The walk will make you feel like you’ve left London (Image: Dudley Miles/WikiCommons)
If you’re seeking to swap the hectic city streets for a taste of the great outdoors, you don’t even need to leave London.
Walking is a brilliant way to stay healthy, regardless of your current fitness level. Any walking route can be tackled at your own pace, and heading somewhere green means you can soak up some stunning scenery while you stroll or powerwalk to your heart’s content.
What’s more, you needn’t leave the capital to immerse yourself in nature. London is well known for its abundance of vast parks and open green spaces, but it’s also home to a number of tranquil nature reserves that can be explored on foot or by bicycle throughout the year, offering a welcome reprieve from the relentless pace of city life.
A TikTok video shared by Londoners Helen and Andy showcased one of city’s “easiest” walks – a route so breathtaking you’ll struggle to believe you’re still in the heart of the bustling capital – guiding viewers straight through Parkland Walk.
Parkland Walk holds the title of London’s longest linear nature reserve, tracing the route of a former railway line between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace. Stretching approximately 4km (2.5 miles), it’s ideal for families, dog walkers, and cyclists alike.
Helen explained in the video: “This walk takes you along London’s longest nature reserve. You’ll follow a former railway line connecting Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace, which opened in 1873. It splits into two sections, north and south, with a short stretch through Highgate linking them together.
“Start at Finsbury Park, heading into the park, past the tennis courts, and you’ll find the start of the Parkland Walk on your left. You’ll follow the trail for around 3km. It’s so green and peaceful, it honestly feels like you’ve left London.”
The woman explained that while the railway tracks have long since disappeared, the platforms and graffiti commonly found along railway lines throughout the country remain visible. She also noted that just before Highgate, there is a path leading to a wildlife trail established to enhance biodiversity in the surrounding area.
Visitors may even catch a glimpse of bats in the nature reserve if the walk is undertaken close to sunset, as Helen revealed that a section of the railway tunnel has been sealed off to safeguard the creatures.
She went on to say: “From here, you’ll need to walk on the road briefly to the northern section. Head past Highgate Station and turn right down Muswell Hill Road, between Queens Wood and Highgate Wood. Just past Highgate Wood on your right, you’ll join Parkland Walk north, and you’re straight back into the trees.
“There are lovely views over the rooftops and turrets of north London. Keep following the path, and you’ll arrive at Alexandra Palace. There are a few different paths, but as long as you’re heading uphill towards the big building, you’ll get to the right place. At the top, you’re rewarded with some of the best skyline views in London.”
Although there are no cafés or refreshment stops along the Parkland Walk itself, there is no shortage of spots to enjoy a meal or a drink in Highgate, Queen’s Wood, Highgate Wood, and Finsbury Park, as well as at your final destination of Alexandra Palace.
The Parkland Walk website offers further details about the nature reserve, including additional walking route options and a comprehensive account of the site’s history.
Part of the website reads: “The Parkland Walk is the longest linear nature reserve in London at 4km in length, and follows the former railway line connecting Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace that opened in 1873. Its fame is now global, and it often features on ‘must-do’ lists for visitors from overseas.
“Sunny weekends bring out large numbers of ramblers, walkers with their dogs, runners and cyclists to escape the urban hullabaloo. Don’t get swept along by the crowd, though. Stop and take in the ambience that nature has to offer.”