Capital Ring
126 km / 78 miles
This is an inner London circular orbital route linking parks, commons and open spaces, and very well served by public transport. While there is a signifcant proportion of hard surface and pavement on the route, there are many sections that seem quite rural, in green parks and woods, round lakes and reservoirs and along rivers and canals, and there are a number of long parkland sections such as in Richmond Park, and many fine views across the distant City from the higher sections.
There are numerous points of interest along the way, highlighted in the well-researched guidebook and leaflets. Leaving the Thames path at Woolwich, the route includes Maryon Park, Woolwich Commons, Oxleas Wood, Eltham Palace, Crystal Palace, Wimbledon Park, Richmond Park, crossing of the Thames at Richmond, Syon Park, Brent River Park, Grand Union Canal, Horsenden Hill, Harrow on the Hill, Fryent Park, Brent Reservoir, Queens Wood, Parkland Walk, Finsbury Park, the New River, Clissold Park, the Lea river, the Olympic Park site at Stratford, the Greenway, and finally the Woolwich foot tunnel under the Thames.
The latest edition of the main Aurum guidebook for the route, listed below, includes changes to the route since its previous editions. These are also summarised in the additional information on this publication's page linked below, to help if you are familiar with the previous route or have an earlier edition or older OS maps. Individual leaflets for the fifteen sections are available free from London Boroughs or from the Walk London weblink (that includes some audio/video), and the TFL links carry route details.
From the start the route soon coincides with the Green Chain Walk to Crystal Palace. The Dollis Valley Greenwalk (10 miles and included on OS mapping) provides a link between the London LOOP and the Capital Ring as does the Thames Path South East Extension to Erith.
The Definitive Guide Cicerone book is a comprehensive guide to walking routes in Greater London.
Strider News - December 2010 (Publication Update)
Strider News - August 2010 (Route Diversions)
Connected Paths:
Details:
| Waymark: | Name with Big Ben in arrow ring on green disc | |
| Attributes: | Easy; Forest/Woodland; Lake/Reservoir/Loch; River; Canal; Urban; Heritage; Industrial History | |
| Start and Finish: | TQ432793 - Woolwich Foot Tunnel, Gtr London  |
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| Open Date: | 2005 | |
| Web Sites: | TfL Walking Routes: Capital Ring | |
| TfL Walking Route Finder | ||
| Walk London - Strategic Walks Information Service |
Maps:The map to the right is from the Ordnance Survey. You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a marker for more info. (interactive map help) |
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| Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps): | |
| OS Landranger: | 176, 177 |
| OS Explorer: | 161, 162, 173, 174 |
| OS Explorer Active: | 161, 162, 173, 174 |
| Other Paper Maps: | |
| Map (Other): | London Street Atlas (Geographer's A-Z Map Company - 2005) |
| Digital Maps: | |
| Digital Street Mapping: | A-Z Greater London by Memory-Map (Memory-Map Europe - 2005) |
Route Profile:
| 120.6 Km (74.9 miles) 1,293 m (4,242 ft) ascent 127 m (417 ft) maximum height |
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Walking Support Providers:
| Support Providers: | Self Guided Walking Holidays (Beks Treks UK) |
Group Accommodation within 5 Km of this Path:
| Hostel Accommodation: | London Earls Court YHA, 38 Bolton Gardens, London | 5 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Ace Hotel, W Kensington, London | 3 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Hostel 639, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London | 5 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | All Star Hostel, Kilburn, London | 4 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Palmers Lodge, Swiss Cottage, London | 4 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Smart Camden Inn, Bayham St, London | 4 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Clink Hostel, 78 Kings Cross Rd, Kings Cross | 4 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Ashlee House, Kings Cross, London | 4 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | London St Pancras YHA, 79-81 Euston Road, London | 4 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | London Thameside YHA, 20 Salter Road, London | 4 Km |
Publications, Badges and Certificates:
| Guidebook: | Capital Ring (Aurum Press - 2010) |
| Leaflets: | Walk the Capital Ring (Walk London - Strategic Walks Information Service) |
| Paperback: | London: The Definitive Walking Guide (Cicerone Press - 2002) |
| Paperback: | Big Walks of London (John Merrill Foundation - 2008) |
Downloads:
| GPS Exchange Format Route File: | Capital Ring GPX Exchange Format Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
| MemoryMap Route file: | Capital Ring Memory Map Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
| Tracklogs Route file: | Capital Ring Tracklogs Route file | Login to Download (Members Only) |