Posts tagged London

The idea of navigating above-ground trips along the London Underground lines is not exactly new. Mark Mason's brilliant 2011 book, Walk the Lines, is perhaps the best example, and many other running geeks have also attempted them. Needing to escape the house and clear my head on a cold mid-December morning in 2016, I set off to conquer the Circle Line.

The Circle Line is a great starting point for above-ground Tube adventures. All the other lines have distant start and end points that stretch deep into the suburbs and require quite a bit more logistical planning. At just over a half marathon, tracing the Circle is an easy, self-contained half day adventure.

My start point was Marylebone Station. Although it is not actually on the Circle Line itself, it sits perfectly on the walking route between Edgware Road and Baker Street, which were my true start and end points. I set off clockwise with the strict aim of marking each station with a selfie. A quirky bit of history: when the classic loop first opened in 1884, it was operated by two fiercely rival companies, the Metropolitan and the District railways, who ran their steam trains in opposite directions!

The official distance of the tracks underground for the classic loop is 15 miles: worth noting for the transport geeks that I stuck to the historic loop rather than the modern "teacup" extension out to Hammersmith. However, the trains have the distinct advantage of cutting straight under buildings. Negotiating the streets, traffic lights, and pavements above ground adds at least another mile to the journey. Missing Temple station and having to run all the way back to it from Embankment added yet another mile on top of that. Don't do that.

Once I arrived back at Marylebone, I had covered just over 16 miles. At around three hours, it was certainly no Personal Best, but speed is not really something to be aimed for while dodging pedestrians on a working day in central London. It was a fun trip, though, and a highly satisfying way to link up some very familiar places across the capital.

10 years later …

Although back in 2016 I thought I had completed running the Circle Line, it was always in the back of my head that I hadn't really run the whole thing. I had missed the Hammersmith spur: the section that starts from Hammersmith and runs on elevated sections all the way through to Edgware Road and Paddington.

Back then, I kind of wrote that bit off because it's not really a circle: it's the added bit on the western side. But it was bugging me. So, on a very nice and warm Sunday morning, I decided to finally tie up that loose end. I caught the Tube over to Hammersmith station to start the run.

Leaving Hammersmith, I tried to stick as close as possible to the route of the above-ground track, which is shared by the District and Hammersmith & City lines. I did a mix of running and walking, and there were some incredibly pleasant parts, particularly around the Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove areas.

If you are planning to attempt this western spur at a weekend, there are a few navigational tips to keep in mind:

Goldhawk Road to Shepherd's Bush: Just after Goldhawk Road, you might be tempted to go down Shepherd's Bush Market street. However, it is gated off at the weekends. Instead, you need to take Pennard Road: this runs parallel and is just a couple of hundred metres away from the main route.
Wood Lane and Westfield: After Wood Lane, you will find the Westfield Shopping Centre standing between you and Latimer Road. If you are there when it is open, you can actually cut right through the shopping centre to get onto Ariel Way and then cross over the West Cross Route, which is a very busy dual carriageway. Because I was there so early on a Sunday morning, the centre was closed, so I had to walk around it.

Once you are over the busy dual carriageway that leads out to the Westway, you are rewarded with some very pleasant running. The streets run near the railway at the north of Notting Hill and the south of North Kensington.

At Royal Oak, you cross over the railway and then head across the Westbourne Green open space. This brings you to the Grand Union Canal at Browning's Pool, where the water splits for the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal and forks off to the Regent's Canal.

If you carry on along the Paddington Arm canal towards Paddington Basin, you will eventually end up right at the entrance to Paddington station, perfectly positioned by the Circle and Hammersmith & City line station. It was a brilliant way to conclude this part of the journey and finally put that unfinished business to rest.

The Main Loop

Start & Finish: Marylebone Station, Melcombe Place, Marylebone, London, NW1 6JJ
Distance: 24.7 km (15.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 190m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (Walk): Thames Path, Jubilee Walkway, River Fleet Walk, River Westbourne Walk, Jubilee Greenway
Other routes touched (Cycle): CS3, CS6
Maps:
- OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
- OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford

The Hammersmith Spur

Start & Finish: Hammersmith Station, Underground Ltd, Beadon Rd, London W6 7AA
Distance: 7.5 km (4.6 miles)
Elevation change: +48m / - 30m. Net +18m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (Walk): Jubilee Greenway, Grand Union Canal / Regents Canal Towpath
Other routes touched (Cycle): C27, C44
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford

The Complete Circle Line Running Route

Richard Gower running the above-ground route of the London Underground Circle Line

The walk back: Bank to Waterloo

What is most interesting about the line: and the real reason I wanted to do this: is the return leg. After arriving, when you walk back from Bank to Waterloo, you can actually do this entire walk without crossing or stepping on a single road. For a detailed guide on that specific path, you can check out the excellent article on the Londonist website (article linked here).

It was a very hot day with not a cloud in the sky, making for a beautiful walk, particularly along the Thames Path section. However, there were a few navigational discoveries and points of interest I found along the way that are worth noting:

Navigating Bank Station: When I got to Bank station, I found it tricky to locate the correct passage between Bank and Monument station due to the sheer number of exits. You definitely need to keep your eyes peeled and be careful here.
The Pedway Bridge: There is a pedestrian bridge crossing from Pudding Lane to St Magnus the Martyr church. Unfortunately, this was shut during my visit due to reconstruction of a building on the south side of the road. I was a bit disappointed as I actually had to cross the road to avoid the closure, temporarily breaking the "no roads" rule.
Approaching Waterloo: As you get to the IMAX near the end of the walk, you need to make sure you find the right route to get from the IMAX to Waterloo station without crossing a road.

Start: Monument Station, Fish Street Hill Exit, London, EC3R 6BR
Finish: Waterloo Station, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8SW
Distance: 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
Elevation change: +32m / -49m. Net - 17m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Pudding Lane Pedway, Thames Path, Green Link Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4
Pubs / Cafes on route: Loads, it’s London. See the points of interest section below for 2 significant pubs.
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173

Red = Waterloo & City Underground Line. Blue = The walk back

Points of Interest along the walking route

In order of the route from Bank to Waterloo, showing how many kilometres into the route it is from the Fish Street Hill exit of Monument Station.

Bank Station. A major interchange station on the London Underground, named after the nearby Bank of England. It is famous for its complex maze of tunnels, steep escalator shafts, and pedestrian subways, which were built over decades, making it one of the most notoriously confusing (and crowded) stations to navigate on the entire network.
Monument Station. Linked directly to Bank station via deep-level pedestrian tunnels, it takes its name from the nearby Monument to the Great Fire of London. It originally opened in 1884 as part of the Metropolitan Inner Circle completion and provides a crucial gateway to the historic heart of the City of London.
(0.1 km) Monument to the Great Fire of London. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Dr Robert Hooke, this 202-foot-tall Doric column commemorates the catastrophic Great Fire of London in 1666. Its height is no coincidence. If the column were laid flat on the ground, the tip would reach the exact spot of Thomas Farriner's bakery in Pudding Lane where the fire started.
(0.1 km) Pudding Lane. A small cobbled street in the City of London that is infamous worldwide as the starting point of the Great Fire. Despite its sweet-sounding name, "pudding" was actually a medieval term for animal innards, which butchers carted down this lane from Eastcheap market to the river to be discarded.
(0.2 km) Church of Saint Magnus-the-Martyr. Another stunning architectural masterpiece rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire, this church once stood right at the foot of the old medieval London Bridge. A surviving piece of Roman timber wharf from the 1st century AD is remarkably displayed in its porch, blending centuries of London history in a single spot.
(0.4 km) London Bridge is the oldest crossing over the River Thames, with a rich history originating from a Roman pontoon structure built around 43 AD. The 19th-century version of the bridge was famously sold to an American entrepreneur in 1968 and rebuilt stone by stone in Arizona.
(0.6 km) Cannon Street Bridge. Constructed between 1863 and 1866, Cannon Street Railway Bridge features two monumental Victorian brick towers originally built to conceal water tanks for the station's hydraulic lifts. At low tide the riverbank beneath the bridge is frequently scattered with centuries-old animal bones from historical butchers and abattoirs.
(0.7 km) The Banker Pub, EC4 Nestled snugly within the towering brick arches of the Cannon Street Railway Bridge, this riverside pub offers spectacular views of the Thames. The cavernous vaults it occupies are a testament to robust Victorian railway engineering.
(0.8 km) Southwark Bridge. Rebuilt in 1921, the vibrant green and yellow Southwark Bridge was cleverly designed so its arches align perfectly with neighbouring bridges to ensure a smooth flow of river traffic. For a glimpse into the past, pedestrians can still spot old stone steps on the south bank once used by Thames watermen to moor their boats.
(0.8 km) Fruiterers Passage This narrow, easily missed walkway is a ghost of London's trading past, named after the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers, one of the City's ancient livery companies. It serves as a quiet reminder of the medieval days when different trades clustered in specific riverside alleys to load and unload their goods.
(1.0 km) The Alfred Plaque This modest stone memorial marks King Alfred the Great's restoration of London in 886 AD after a period of Viking occupation. It highlights how he rebuilt the Roman walls and re-established the nearby Queenhithe dock to revive the city's trade and ensure its survival.
(1.0 km) Queenhithe Mosaic Unveiled in 2014, this beautiful 30-meter-long mosaic timeline vividly illustrates the history of London and the Queenhithe dock from Roman times right up to the present day. It is an unexpected, colorful piece of public art that encapsulates the historical significance of the shoreline you are walking along.
(1.1 km) Queenhithe Dock and Wharf Once the most important dock in Saxon and medieval London, goods like corn, fish, and fur were traded here for centuries. Today, it is a scheduled ancient monument and the only surviving inlet on the modern City waterfront, offering a rare, untouched glimpse into the ancient port of London.
(1.2 km) Samuel Pepys Pub Named after the famous 17th-century diarist who documented both the Great Fire and the Great Plague, this pub sits in a historic wooden warehouse on the north bank.
(1.4 km) Millennium Measure. Gifted by the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers for the year 2000, the Millennium Measure is a stainless steel and glass sculpture serving as a three-sided, two-metre rule that depicts two thousand years of history. Its initials "MM" cleverly stand for three things simultaneously: "Millennium Measure", "millimetre", and the number two thousand in Roman numerals.
(1.4 km) Millennium Bridge Opened in 2000, this steel suspension footbridge elegantly links St Paul's Cathedral with the Tate Modern. It famously earned the nickname "The Wobbly Bridge" due to a swaying motion experienced on its opening day, an engineering quirk which took two years and specialized dampeners to finally fix.
(1.5 km) St Paul's Cathedral Though you don't walk right up to it on this specific path, the view of its iconic dome from the Millennium Bridge is a deliberately engineered sightline. Sir Christopher Wren's architectural masterpiece is framed perfectly by the bridge's suspension cables, offering one of the most celebrated and deliberate vistas in all of London.
(1.8 km) Shakespeare's Globe Located just off the path after crossing the river, this is a meticulous reconstruction of the original Elizabethan playhouse where Shakespeare debuted his greatest works. A wonderfully quirky detail: it features the first and only thatched roof permitted in London since the Great Fire of 1666, protected today by specially designed fire-retardant sprinklers.
(1.9 km) Tate Modern Housed in the colossal former Bankside Power Station, this world-renowned gallery is Britain's national museum of international modern and contemporary art. The iconic towering chimney and cavernous Turbine Hall are stunning remnants of its industrial past repurposed into spectacular exhibition spaces.
(2.1 km) Blackfriars Railway Bridge Pillars As you continue along the South Bank, look out into the river to see a row of red, cast-iron pillars standing completely alone in the water. These are the beautifully preserved remains of the original 1864 London, Chatham and Dover Railway bridge, dismantled in the 1980s. The railway insignia is still brilliantly visible on the columns.
(2.5 km) Oxo Tower Originally a power station, the building was largely rebuilt in the 1920s by the Liebig Extract of Meat Company (makers of Oxo cubes). Refused permission for illuminated rooftop advertising, they cleverly circumvented the ban by designing the tower's windows in the shapes of a circle, a cross, and a circle subtly spelling out "OXO" across the skyline.
(2.6 km) The Queen's Walk This vibrant pedestrian promenade stretches along the South Bank of the Thames, formalized in 1977 to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It connects several major cultural landmarks and is renowned for its bustling atmosphere, street performers, and unmatched views across the river.
(2.9 km) National Theatre A highly polarizing piece of architecture, this massive concrete complex is one of London's most prominent examples of the Brutalist style. King Charles once famously compared it to a "clever way of building a nuclear power station," but regardless of its divisive exterior, it houses three world-class auditoriums producing unparalleled theatre.
(3.1 km) Southbank Centre Book Market Nestled directly beneath Waterloo Bridge, this is one of the only outdoor second-hand and antique book markets in southern England. Operating daily since 1982, it's a wonderfully atmospheric spot on the walking route to browse weather-beaten classics while the traffic rumbles overhead.
(3.2 km) Waterloo Bridge Often affectionately called the "Ladies' Bridge" because it was largely built by a female workforce during World War II, this bridge offers arguably the best panoramic views in London. Look east for the City skyline and St Paul's Cathedral, or west for the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.
(3.4 km) BFI Imax Sitting right in the center of a busy traffic roundabout, this striking glass cylinder is home to the largest cinema screen in the UK. The sheer scale of the auditorium is mind-boggling, and the entire structure is built on sophisticated anti-vibration pads to drown out the rumble of the tube lines running directly beneath it.
(3.5 km) Waterloo Station Britain’s busiest railway station by passenger volume, it is a bustling hub that first opened in 1848. A famous quirky detail is the great four-faced clock hanging in the middle of the main concourse, which has served as an iconic rendezvous point for countless romantic dates and classic movie scenes since the 1920s.

Featured and Popular Posts

This section brings together some of my most memorable urban explorations. It includes the fascinating history behind London's Coal Duty Posts and the challenge of navigating the historic City of London boundary.

You can also find my journeys tracing the Roman London Wall and my comprehensive treks around the London Loop and Capital Ring. These routes offer a fantastic mix of history and scenery: showcasing the diverse places that make the capital so unique.

Walking the City of London Boundary

Walking The Roman London Wall

London's Coal Duty Posts

London Borough Tri-Points

London's Protected Views

Walking in London

Exploring on foot is one of the best ways to uncover the hidden details of the capital. This section brings together a variety of walking routes across the city, from short urban strolls through central neighbourhoods to much longer trails connecting the outer boroughs.

It is not just about the distance covered, either: these walks also take in a wide variety of fascinating places. Whether your route passes by historic National Trust properties, takes in the Royal Parks or other green spaces, these posts will guide you through the diverse landmarks that make navigating the city so rewarding.

Scroll down for a separate section on walks along London’s Waterways.

Walking The London Loop and Capital Ring

Walking The Tamsin Trail in Richmond Park

Walking The Hillingdon Trail

Walking Trails in The Colne Valley

London High Points

For those who like a good view or a geographical challenge, this collection focuses on the highest spots across the city. From standing at the specific peaks of every London Borough to tracking down Greater London OS Trig Pillars, there is plenty of elevation to seek out.

Whether you are aiming for the Middlesex County Top at Bushey Heath or uncovering the City of London High Point at High Holborn, these posts will guide you to the summits hidden within the urban landscape.

London Borough High Points

Greater London OS Trig Pillars

Bushey Heath: Middlesex County Top

High Holborn: City of London High Point

London’s Rivers and Waterways

London is defined by its waterways, and walking their paths reveals a calmer side to the busy city. This section covers relaxing strolls along the River Wandle Trail and the River Brent Path, as well as tracing the fascinating historic route of the River Fleet.

If you prefer towpaths, you will also find my guides to navigating the Regent's Canal, the Limehouse Cut, and the Hertford Union Canal. These waterside routes are brilliant environments to explore at your own pace.

Walking The River Wandle Trail

Walking The River Fleet

Walking The Regent's Canal

Walking The Limehouse Cut and Hertford Union Canal

Walking The River Brent Path

Train and Tube

Public transport networks offer some surprising opportunities for outdoor adventures. Here you can read about tracking the Elizabeth Line stations above ground and the physical challenge of running the entire Circle Line.

It is not just about active lines, either: this section also explores historic transport routes transformed into nature trails, including the Parkland Walk near Alexandra Palace and the disused railway from Uxbridge to Denham.

Walking The Uxbridge To Denham Disused Railway

Alexandra Palace and The Parkland Walk

All The Elizabeth Line Stations

Running The Circle Line

All The Waterloo & City Line Stations

London parkruns

Saturday mornings are often dedicated to parkrun, and this category is a dedicated hub for achieving the coveted 'LonDone' status. It details my experiences visiting events across Greater London and completing all the Middlesex courses.

For anyone else chasing the ultimate tourism goals, I have also included guides on transport connections and venturing into the extended challenges of LonDone + and LonDone ++.

LonDone: Greater London parkruns

LonDone+ parkruns

LonDone Transport Connections

Middlesex parkruns

Cycling In London

Getting on the bike is one of the best ways to cover longer distances across the city's green spaces. These posts highlight dedicated cycling routes, including the vast orbital circuits of the London Loop and Capital Ring.

You can also follow my two-wheeled adventures along the River Crane and the River Ash: offering peaceful cycling alternatives away from the busy main roads.

Cycling The London Loop

Cycling London's Capital Ring

Cycling The River Crane & The Hounslow Baseline

Cycling The River Ash and Thames Path Circular

Cycling to and through London

For those looking to stretch their legs on longer rides, these routes connect the capital to the wider landscape. You will find journeys along the Grand Union Canal and the River Lea, offering straightforward navigation right into the heart of the city.

The collection also features epic rides tracking the Prime Meridian, following the historic Semaphore Line from Portsmouth, and riding out to the coast along the Thames Estuary to Margate.

Cycling The Grand Union Canal

Cycling The River Lea

Cycling The Prime Meridian

Cycling The Semaphore Line: Portsmouth to London

Cycling The Thames Estuary: Thames Barrier to Margate

Richard gower26 March 2026Run, parkrun, Cycle, NCN, Trek, UK County Tops, London Borough High Point, Trig Pillar, Coal Duty Post, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Thames, London, England Comments

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 (Posts 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.

218

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.

100

100b

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

134

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

144a

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

153

154

155

156

157

158

159

160

161

162

163

164

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.

166

167

168

169

171

172

174

175

176

177

178

179

180

181

183

184

185

186

187

188

189

190

191

192

193

194

195

196

198

199

200

201

202

203

204

205

207

208

209

210

211

212

213

214

217

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

Kiln Lane Boundary Marker

Gravesend Obelisk

Medway Obelisk

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

Kiln Lane Boundary Marker: Located next to Coal Duty Post #208 near Bexley.
Gravesend Obelisk: Unknown whether this is related to coal duty.
Medway Obelisk: On the Thames and Medway Canal to mark the jurisdiction of the Cities of London and Rochester for the collection of dues

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.

CDP 5 - Valance House Museum

CDP 74 - Chiltern Open Air Museum

CDP 75 - Chiltern Open Air Museum

CDP 83 - Replica at Staines

CDP 83 - Spelthorne Museum

Blog posts including the London Coal Duty Posts

45, 46: Walking The Ebury Way
49,50,51: Walking The London Loop: Stanmore Common to South Oxhey
52 to 55: Walking The London Loop: South Oxhey to Hill End
59, 62: Chiltern Walks: Rickmansworth Three Rivers Circular
60, 65, 66: Walking The Colne Valley Trail
69: Walking The Beeches Way
84 to 95: Cycling The River Ash and Thames Path Circular
91 to 93: Walking the River Wey Part 1: Weybridge and Desborough Island
117 to 120: Chessington Countryside Walk
#125 to 136: Epsom Downs and Langley Vale Wood Circular Walk
137 to 155: Banstead Heath Circular Walk
151, 152: Walking The North Downs Way Part 5 - Betchworth to Merstham

Notes

#5 has been relocated to the outside of the Valance House 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 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.

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.

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

TP0884 - Arkley Resr

TP0425 - Banbury Resr

TP1037 - Barn Hill

TP1252 - Belmont

TP0432 - Berwick Pond Road

TP2145 - Chessington

TP7121 - Dagnam Park New

TP2802 - Dog Kennel Hill

TP3311 - Garland Hill

TP3939 - Hilly Fields

TP4024 - Horsenden Hill

TP4122 - Islips Manor Park

TP4218 - King George V Resr

TP4378 - Layhams Farm

TP5231 - One Tree Hill Recreation Ground

TP5486 - Pole Hill

TP5488 - Pollards Hill

TP5674 - Richmond Park

TP5724 - Romford Common

TP6393 - The Kiln

TP6515 - Tomkyns

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

TP1536 - Botley Hill

TP2138 - Chelsham Court

TP3982 - Holmshill

TP4287 - Knockholt Beeches

TP5078 - Netherwild Farm

TP5210 - Ockley Hill

TP6700 - Wake Arms

TP6775 - Wattons Green

TP7054 - Woodoak Farm

TP6792 - Well Hill

The Log Sheet

If you would like a PDF version of my manual Greater London OS Trig Pillars Log Sheet, please Buy Me A Coffee 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 towards the running of this website.

The Coal Duty Posts

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Back to Coal Duty Posts Index

Richard gower31 May 2025Trek, Coal Duty Post, Surrey, London, EnglandComment

parkrun LonDone+ and LonDone ++

“LonDone” is the name for completing the full set of 65 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 16 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

A map of the parkrun events that are outside of Greater London but inside the M25

Event (County, Region)

Aldenham (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Banstead Woods (Surrey, South East England)
Brooklands (Surrey, South East England)
Cassiobury (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Dartford (Kent, South East England)
Dartford Heath (Kent, South East England)
Egham Orbit (Surrey, South East England)
Gunpowder (Essex, East of England)
Hazelwood (Surrey, Middlesex, South East England)
Holywell King George V Playing Fields (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Leavesden Country (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Nonsuch (Surrey, South East England)
Rickmansworth (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Roding Valley (Essex, East of England)
South Oxhey (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Swanley (Kent, South East England)

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

Event (County, Region)

Black Park (Buckinghamshire, South East England)
Brentwood (Essex, East of England)
Homewood (Surrey, South East England)
Lullingstone (Kent, South East England)
Mole Valley (Surrey, South East England)
Oaklands College (Hertfordshire, East of England)
Reigate Priory (Surrey, South East England)
Squerryes Winery (Kent, South East England)
St Albans (Hertfordshire, East of England)

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.

LonDone Plus Plus Thumbnails - Black Park.jpg

LonDone Plus Plus Thumbnails - Brentwood.jpg

LonDone Plus Plus Thumbnails - Homewood.jpg

LonDone Plus Plus Thumbnails - Lullingstone.jpg

LonDone Plus Plus Thumbnails - Mole Valley.jpg

LonDone Plus Plus Thumbnails - Oaklands College.jpg

LonDone Plus Plus Thumbnails - Reigate Priory.jpg

LonDone Plus Plus Thumbnails - Squerryes Winery.jpg

LonDone Plus Plus Thumbnails - St Albans.jpg

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

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 quick parkrun, this time at Great Lines Heritage Park, just over a mile from the hotel. From there, we headed to Chatham Station to catch the train to Charlton. The Thames Barrier is a very easy 1.4km ride from Charlton Station to officially begin the ride.

Navigation is very straightforward: you simply keep to NCN Route 1 all the way to Chatham. The first 20km hugs the riverside, passing a real mix of pleasant, gentrified areas like Woolwich Arsenal and much grittier industrial parts. After Erith, Route 1 cuts south away from the river towards Dartford to bypass the sprawling entrance to the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. We had originally planned a coffee and cake stop in Dartford, but nothing really inspired us, so we carried on. By the time we reached Gravesend, we were genuinely hungry and optimistic about finding pub food. We found Gravesend equally uninspiring, so we didn't stop there either.

After Gravesend, the scenery becomes significantly more pleasant, with Route 1 following the towpath of the disused Thames and Medway Canal. Keep an eye out for the historic obelisk that marks the exact halfway point between the cities of London and Rochester. Route 1 eventually leaves the canal at Lower Higham, which conveniently happens to have a train station. Brian was having serious problems with his wheel after several punctures, and we had run out of options to fix it at the roadside. 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 lovely, quiet countryside and a sweeping descent down into Rochester. Had we kept together, we would have stopped in Rochester for food ahead of the final few miles, but I decided that I was on a personal mission to beat Brian's train journey back to Chatham, so I wasn't hanging around. The canal tunnel at Higham was actually bought by the railway network in the 1840s, so Brian was literally riding the train through the canal tunnel I was meant to be cycling over!

A 20-minute wait for his train meant that I was back at the hotel before Brian even arrived at Halfords in Chatham. With a newly fixed wheel and fresh supplies of inner tubes, we were 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, Route 1 passes through Riverside Country Park. It was very popular with dog walkers early that Sunday morning, so it was a good excuse to take it slow as we warmed up our legs. After the park, the route cuts away from the estuary from Rainham down to Sittingbourne.

Sittingbourne was our original plan for a breakfast stop, but we were similarly uninspired by the food options as we were on Day 1. By the time we arrived in Faversham with 40km down, we were starving. It was absolutely worth the wait, though. Faversham is a beautiful, historic Kent market town (famous for being home to Britain's oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame), and it has several brilliant cafes.

After Faversham, the route heads back towards the coast before taking a detour up the steepest hill of the entire trip to bypass Whitstable town centre. After a well-earned descent, we reached the Crab & Winkle Way: a disused railway path that once connected Whitstable to Canterbury. This was the exact point where we left NCN 1, which continues south along the old railway line. Instead, we followed the Crab & Winkle Way north to join the Route 15 Viking Coastal Trail at the Whitstable coast.

The final 28km along the Viking Coastal Trail from Whitstable to Margate was easily my favourite section of the whole route. This stretch sticks rigidly to the coast along wide, flat boulevards, passing classic seaside towns and the imposing, twin-towered ruins of the 12th-century Reculver Church. We had made very good time, so we stopped for a while at a pub in Herne Bay to gaze across the estuary and contemplate future adventures.

Our two-day ride finished right at the Margate Lighthouse, an obvious and highly photogenic place to mark the end of the estuary adventure. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and, barring the wheel and puncture issues at the end of Day 1, found it pretty easy going. I still didn't quite get that ultimate sense of completion, though. Yes, we had cycled the estuary to finish the Thames journey, but we had now left the southern section of NCN Route 1 uncompleted! Within a couple of days, I was already planning the next two-day adventure to complete both NCN Route 1 from Whitstable down to Dover and the rest of the Viking Coastal Trail.

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 are the 14 Mileposts that I spotted on the 2 day estuary adventure.

MP595 - Tripcock Point

MP268 - Crossness

MP589 - Belvedere

MP590 - Crayford Ness

MP385 - Gravesend

MP241 - Milton

MP441 - Gillingham

MP?? - Oast Lane, Breach

MP1152 - Milton Regis

MP1153 - Conyer

MP1071 - Oare

MP785 - Birchington

MP786 - Saint Mildred's Bay

MP787 - Margate

Back to Cycle Index

Richard gower24 March 2024Cycle, 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.

Back to parkrun Index

Richard gower1 January 2024Run, parkrun, London, EnglandComment

Walking The Regent's Canal

A view of City Road Basin east of Angel on the Regents 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 Regent's Canal is a fascinating 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 have 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 the whole route.

Because it cuts right through the north of central London, there are excellent public transport links to the start and finish. You can easily chop the walk into smaller sections, returning to nearby tube or bus stops along the way to pick up exactly where you left off. On a long summer’s day, we might have tackled it all in one go. However, with a winter walk on shorter days—and wanting to take our time looking at all the interesting places—we cut it in two, using King's Cross St Pancras as our midpoint. Navigation is incredibly easy as you are mostly just following the towpath. There are a few sections where the canal plunges into a tunnel and you have to follow the route above ground, but the Jubilee Greenway mirrors the canal and is well-signed, so just look out for the ground-level markers to keep on track.

We chose a west-to-east route starting from Paddington Station. There is an exit near the Hammersmith and City Line platforms that leads directly onto the canal, but rather than start there, we exited Paddington at the southern entrance to walk down Praed Street and begin at Paddington Basin. The Basin has completely changed since I first went there as a child on London outings. Back then, it was an unloved patch at the back of St Mary's Hospital. Today, it is a bustling, lively development of apartments, modern businesses, and restaurants.

From Paddington Basin, follow the canal for 1km to the famous junction at Little Venice. The bridge at Westbourne Terrace Road brought back some great memories, as it was the finish point of my first Ultra Marathon back in 2015! Once you cross over the bridge and onto the northern side of Browning's Pool, you have officially joined the Regent's Canal.

For the first section, you will need to step off the towpath for a while, as the Lisson Grove Moorings are a private, residential stretch of boats. From there, you pass above ground for roughly 250m to bypass the Maida Hill Tunnel—one of the few canal tunnels in London built entirely without a towpath, meaning original narrowboat crews had to lie on the roofs of their boats and "leg" their way through the dark! Once over the tunnel, you can drop back down to the towpath for an uninterrupted 5.4km stretch to the Islington Tunnel at Angel. Along the way, you pass right through the back of London Zoo at Regent's Park (look out for the Snowdon Aviary and the warthog enclosures right on the water's edge), through the bustling food stalls of Camden Lock, and into the beautifully redeveloped area behind King's Cross.

When you reach the Islington Tunnel, leave the towpath again 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 water. This eastern section is slightly quieter but no less interesting, taking you past old Victorian warehouses and gas holders. You will need to briefly leave the path for food and drink, but there are brilliant options along the way. We found a great cafe at the start of Broadway Market in Hackney, just a couple of minutes off the towpath.

The final stretch passes along the green edges of Victoria Park and Mile End Park before finishing at Limehouse Basin. Our original plan was to walk a lap around the basin, but it was getting dark, so we cut straight across to the Limehouse DLR to head home. We did get some fantastic shots of Canary Wharf lit up in the background, though. We will definitely return another day to properly explore the basin and walk the nearby Hertford Union Canal and Limehouse Cut!

The Bridges

Bridge numbers counting up from 1 at Little Venice to 64 near Limehouse Basin. Not all bridges have numbers on them.

The Bridges

Bridge numbers counting down from the Basin to the Junction with the Grand Union. Bridges 5 and 2 have been destroyed.

Back to Chiltern Rivers Index

Richard gower28 October 2023Trek, Canal, Railway, Chilterns, London, Middlesex, EnglandComment

Walking The Uxbridge To Denham Disused Railway

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 visit to Uxbridge following my previous week's cycling adventure along the Staines West to Denham lines. Although we cycled between the old Uxbridge High Street Station and Denham on that trip, we followed a much more cycle-friendly route rather than sticking strictly to the course of the old rail line. This week, Timea and I returned to walk the true, overgrown route of the lost railway. As with last week's longer route, this trip was inspired by Geoff Marshall's brilliant London's Lost Railways videos, which are well worth checking out for a deep dive into the history of these stations.

The route starts at 106 Oxford Road, the site of the former Uxbridge High Street Station. The station famously had a very short passenger life—opening in 1907 and closing to passengers just 32 years later in 1939—and the site is now a campus for Buckinghamshire New University. Despite the university's name, the site is actually located in Hillingdon, Greater London, rather than Buckinghamshire, which sits just across the River Colne to the west. The old rail line closely follows this border, staying in Hillingdon for almost its entire length, apart from one very short section at the start of the Alderglade Nature Reserve.

From 106 Oxford Road, follow Braybourne Close in a northerly direction to the end, then step into the Alderglade Nature Reserve. The path traces the left-hand side of the old railway embankment before climbing up to follow the top of it. If it is not too overgrown, you can still spot a few remaining bits of twisted metal from the original railway. At the 1.3 km mark, you will reach an old, heavily graffitied bridge that passes under the railway. Here, you will need to cross over the Shire Ditch stream and briefly divert away from the rail route, as it passes through private property.

Keep heading north on the footpath closest to the rail line. You will pass under a raised section of the A40 and through the colourful A40 graffiti gallery. On the north side of the A40, follow a path taking you east to reconnect with the course of the old rail line. There were a lot of nettles when we visited in July, which made it quite difficult to spot the path! However, once you are on it, you can follow the route of the old tracks through the woods almost all the way to the old mainline junction.

This section after the A40 is littered with rotting wooden railway sleepers and scattered bits of rusted track metal. It is a fantastic place to explore in an area that attracts relatively few people. Around 500m from the A40, you will cross an old bridge over Fray's River. It is well worth climbing down the embankment just to the south of the river to get a good view of the brickwork. After the bridge, continue along the route to the site of the old triangle junction that once took trains onto the Great Western & Great Central Joint Railway (now the Chiltern Main Line). The walkable route ends here, as the triangle itself is now occupied by a concrete company. At this point, you have the choice of retracing your steps for 200m to the footpath junction or, as we did, taking a scenic 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 two lakes on the eastern side of the old railway. Cross over the Grand Union Canal and take a left to head south back towards Uxbridge. When you pass Denham Deep Lock, which is the deepest lock on the Grand Union Canal at a massive 11ft 1in drop!. You could take a right into Denham Country Park to follow the South Bucks Way to Denham Station. Since I had already followed that route on the bike the previous week, we chose to continue south along the canal.

When you return to Uxbridge, the Swan and Bottle pub (right next to the canal bridge) is a brilliant place to stop for a well-earned rest. Look out for the fascinating old photos of Uxbridge on the wall and a great historic map of the local waterways. From the Swan and Bottle, cross the bridge to the eastern side of the canal and you are right back at the start at 106 Oxford Road.

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.

Staines West

Yeoveney Halt

Poyle Halt

Poyle Estate Halt

Colnbrook

West Drayton

Cowley

Uxbridge Vine Street

Uxbridge High Street

Denham

The Main Loop

The Hammersmith Spur

The Complete Circle Line Running Route

More London Posts

The walk back: Bank to Waterloo

Points of Interest along the walking route

More London Posts

How the Trail Got Its Name

Sharing the Path

What to Expect on the Route

Highlights Along the Way

Getting There

Featured and Popular Posts

Walking in London

London High Points

London’s Rivers and Waterways

Train and Tube

London parkruns

Cycling In London

Cycling to and through London

The North-East: Posts 1 to 31.

The North-West: Posts 33 to 83

The South-West: Posts 84 to 164

The South-East: Posts 165 to 217

The Final Coal Duty Post at Erith

The Randoms

Coal Duty Posts in Museums

Blog posts including the London Coal Duty Posts

Notes

More London posts

The Western Section: Reading To Acton Mainline

The Heathrow Stations

The Central Section: Paddington to Whitechapel

The North Eastern Section: Stratford to Shenfield

The South Eastern Section: Canary Wharf to Abbey Wood

The stations not managed by TFL

More London Posts

More London Posts

The Map

The Spreadsheet

The Photos: Greater London Trig Pillars

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

The Log Sheet

More London Posts

The Coal Duty Posts

LonDone +: parkrun events within the M25

Event (County, Region)

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

Event (County, Region)

More parkrun posts

More London Posts

The Eastern Source: Belsize Park to Charlbert Street

The Pimlico Branch: Buckingham Palace to Grosvenor Road

The Tyburn Tree and Tyburn Convent

More London posts

Day 1: Thames Barrier to Chatham

Day 2: Chatham to Margate

The Full 2-Day Route

The Millennium Mileposts

The Bridges

More London Posts

The Bridges

More London Posts

Line 1: Staines West to West Drayton

Line 2: West Drayton to Uxbridge Vine Street

Line 3: Uxbridge High Street to Denham

The full cycle route from Staines West to Denham

Stations on the Staines West to Denham Lines

More Disused Railway Posts

See also: