Take a 'winter wander' this weekend

More than 30 free guided walks along London’s seven most popular routes on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 January. Some routes will go past venues where the 2012 Olympic Games took place

After a summer like no other when the world descended on London for the spectacular 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a cold winter can seem dull and miserable.  This weekend, there is a chance to wrap up warm, blow away the cobwebs and join one of the free guided walks taking place across London.

The Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) are sponsoring free walks with expert guides to help Londoners enjoy the bustling sights and sounds as well as the changing landscape of the capital.  This weekend’s walks will help people appreciate how easy it is to walk around our great city.

Known as Winter Wanders, the walks will help Londoners discover parks, rivers, canals and open spaces and hidden gems, with something suitable for all ages and abilities.  

The Mayor wants London to become a city that is easier and more pleasurable to enjoy on foot and TfL is making many improvements to achieve this, including more and improved public spaces, better walking routes and new pedestrian signs. During the London 2012 Games, eight new walking and cycling routes linking different parts of London to the Olympic Park and other venues, played a major role in providing alternative means of travel to alleviate pressure on the public transport network, and selected walks will now go past venues where the Olympic and Paralympic Games took place.

TfL figures released towards the end of last year showed that the number of people cycling and walking on Greenways (off road traffic free paths and spaces) rose by 21 per cent between Summer 2010 and Summer 2011, showing Londoners are embracing sustainable travel. 

Ben Plowden, Director of Surface Planning at TfL, said: “Yet again, we are giving Londoners an opportunity to wrap up warm this winter and get out and about on foot and learn something new about the local area.

“Winter Wanders is also a perfect time for families to enjoy quality time together and learn how easy it is to walk around our great city. TfL is making many improvements to help make London a city that is easier and more enjoyable for journeys on foot.”

Anne Clark, Walk England MD, said: "Winter Wanders offer everyone the opportunity to explore London on foot, with friends and family. The walk leaders are very knowledgeable; you'll definitely come away knowing more about London and its amazing history than you did before."

The Winter Wanders weekend is organised by Walk England and funded by TfL. To find out more about the walks near you visit www.walklondon.org.uk

All walks start and finish either at, or within easy reach of public transport facilities, and explore sections of the city’s seven most popular routes which are:

• Capital Ring Walk -15 easily walked sections combine to provide a 78 mile circular route around inner London – some of the attractions on this route include Eltham Palace, Richmond Park, Wimbledon Common, the Olympic Park and the Thames Barrier; 

• Green Chain Walk – 50 miles of linked parks and open spaces that include  Severndroog Castle, Crystal Palace Park and Oxleas Woods; 

• Jubilee Walkway – 15 miles of path designed to connect London’s key attractions and many of the city’s most famous sights including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Tower of London, Tower Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral; 

• Lea Valley Walk – 18 miles of path following the river and canal in north east London, taking in Tottenham Marshes, Enfield Lock and Waltham Abbey; 

• LOOP Walk (London Outer Orbital Path) – 152 miles of parks and paddocks including Hall Place, Wilberforce Memorial and Kenley Aerodrome; 

• Thames Path Walk – 40 miles of level walks from Hampton Court Palace, through the heart of London to Erith Marshes. Sights include the Houses of Parliament, Albert Bridge, Syon Park and Kew Gardens; 

• The Jubilee Greenway Walk - Marking Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – 37 miles of path connect all the central London Games venues including the North Greenwich Arena, Greenwich Park, Horse Guards Parade, Hyde Park and Regent’s Park.