gasholder, and over Pymme’s Brook and then Chalk Bridge over a branch of the Lea. But coming up the Lea from the south there are locks and swans and boats galore: this is where “the gulphy Lee his sedgy tresses rears” in the words of Alexander Pope.
Coordinates: 51°36'20.3"N 0°02'29.2"W
Nearest Station: Meridian Water (greateranglia): 1.7 km
Map: Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Wikipedia: Haringey, Enfield, Waltham Forest
(27) Cahn’s Corner – Haringey/Hackney/Waltham Forest
Where Stamford Hill, home to London’s Hassidic Jewish community, meets the counter-culture of canal houseboats on the Lea and the reservoirs of the Lea Valley park. The well-kept towpath buzzes with pedestrians and cyclists and presumably the inhabitants of the many houseboats moored here. A sign warns passing boats that there is non-motorised traffic on the water and indeed just downstream is the rowing club. Named for a good friend who biked with me here.
Coordinates: 51°34'40.0"N 0°03'40.3"W
Nearest Station: Stamford Hill (Overground): 1.3 km
Map: South Tottenham (Overground): 1.6 km
Links: Wikipedia: Haringey, Hackney, Waltham Forest
(28) Carpenter’s Road – Hackney/Tower Hamlets/Newham
The third tripoint in the Lea, between the railway bridge running between Hackney Wick and Stratford and a new road bridge over the Lea. The whole area is now part of the Olympic legacy park. Behind in Newham is the Olympic helter-skelter and what is now West Ham’s stadium in Stratford Marsh. It must have been near here that we all saw the Queen land when she parachuted in to open the 2012 Olympic Games.
Coordinates: 51°32'36.1"N 0°00'59.7"W
Nearest Station: Hackney Wick (Overground): 0.6 km
Map: Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Wikipedia: Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham
(29) Eton Manor – Hackney/Waltham Forest/Newham
On the northern edges of Olympic land is this generous tribute to the site of the Eton Manor Boys’ Club, Eton’s mission in the east end of London, celebrated in a poem on the wall by Carol Ann Duffy: “young lives respected, cherished, valued, helped…..”; where poverty was translated to self-esteem. A rare flowering of the spiritual in these acres of sporting legacy from 2012.
Coordinates: 51°33'05.7"N 0°01'01.8"W
Nearest Station: Leyton (Central): 1.6km
Map: Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Wikipedia: Hackney, Waltham Forest, Newham
(30) The Holly Tree – Waltham Forest/Newham/Redbridge
The border line between Newham and Redbridge on the edge of Wanstead Flats is here defined along Capel Road by trees: alas ash and not oak. Wanstead is greener than imagined. The Flats are indeed flat; such a fine expanse of publicly accessible grassland perhaps deserves a less forbidding name. The Holly Tree pub is opposite on the Newham side, offering CZECH LAGER. Balmy summers on Wanstead Flats washed down by a real Moravian Pils from the Holly Tree…
Coordinates: 51°33'22.5"N 0°01'13.3"E
Nearest Station: Wanstead Park (Overground): 0.6 km
Map: Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Wikipedia: Waltham Forest, Newham, Barking and Dagenham
(31) Banks of the Roding – Newham/Redbridge/Barking and Dagenham
The tripoint is under the raised train tracks and the North Circular flyover above them and is not a welcoming space. But the river Roding, a boundary river, flows past from rural Essex through Ilford, with its fine old Hospital chapel, to Barking, with its numinous Abbey remains and gatehouse, on its way to Barking Creek. The track on its west bank gives access to reed banks. The Roding hosts kayakers as well as moorhens.
Coordinates: 51°32'39.9"N 0°04'06.0"E
Nearest Station: Barking (Overground, c2c, District Line, Hammersmith & City Line): 1.8 km
Map: Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Wikipedia: Newham, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham
(32) Grissell’s Corner – Redbridge/Havering/Barking and Dagenham
The tripoint is almost rural - heading out on Hog Hill Road past Chadwell Heath villas and into farmland in Redbridge with its cheerful logo of oak leaves and a warning to drivers of deer. The City of London cast iron Coal Duty post, one of around 200 to survive, delineates the area within which coal tax was payable. It is dated 1861 and was made by Henry Grissell of the Regents Canal Iron Works: “Iron Henry”.
Coordinates: 51°35'56.3"N 0°08'53.4"E
Nearest Station: Gidea Park (Elizabeth Line, Overground, greateranglia): 4.3 km
Map: Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Wikipedia: Redbridge, Havering, Barking and Dagenham / Coal Duty Posts / Coal Duty Post # 7
More London posts
Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Hounslow
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Botley Hill. NHN = Richmond Park
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 35m
Date “climbed”: 20th December 2021
Coordinates: 51° 29' 11'' N, 0° 23' 3'' W
Nearest Station: Hounslow West (Piccadilly Line): 1.7 miles
On route of: N/A. The London Loop is 2.7 km to the south-west
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia (Hounslow), Peakbagger, Hillbagging
For my Greater London High Point adventure I saved the closest, if not the best, for last. As the nearest to where I live I held this one back for a quick trip on a rainy day. That never really happened so I bagged it on the way back from Westerham Heights.
Not much to see here: it’s a quiet residential road parallel to the M4 and close to the service road to Heston Services. The high point appears to be near the junction with Meadow Way. It’s so flat though, it could be anywhere.
Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Bromley, Highest peak in Greater London (all 32 Boroughs)
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Botley Hill. NHN = Betsom’s Hill
Historic County: Kent (of which Betsom’s Hill is the County Top)
Elevation: 245m
Date “climbed”: 20th December 2021
Coordinates: 51° 17' 22'' N, 0° 3' 30'' E
Nearest Station: Oxted (Southern, Thameslink): 7.7 km
On route of: None. North Downs Way is 0.8 km to the south-east
Map: Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Map | Royal Tunbridge Wells & Westerham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 147
Links: Wikipedia (Bromley), Peakbagger, Hillbagging
Westerham Heights has been the highest natural point of Greater London since April 1st 1994. Prior to that the high point was on the northeastern slope of Botley Hill. A boundary change moved this point to Surrey where Leith Hill is higher.
Although I had already done Westerham Heights back in 2012, I had no memory of it at all. I had bagged it with a few friends while doing nearby Betsom’s Hill. My friend Mark’s log on Hillbagging even said I’d been there. I still couldn’t be sure though so I made a return trip on the way back to the M25 from Sydenham Hill.
The high point is on the main road opposite Westerham House. You can park in the lane next to the house but be careful crossing the road as it’s very busy. I overshot the turning and packed in the next lane. This is also where the 246 bus stops. For London’s highest point, it’s another disappointingly dull one and there’s no view.
My favourite (and only so far) fact about Westerham Heights is that the top of The Shard is now the highest point in Greater London (thanks to Kevin Hyam for sharing this with me). The Observation Deck at the Shard is at 244m, just 1m lower than Westerham Heights. The total height of The Shard, is 309.6m.
Significance: Highest peak in the London Boroughs of Lewisham and Southwark
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Botley Hill. NHN = Sanderstead Plantation
Historic County: Border of Surrey and Kent
Elevation: 112m
Date “climbed”: 20th December 2021
Coordinates: 51° 25' 57'' N, 0° 4' 20'' W
Nearest Station: Sydenham Hill (Southeastern): 0.8 km
On route of: Green Chain Walk
Map: London South Map | Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 161
Links: Wikipedia (Lewisham), Wikipedia (Southwark), Peakbagger, Hillbagging
After Westow Hill, the Lambeth high point, it’s just 1.5 km up the Lewisham/Southwark border to get to the high point of both boroughs. Several Hillbagging logs count the Green Chain Walk sign at the junction of Sydenham Hill and Crescent Road as the high point. We also found a white engraved stone on the opposite side of Sydenham Hill (road) that may also be a clue. Most of the writing had eroded away but we could make out the word “point” near the base.
There's some argument over the name of this hill. One origin story has Sydenham taking its name from the Anglo-Saxon word Cippas, to mean 'drunkard's settlement' — somewhat aptly given the number of excellent pubs round the corner in Crystal Palace. Alternatively, if less evocatively, it may derive from the medieval term 'syp', meaning sheep. Others think it simply comes from a personal name, such as Cippa. Source: How London’s Hills Got Their Names).
Walk from Sydenham Hill Station to Sydenham Hill Summit
If you’re arriving by train to Sydenham Hill station, the best way to walk to the high point is via Sydenham Hill Wood and the old railway trackbed. This is the old route of the Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway. When you reach Crescent Wood tunnel take the right hand path to Crescent Road. Take a right on the road and follow it south to the high point at the junction with Sydenham Hill.
Start: Sydenham Hill Station, London SE21 7ND
Finish: Sydenham Hill High Point, 51° 25' 57'' N, 0° 4' 20'' W
Distance: 575m (0.4 miles)
Elevation change: +44m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Green Chain Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Links: Sydenham Hill Wood, Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway
