The weather pros might have ruled out a white Christmas for most of us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy the magic of winter.
During the festive period, many of us will want to get out and about for a walk with friends or family, after consuming more roast potatoes and chocolates than we can count.
And while we might not have snow, there are many spots in London (and nearby) that’ll leave you feeling like you’ve stepped straight onto the set of a Christmas movie.
Here is a look at some of the most magical winter walks you can do around the capital, as well as some a little further out, in case you want to escape the city for a bit…
The best winter walks in London
Richmond Park (and Richmond Hill)
There’s a reason Richmond Park often tops lists of London’s best parks – not only is it London’s biggest one, spanning a whopping 2500 acres, but it’s also home to ancient trees, King Henry’s Mound, which boasts views of St Paul’s Cathedral, and several ponds.
And who could forget about all the deer?! If you squint, you could pretend it’s Rudolph et al you’re seeing roaming around freely. There’s honestly nowhere else like it in London.
If you’ve got time while you’re in Richmond, it’s also worth heading over to the Richmond Hill viewpoint. On a clear day, you can see for miles, with the view featuring the River Thames snaking around meadowland.
Head down the hill towards the river, and you can then follow the Thames Path from Richmond along to Teddington, where you’ll find some great pubs to stop for a cheeky pint. You’ll have earned one after all that walking.
Chiswick to Hammersmith
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Speaking of the Thames Path, if you go in the opposite direction from Chiswick to Hammersmith, you’ll also find yourself walking past lots of interesting buildings, including the beautiful houses along Chiswick Mall, as well as great pubs, and you’ll get to cross the pretty Hammersmith Bridge. Along the way, you can admire the boats on the river and any wildlife that happens to be around.
Be sure to check the tide times before you set off, though, so you don’t get caught out by flooding.
Primrose Hill
A walk around through the charming village-like area of Primrose Hill is always magical, like something out of a Hallmark movie – if it were set in London.
You can grab a coffee or hot chocolate as you go from one of the independent coffee shops in the area, and a bagel from It’s Bagels if you’re so inclined, and make your way up to the top of the hill itself. There you can enjoy incredible views of the London skyline. If you time it right at sunset, it’ll be particularly magical.
Hampstead Heath and Kenwood House
Kenwood House, a stately home at the edge of Hampstead Heath, is often thought to be one of the city’s hidden gems, and it looks straight out of a period film. You could imagine the ladies of a Jane Austen novel taking a turn around the grounds before heading inside to play piano forte, sew, and then have dinner.
The Heath itself also makes for a great walk, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot a famous face while you’re out there, as the area has been known to be popular with a number of celebs, including the likes of Harry Styles and Ryan Gosling.
Epping Forest
If you want to feel like you’ve escaped London, without actually doing so, Epping Forest is probably the place to go. And if you walk too far, you might actually end up leaving the city, as the ancient woodland spans 13 miles from east London to Essex.
According to the City of London website, you’ll find ‘majestic old pollarded trees, iron age mounds, wooded glades, reed-fringed ponds and glorious meadows’ in the forest – it’s the ideal place for a Christmas or Boxing Day walk.
St Christopher’s Place to Bond Street
Being in the heart of central London at Christmas time, with all of the twinkling lights and fabulous window displays, will definitely make you feel like you’re in a movie.
Oxford Street is great, but if you want to beat some of the crowds (and still enjoy the buzz), start at St Christopher’s Place, cross briefly through Oxford Street, and head towards Bond Street. You’ll be able to window shop to your heart’s content at some of the fanciest stores in the city.
If you don’t mind being around all the people, finish off by nipping to Regent Street to see the iconic sparkling angels, which really are stunning.
Some winter walks outside of London…
Verulamium Park, St Albans
If you want to get out of the city, you can hop on a train from St. Pancras and be in St Albans in just under 20 minutes. The city is a great spot to be at Christmas time, as it’s filled with streets lined with Georgian buildings and more pubs per square mile than anywhere else.
Head along the High Street and then head towards St Albans Abbey. There you’ll find Verulamium Park, with an icy lake and its own island, where you can wander around the waterways before stopping for some mulled wine at Britain’s oldest pub and finishing the walk by heading up to admire the Roman ruins on the hillside.
Denham
The beautiful Buckinghamshire village of Denham truly looks like the set from The Holiday, from picture-perfect cottages you’ll wonder if it’s socially acceptable to take a photo outside of, to pubs with an excellent ratio of dogs per customer. And, the station is just 19 minutes from London’s Marylebone. There are several circular walk options, ranging from 1.5 miles to 5.2 miles, all detailed in full on the village’s website.
If you can, take the longer route, which shows off the quintessential church, impressive golf club, enchanting woodland, and the scenic canal. You’ll also work up an appetite for a roast at the Green Man, which comes with gigantic Yorkshire puddings. Then there’s the plum crumble and custard. Need we say more?
Shere
Denham might be bringing all The Holiday vibes, but if you want the real thing, you might want to head to Shere in Surrey. It’s quite a bit further away from London, but it’s the ACTUAL village where Cameron Diaz and Jude Law filmed the iconic Christmas movie.
It’ll take you just over an hour to drive there from the city (this will vary depending on your starting point), or you can hop on a train from Clapham Junction to Guildford, which takes 30 mins, then get a 20-minute taxi to Shere.
Once there, you can tuck into a roast dinner at the pub where Amanda and Graham have their first date and take a walk through the village, past the church, up to the fields where the cottage was supposed to be. (Spoiler alert: it’s not a real place, they built a fake one.)
The village also has some charming little independent shops (I highly recommend at browse of the homeware in Split Figs) and a visit to the Dabbling Duck for a hot drink and a slice of cake.
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