Posts tagged London
London's Coal Duty Posts

View to Rushett Farm airstrip from the Coal Post on the north edge of Ashtead Woods

The Coal Post Boundary compared with the current Greater London Boundary and the M25

Not content with visiting all of the Greater London High Points and OS Trig Pillars in London, I set myself the mission to visit all of the over 200 London Coal Duty Posts that are still standing.

The London Coal Duty Posts mark a fascinating chapter in the capital's history of taxation and urban development. Erected primarily in the 1860s, these posts denote the irregular boundary, roughly 12 to 18 miles from central London, where a tax was levied on coal (and for a period, wine) entering the Metropolitan Police District. This ancient duty, which dates back to the 17th century, was a vital source of income for the Corporation of London, initially intended to fund the rebuilding of the city after the devastating Great Fire of 1666.

The purpose of these posts was to provide clear, visible markers of where the duty became payable, ensuring that no one could feign ignorance of the tax. With the advent of canals and railways in the 19th century, which brought coal into London through new routes, it became necessary to extend the collection points beyond the traditional river Thames entry. Approximately 280 posts were installed along roads, railways, and canals, and remarkably, over 200 of them still survive today, many of them now Grade II listed buildings. While the duty was generally not collected at the posts themselves (this was usually handled by transport companies or coal merchants), the posts served as an undeniable physical demarcation of the chargeable zone.

Though the coal duties were finally abolished in 1890, these unassuming markers remain a tangible link to London's past. The funds raised from these taxes played a significant role in financing numerous crucial public works and improvements across the growing metropolis. Projects such as the construction of the Thames Embankment, the Holborn Viaduct, and the freeing of several Thames bridges from tolls were all beneficiaries of this revenue. So, the next time you encounter one of these distinctive posts, take a moment to appreciate its subtle but profound historical significance – a small piece of iron that helped shape the modern fabric of London.

If you want to find out more about the Coal Duty Posts I highly recommend visiting Martin Nail’s website. It’s an amazingly thorough documentation of the history, location and conditions of the posts. Rather than reproduce anything here, my post below contains my own photos, notes and links to Coal Post themed walks and cycle trips that I have done. I’ve used Martin’s Coal Post numbering and where there’s a link to a specific post it goes to the relevant page on Martin’s website.

If you spot any errors on this page or have new information about any of the posts that I have missed please contact me or comment below. I’ll donate £1 to one of the outdoor causes that I support for every edit made.

The North-East: Posts 1 to 31.

Anti-clockwise from Dagenham to the A1(M). The first 6 posts (#s 0a to 0f) are missing. Coal Post #1 is the first extant post north of the Thames in the east. Scroll down to the Notes section at the bottom of this page for details of missing photos.

 

The North-West: Posts 33 to 83

Anti-clockwise from the A1(M) to the River Thames at Staines. Scroll down to the Notes section at the bottom of this page for details of missing photos.

The South-West: Posts 84 to 164

Anti-clockwise from the River Thames at Staines to Hooley. Scroll down to the Notes section at the bottom of this page for details of missing photos.

The South-East: Posts 165 to 217

Anti-clockwise from the River Thames at Staines to Hooley. Scroll down to the Notes section at the bottom of this page for details of missing photos.

The Final Coal Duty Post at Erith

Although I visited most of the posts in a fairly random order, I saved the final extant and in-place post to the end. I had unknowingly cycled past it years before on the London Loop ride. It’s very easy to miss though as the post is off the path on a grassy peninsula next to the confluence of the rivers Darent and Thames.

To access it, park at the corner of Burnett Road and Ness Road and take the footpath running in a south easterly direction to the footpath running along the river Darent. This path forms part of the London Loop, Cray Riverway Path and the National Cycle Network Route 1. Take a left to follow the path towards the Thames. When you reach the confluence, leave the path to carefully walk down the grassy part where you’ll find the pillar

The Randoms

Here’s a few other posts and markers related to the Corporation of London that are not in Martin’s List of Coal Duty Posts:

Comment below or contact me if you know of any other pillars, posts or markers related to the Corporation of London boundary.

Coal Duty Posts in Museums

  • Coal Duty Post 5 is now at Valence House Museum, Dagenham. It was moved to the museum following road widening in 1960. It is currently outside the museum to left of the front door.

  • Coal Duty Post 63. In Museum of London reserve collections. Originally at the side of Springwell Lane in parapet of Drayton Ford Bridge. Removed in 1923 and in current ownership since 1965. I contacted the Museum in summer 2025 to enquire about visiting the stone but at the time it was not available to see it.

  • Coal Duty Posts 74 and 75 are now on display at the Chiltern Open Air Museum in Chalfont St. Giles. They were removed in 1982 in advance of construction of the M25 motorway and have been at the museum since 1998.

  • Coal Duty Post 83, also known as The London Stone, is now on display at Spelthorne Museum in Staines, It was first moved in 1986 and has been at the museum since 2004; it was replaced at its original location by a replica.

Notes

  • #5 has been relocated to the outside of the Valance Museum. See the section on Coal Duty Posts in Museums.

  • #10 is inaccessible but, according to coaldutyposts.co.uk, is visible from the train.

  • #16 is shown as extant on coaldutyposts.co.uk but I couldn't find it when visited in March 2025. Possible road widening or just overgrown?

  • #17 is missing.

  • #32 is missing. See this article for an interesting story about it.

  • #42 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “On railway land but visible from road”. I couldn’t see it when visited in 2025.

  • #50 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “On railway land but visible from public footpath on opposite side of railway” I couldn’t see it when visited in 2025.

  • #51 is also the highest point of of the London Borough of Hillingdon.

  • #56 is missing.

  • #218 is out of sequence with the anti-clockwise numbering of the other post. Located between #60 and #62

  • #61 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “On private land but visible from permissive footpath on other bank of river”. I couldn’t see it when visited in 2020.

  • #63 is now in the reserve collection of the Museum of London

  • #64 is on a Private Road. I decided not to visit.

  • #71 is missing.

  • #79 is on private land. I decided not to visit.

  • #95 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “In grounds of Middle Thames Yacht Club at N side of Sunbury Lock Ait”. I visited in April 2025, assisted by 2 members of the Sunbury Yacht Club but couldn't find it and they couldn’t remember seeing it before. Maybe now missing?

  • #111 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “On railway land but visible from Stokesheath Road”. I couldn’t see it when visited in 2025.

  • #112 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “In garden of house but visible from road”. I couldn’t see it when visited in 2025.

  • #135 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “In garden of house but visible from road”. New high fence installed. Not visible when visited in 2025.

  • #170 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “On railway land but visible from road”. I couldn’t see it when visited in 2025.

  • #197 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “On railway land but visible from Crown Close”. I couldn’t see it when visited in 2025.

  • #206 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “On railway land but visible from public footpath on opposite side of railway”. I couldn’t see it when visited in 2025.

  • #216 is listed on coaldutyposts.co.uk as “On railway land but visible from public footpath”. I couldn’t see it when visited in 2025.

  • I’ve not listed any Coal Duty Posts on this page that were identified as missing on coaldutyposts.co.uk. These are mostly identified with a letter after the number (e.g. 66a). The exceptions are posts identified as missing on coaldutyposts.co.uk but don’t have a letter after the number (e.g. 71) which I’ve noted above.

More London blog posts

Richard gowerCycle, Trek, Canal, Railway, Thames, London, England, Middlesex, Colne Valley, Coal Duty Post Comments
All The Elizabeth Line Stations
 

My first journey on the Elizabeth Line was in October 2022 on my first trip into London after the Covid Lockdown. I was excited both to be back in the capital and also on the Elizabeth Line having followed progress on its construction. Timea took a photo of me with the purple roundel at Farringdon Station to mark the occasion. A few weeks later we made a Christmas trip into the the West End and took similar photos of me at Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street stations. That was what trigged my compulsive need to tick off everything in a series that can be made into an adventure.

Over the next couple of years I ticked off several more stations during other trips to London. Naturally I had to make some rules to guide the collection. I had to have a photo of me on the platform with the Elizabeth Line Roundel behind me. I also had to be getting on or off an Elizabeth Line train to get there. By 2025 I had about half of the stations and decided that this would be the year that I would complete the set. What followed was a series of cycle rides, often with my friend Brian, to tick off the stations that I wouldn’t get to on other trips. The grand finale was December 2025 with the 3 stations at Heathrow Airport.

Along the way I learnt that not all stations have roundels, just those managed by Transport for London (TFL). The completer-finisher in me still had to visit the other stations. I can’t imagine anyone else feeling the need to do the same but, just in case, here’s what you can look forward to…

If the station is managed by Transport for London (TFL), it will have an Elizabeth line roundel on the station. Stations to note are:

  • Reading, Twyford and Maidenhead are managed by Great Western Railway and don’t have Elizabeth Line roundels.

  • The three Heathrow Airport stations are all managed by Heathrow Express. They serve the Elizabeth Line but don’t have roundels.

  • Paddington Station is managed by Network Rail, Although the Elizabeth Line station is separate to the main station and does have an Elizabeth Line roundel. Some Elizabeth Line services to and from the west terminate in the main Paddington station where there is not an Elizabeth Line roundel.

  • Stratford Station is managed by TFL but does not have an Elizabeth Line roundel on the platform although it does have one above the station entrance.

  • Shenfield Station is managed by Greater Anglia and does not have an Elizabeth Line roundel on the platform although it does have one above the station entrance.

The Western Section: Reading To Acton Mainline

Scroll down to the the stations not managed by TFL section for photos of Reading, Twyford and Maidenhead.

The Heathrow Stations

All are managed by Heathrow Express. There are no Elizabeth Line roundels on the platform.

The Central Section: Paddington to Whitechapel

The North Eastern Section: Stratford to Shenfield

No Elizabeth Line roundel on the Stratford Station platform.

The South Eastern Section: Canary Wharf to Abbey Wood

The stations not managed by TFL

No Elizabeth Line roundels here.

Richard gowerRailway, Underground, London, Berkshire, Essex, England Comment
Walking The River Brent Path

River Brent at the Wharncliffe Viaduct

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

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

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

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

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

  • Brent Lodge Park and the Hanwell Zoo: A perfect detour for families, Brent Lodge Park is home to a small, popular zoo, locally known as "The Bunny Park."

  • The Grand Union Canal: The path eventually converges with the Capital Ring and the Grand Union Canal Walk, where you can watch the colourful narrowboats navigate the locks, notably the flight near Hanwell.

  • The Wharncliffe Viaduct: In Hanwell, keep an eye out for the magnificent Wharncliffe Viaduct, an impressive brick structure designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, carrying the Great Western Main Line over the valley.

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

As a flat, easy walk, you can do it all in a day, however we split it into 2 smaller walks of approximately 8 km with Hanwell Zoo as the split point. There’s a small free car park next to the Zoo on Church Road. Hanwell Station is on the Elizabeth Line and close to this mid-point of the route too. Although the river and the path end at the Thames we continued along the Thames Path to complete the walk at Kew Bridge Station.

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Richard gowerTrek, Canal, Railway, Thames, London, EnglandComment
Greater London OS Trig Pillars

If you’ve searched for or stumbled across this page then you probably already know what an OS Trig Pillar is. If you don’t then this article from the Ordnance Survey is a good place to start.

There were 30 OS Trig Pillars built in Greater London of which 24 are still in place. Of these some are on private land and are visible from a distance but not reachable. There’s a further 14 Trig Pillars that are outside of Greater London but inside of the M25. Special mention goes to TP9117 North Ockenden which is inside Greater London but outside of the M25.

I completed my mission to visit all accessible and visible Trig Pillars within Greater London and the M25. The definition of accessible is somewhat subjective though as some that I’ve listed as accessible are just off the public right of way. Looking at the logs, there’s others who have successfully bagged ones I’ve listed as inaccessible but I’ve taken a more risk-averse approach and avoided trespassing, causing damage or scaring animals. Always check the logs on Trigpointing.uk to see how easy it is to access a pillar.

The Map

Click on each icon to see the Trig Pillar name and a link to the page on Trigpointing.uk

The Spreadsheet

The Photos: Greater London Trig Pillars

No photo for TP5676 - Riddles Down

The Photos: Inside M25 but outside of Greater London Trig Pillars

The Log Sheet

If you would like a PDF version of my manual Greater London OS Trig Pillars Log Sheet, please BuyMeACoffee and let me know on the Contact Page. It’s a table of all Greater London Trig Pillars, plus a separate page for those outside of London but inside the M25. You can track your date completed and there’s space for your own Notes. 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 one of the Causes that I support and the rest goes toward the running of this website.

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Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, London, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment
Epsom Downs and Langley Vale Wood Circular Walk

Post 130 At Epsom Race Course

Start & Finish: Tattenham Corner Station, Epsom, KT18 5QD
Distance: 11.1 km (6.9 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 160 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22
London Coal Duty Posts: 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, (132), 133, 134, (135), 136
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Bell (just off route at 7.6 km), several in Tattenham Corner High Street
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Coal Duty Posts, Tattenham Corner, Epsom Downs Race Course, Epsom Downs, Langley Vale Wood, Tadworth

Similar to the Banstead Heath Circular, this walk takes advantage of having several Coal Duty Posts in close proximity. On the 11 km walk through Epsom Downs and Langley Vale Wood you can visit posts 125 to 136. Note that post 135 is no longer visible as it’s in a private garden hidden by a large fence and bushes. Even if you’re not into bagging the Coal Posts, this is a very pleasant walk.

The route crosses the Epsom Downs Race Course on public rights of way which are occasionally closed during race events. Check before you go to make sure that the paths are open.

The start of the route is from Tattenham Corner Station where there’s also 2 car parks. From the station walk along Tattenham Crescent toward the race course then take a right onto Tattenham Corner Road heading north, The first Coal Post (132) is near the Tattenham Corner Pub. Take a left onto National Cycle Route (NCN) 22 heading in a south-westerly direction through the race course. Along this 2.2 km stretch you’ll pass posts 129, 128, 127 and 126 either on or just off the cycle route.

At Post 126 leave NCN 22 and take a right to follow the path through Langley Bottom Farm then take a left to the path that runs close to the southern edge of Langley Vale Road in a south-westerly direction. You’ll find post 125 near the junction of Langley Vale Road, Headley Road and Downs Road. Keep on the path running next to Downs Road then a left onto Headley Road to the entrance of the Langley Vale Wood Woodland Trust site.

The next 2.5 km meander through Langley Vale Wood. This was farmland purchased by the Woodland Trust in 2014 and is now one of four First World War Centenary Woods remembering those killed in the war. Its a beautiful place to walk though. Follow the paths until you reach Post 136 at the corner of Motts Hill Lane.

Take a left to follow Motts Hill Lane in a northerly direction but keep on the path when Motts Hill Lane curves to the right at (the hidden) Post 135. Keeping on the path you’ll pass Post 134 and, when the path meets Epsom Lane North, you can squeeze through the hedge for Post 133 on the eastern side of the road. Just after Post 133 you’ll see Post 130 on the opposite side of the race-course. Cross the track on the footpath to visit it. Cross back over to visit Post 131 on the small hill overlooking the race-course and then follow Royal Drive to return to Tattenham Corner Station.

The Coal Duty Posts

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Richard gowerTrek, Coal Duty Post, Surrey, London, EnglandComment
parkrun LonDone+ and LonDone ++

“LonDone” is the name for completing the full set of 66 parkrun events in Greater London. There’s 2 other terms: “LonDone +” and “LonDone ++” that have been widely debated in the various parkrun social media forums.

  • LonDone + is generally seen as being all parkrun events within the M25. There are currently 15 parkrun events that are within the M25 but outside of Greater London or a total of 81 events within the M25.

  • Up to now I’ve ignored LonDone ++ as a lot of the definitions have felt a bit arbitrary. However, one definition that I like is that it includes events that are outside of the M25 but have a Voronoi area that crosses inside the M25. This includes a further 9 parkrun events making a total of 90 events that have part of their Voronoi area within the M25. Note that different parkrun apps have slightly different calculations for their Voronoi apps. For this page I’ve used the Voronoi map from the Running Challenges Chrome Extension.

  • LonDone+ and/or LonDone++ are also referred to as “Orbit-All”

See the main LonDone page for details of all parkrun events within Greater London.

Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

LonDone +: parkrun events within the M25

LonDone +: parkrun events within the M25

Note that the Egham Orbit course crosses under the motorway with a short section outside of the M25. I've included it in LonDone+ as the start, finish and majority of the course are within the M25.

LonDone ++: parkrun events with a Voronoi area crossing the M25

LonDone ++: parkrun events with a Voronoi area crossing the M25

Event (County, Region)

Notes on recent changes

  • Thurrock’s Voronoi area extended across the M25 before the start of Ingrebourne Hill.

  • Jersey Farm’s Voronoi area extended across the M25 before the start of Oaklands College.

The images below show the Voronoi area for each of the LonDon ++ parkrun events in blue with the M25 as a red line.

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:

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, London, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Kent, Essex, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, England Comments
Walking The Limehouse Cut and Hertford Union Canal

House Mill

Start: Canary Wharf Station, Canada Square, London, E14 5AB
Finish: Bethnal Green Underground Station, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 0ET
Distance: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: + 58m / -53m. Net -5m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Greenwich Meridian Trail, Lee Valley Walk, Jubilee Greenway, Capital Ring, London to Walsingham Camino, Regents Canal Towpath
Other routes touched (cycle): Prime Meridian Cycle Route, NCN 1, 13, C2
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several at the Start and End at Canary Wharf and Bethnal Green. Also the Cafe at House Mill (5.1 km in) and several at the junction of the Lee Navigation and Hertford Canal (7.3 km in)
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: Canary Wharf, Limehouse Basin, Limehouse Cut, Bow Locks, Lee Navigation, House Mill, Hertford Union Canal, Regent’s Canal, Bethnal Green

This is a short, flat and interesting canal-side walk in the east of London. For us it was an epilog to the Regent’s Canal walk that we completed the previous year as it takes in 2 short canals that both intersect with the eastern end of the Regent’s. We started the walk from Canary Wharf Elizabeth Line Station but if you want to shorten it by 2 km you could also start from Limehouse DLR Station.

From Canary Wharf walk in a westerly direction across Cabot Square and Westferry Circus to the north bank of the river Thames. Take a right and follow the Thames Path to Limehouse Basin. Take a right into the basin, keeping to the eastern edge of the marina until you get to the Limehouse Cut.

The Limehouse Cut was constructed in the early 19th century to relieve congestion on the River Thames and provide a more direct route for barges carrying goods to and from the city. The Cut is just over 2km and, initially straight then turns in a curve to Bow Locks, where the Lee Navigation meets Bow Creek. On this walk you’ll follow the path between the Lee Navigation and Bow Creek to reach House Mill at the entrance Three Mills Island. The House Mill is the largest tidal mill standing in Britain and and has a small exhibition and cafe if you’re ready for a rest at this half-way point in the walk.

After House Mill cross over to the western side of the Lee Navigation and continue north along the towpath. You’ll pass through some derelict post-industrial land in various stages of redevelopment before reaching the Olympic Park. Here you’ll find several canal-side options for food, all of which were too busy when we arrived on a Saturday afternoon.

Cross over to the western side of the canal at White Post Lane, take left then a right onto the Hertford Union Canal. The Hertford Union was built to transport goods between Hertford and London, connecting the Lee Navigation to the Regent’s Canal. It’s just over a mile long an passes between Victoria Park on the northern side and housing on the south.

When you reach the Regent’s Canal, take a left and walk south for 200m then cross over the Roman Road Bridge. Follow Roman Road for 1km to the end of the walk at Bethnal Green Underground Station.

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Richard gowerTrek, Canal, Railway, Thames, London, EnglandComment
RideLondon 2024

Brian and I, somewhere in Essex. Photo by Sportograf

RideLondon had been on my back-burner for years. It began life in 2013 as Prudential RideLondon, following the route of the 2012 Olympics road race from London to the Surrey Hills and back. In the early years it was so popular that there was a ballot for places. I didn't get in for a years, then missed a few as it coincided with our summer holiday dates, then I kind of forgot about it.

The route changed completely in 2022 when it moved from Surrey to Essex. There was also no ballot and the date changed to late May. After my friend Brian did it in 2023 it soon came back to the top of my list.

It had been a long time since I'd done an organised cycling event, preferring self-organised bike-packing adventures instead. I didn't doubt that I could do the distance but I was concerned about what bike I would take. A light road bike is the obvious choice but I had one stolen a few years back. My only other one is very old and permanently lives on my turbo-trainer for Zwifting. Rather than go through the faff of renting a bike I decided to go on my mountain bike. It's really heavy and definitely not intended for 100 miles of road, but I love riding it. I decided that the extra effort was worth the time and cost saved from other options.

The event day was awesome. It was expertly organised with 25,000 cyclists getting though 103 miles of closed roads. The route follows a diverse mix of Central London to Canary Wharf, the East End through Newham and a long stretch of the A12 dual carriageway before the more pleasant North-London suburbs and quiet Essex countryside.

Brian and I kept together for the first 70 miles then I slipped back a bit and stopped for a few minutes to pick up some more water. Brian would have waited but his RideLondon app showed me as being ahead of him so he powered on.

Brian arrived at the Tower Bridge finish line 20 minutes head of me. After the official timings had filtered out the welfare stop, our finish times were only 9 minutes apart. Given the heaviness of the bike I had I was very pleased.

Completing RideLondon takes me to 2 out of the 3 events that I need for the London Classics Medal. I already had the London Marathon in the bag so it's just the 2 mile Serpentine Swim to complete. I just need to learn how to swim now ....

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Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Thames, London, EssexComment
Walking The River Tyburn
Walking The River Tyburn

The boating lake at Regents Park, once fed by the River Tyburn

Start: Hampstead Underground Station, Hampstead High Street, London NW3 1QG
Finish: Westminster Pier, London SW1A 2JH, United Kingdom
Distance: 10.1 km (6.3 Miles)
Elevation change: +47m / -150m. Net -103m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Regents Canal Towpath, Jubilee Greenway, Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk, Thames Path
Other Routes Touched (cycle): C27, 3, 56
Map: OS Explorer 173 London North
Guidebooks: London's Lost Rivers: A Walker's Guide, London's Lost Rivers, London's Hidden Rivers: A walker's guide to the subterranean waterways of London
Links: River Tyburn, Hampstead, Shepherd’s Well, Swiss Cottage, Regents Park, Baker Street, Mayfair, Green Park, Westminster

For today's London lost river trip we met up with some friends at Hampstead Tube station to walk the route of the old River Tyburn. The Tyburn, once a vital artery of London, now flows silently beneath the bustling city. Originally a meandering stream that provided water and powered mills, its course now follows a network of sewers. Despite its disappearance, the Tyburn's legacy lives on. Its path can be traced through street names and subtle dips in the land, while its past function is remembered in landmarks like Buckingham Palace, which it once flowed beneath. Though hidden from sight, the River Tyburn remains a fascinating reminder of London's ever-changing landscape.

From Hampstead Tube Station follow the A502 Hampstead High Street in a south-easterly direction then take a right onto Shepherds Walk. Continue onto Spring Walk and follow it all the way to Fitzjohn’s Avenue. Take a left onto Spring Path and follow it to the junction with Shepherd’s Path. This junction is the approximate location of the source of the River Tyburn.

Take a right onto Shepherd’s Path and follow it back to Fitzjohn’s Avenue. Here you’ll find Shepherd’s Well, a former source of drinking water and now an early artifact of the route of the Tyburn. Continue south along Fitzjohn’s Avenue where you’ll pass the statue of Sigmund Freud on the corner with Belsize Lane. At the Swiss Cottage Junction continue in a south-easterly direction onto the B525. You could either follow this straight to Regent’s Park or, to keep closer to the route of the old river, take a right onto Norfolk Road, a left onto Woronzow Road, a right onto St Johns Wood Terrace and a left onto Charlbert Street. Cross over Prince Albert Road and cross over Bridge #8 on the Regent’s Canal to enter Regent’s Park.

Head south through Regent’s Park and along-side the western side of the boating lake which was once filled by the Tyburn. Exit the park onto Baker Street just before the footbridge that leads to Regent’s University. Head south along Baker Street, then over the A501 into Marylebone. The area takes its name from the River Tyburn and the nearby St Mary’s Church (“St Mary’s on the bourne” = Marylebone). The route of the Tyburn meanders south through Marylebone and across Oxford Street (known as Tyburn Road in the eighteenth century) at Bond Street. Continue south into Mayfair and take a moment to stop at Gray’s Antiques Market where’s it’s claimed that the river still runs through its basement.

At New Bond Street then route of the Tyburn curves to the south-west taking you along Curzon Street and White Horse Street to Piccadilly. Cross over into Green Park and cross the park in a south-easterly direction to Buckingham Palace. The Tyburn flows under the Palace, emerging on the south side near Ambassador’s Court. Here the Tyburn splits into two with one section flowing south to Pimlico and another branch west to Westminster.

We chose to follow the Westminster branch, following the route along Buckingham Gate, Caxton Street, Dacre Street, Victoria Street and onto Parliament Square. Cross the grass centre of Parliament Square towards Westminster Bridge, then walk north on the Embankment to Westminster Pier. The unmarked confluence of the Tyburn and Thames is approximately at the spot of the Protected View to St Paul’s Cathedral.

The Eastern Source: Belsize Park to Charlbert Street

Start: Belsize Park Underground, Haverstock Hill, London, NW3 2AL
Finish: Drunch Pub Regent's Park, 38 St John's Wood Terrace, London, NW8 6LS
Distance: 3.3 km (2 Miles)
Elevation change: +6m / -35m. Net -29m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched: None
Links: Belsize Park

Having walked the Hampstead to Westminster branch of the Tyburn I wanted to visit the alternative sources at Belsize Park and the eastern confluence at Pimlico. I used OpenStreetMap as a guide as some layers show the route of the Tyburn. There’s actually 2 eastern sources shown at Belsize Park, one near the Everyman Cinema on Haverstock Hill and the other in the ground of Hillfield Court off Belsize Avenue. Both are within a few minutes of Belsize Park Underground Station.

To follow the course of the Tyburn from the eastern sources, find the junction of Glenloch Road and Glenmore Road. Follow Glenmore Road in a south-westerly direction, take a left onto Glenilla Road, then a left onto Belsize Park Gardens. Here the course of the river cuts under the terraced houses so you need to take a longer route round to pick up Lancaster Drive on the southern side. Follow Lancaster Drive south, right onto Lancaster Grove, left onto Strathray Gardens, right onto Eton Avenue and left onto King’s College Road. Here the course goes through a private estate. From the map it looked like you could walk through the estate, but I choose a slightly longer route around via Winchester Road and Harley Road to pick up the course again at Wadham Gardens. Take a right onto Elsworthy Lane, a left on to Avenue Road, right onto Acacia Road, left onto Woronznow Road, and a right onto St Johns Wood Terrace.

According to OpenStreetMap, this branch of the Tyburn merges with the Hampstead branch at the junction of St Johns Wood Terrace and Charlbert Street. The junction is flanked by the Drunch Pub and a hairdressers.

The Pimlico Branch: Buckingham Palace to Grosvenor Road

Start: Gates to Ambassadors’ Court, Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA
Finish: Thames Path by Tyburn House, 140c Grosvenor Rd, Pimlico, London, SW1V 3JY
Distance: 2.1 km (1.3 Miles)
Elevation change: +12m / -18m. Net -6m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Thames Path
Other Routes Touched (cycle): NCN 4, C8
Links: Buckingham Palace, Pimlico

To pick up the Pimlico Branch, return to Ambassadors’ Court on the south side of Buckingham Palace. The main walk detailed about heads west from here to Westminster. Instead we’ll continue south through Westminster, Victoria, Pimlico and to the confluence with the Thames.

From Ambassadors’ Court, cross over the A3124 Buckingham Gate and walk south down a small alleyway, also called Buckingham Gate, then take a right onto Stafford Place. Continue south, crossing Palace Street, along Cathedral Walk and onto the A302. Follow Carlisle Place briefly then divert onto King Scholar’s Passage to stay closer to the course of the Tyburn. Cross over Vauxhall Bridge Road and onto Upper Tachbrook Street then Tachbrook Street. At Pimlico Underground Station, cross over Lupus Street and follow Aylesford Street to Grosvenor Road that runs parallel to the Thames. Take a left onto Grosvenor Road and follow it for ~100 metres to find Tyburn House on the south side of the road. Take the alleyway to the Thames Path to meet the confluence of the Tyburn with the Thames. You’ll find it marked by a slate plaque by artist Paul Mason listing key points along the course of the Tyburn.

The Tyburn Tree and Tyburn Convent

The Tyburn Tree and Tyburn Convent are fascinating places to visit after the walk.

For over 600 years, the Tyburn Gallows loomed over London as a grim symbol of punishment. Nicknamed "The Deadly Never Green Tree," this wasn't an actual tree but a permanent, three-pronged wooden scaffold where public executions took place. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, thousands met their demise here for crimes ranging from petty theft to treason. The process could be gruesome, with condemned souls hanged, then sometimes even drawn and quartered as a chilling deterrent to onlookers. Though a morbid landmark, the Tyburn Gallows offer a glimpse into London's harsh past and the evolution of justice. Today, a solitary plaque marks the spot where countless fates were decided.

Around 300m west of the Tyburn Gallows is the Tyburn Convent. Built in the early 1900s, it serves as a shrine to the Catholic martyrs executed there during the Reformation. The convent houses a community of nuns, the Tyburn Nuns, devoted to perpetual adoration and the legacy of these martyrs. Visitors can explore the poignant Crypt of the Martyrs, learn about the gruesome history of the site, and experience a place of solace and reflection.

The Tyburn Tree and Convent are not directly on the route of the old River Tyburn. They can be visited either as a diversion when crossing over Oxford Street or via a short Tube ride at the end from Westminster to Marble Arch with a change at Bond Street.

Links: Tyburn Tree, Tyburn Convent

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Richard gowerTrek, Canal, Middlesex, London, EnglandComment
Cycling The Thames Estuary: Thames Barrier to Margate

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, Crab & Winkle Way, 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 Crab & Winkle 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 Crab & Winkle 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.

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Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Coast, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Thames, London, Kent, National Trails, England Comments
parkrun LonDone Tracker

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 and the rest goes toward the running of this website.

Excerpt from the full PDF

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, London, EnglandComment
Walking The Regent's Canal

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.
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
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.

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Richard gowerTrek, Canal, Railway, London, Middlesex, England Comment
Walking The Slough Arm Canal

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.

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Richard gowerTrek, Canal, Railway, Chilterns, London, Middlesex, EnglandComment
Walking The Uxbridge To Denham Disused Railway

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.

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Richard gowerTrek, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Colne Valley, Buckinghamshire, London, Chilterns, EnglandComment
Cycling the Staines to Denham Disused Railways

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

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Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Coal Duty Post, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Colne Valley, London, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Cycling The Semaphore Line: Portsmouth to London

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: The original semaphore house no longer exists, apart from some original footings. Beacon Hill House was built in connection with the area.
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

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Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Coast, South Downs, National Park, London, Hampshire, Surrey, England, Surrey Hills Comments
Bushey Heath: Middlesex County Top & London Borough of Harrow High Point

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

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Richard gowerUK County Tops, London, Middlesex, London Borough High Point, EnglandComment
LonDone parkrun Transport Connections

LonDone is the term for completing all parkrun events in Greater London. There are currently 66 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 and will donate £1 to parkrun for every update made.

See my main parkrun LonDone page for more geekery on the Greater London parkrun events.

Scroll right on the table below to also see parking, ULEZ and Congestion Charge, toilets and cafes and nearest airports. Click Here to open up the Spreadsheet in a new browser tab for easier navigation. See below the table for notes on each section.

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.

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.

Cafés 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.

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.

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 fastest 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.

Nearest airports to London parkrun events

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:

Richard gowerRun, parkrun, Railway, Underground, London, England Comments
Walking the City of London Boundary
View of the Thames from the southern border of The City at the City/Tower Hamlets/Southwark Tri-point

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 its 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 Farringdon 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 Farringdon 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: South-East 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 HMS 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.

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Richard gowerTrek, Thames, Middlesex, London, England Comments