Route 1

Route summary :

virtually traffic-free course in central London following paths round Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St James's Park (the Royal Parks)
The route covers many of London's famous historic sites: Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, Horse Guards, the Mall, Hyde Park Corner, Speakers' Corner, Albert Hall, St James's Palace, and Kensington Palace.

These instructions start at Marble Arch but it is a circular route and there are several starting points at the Underground Stations around the parks - Marble Arch - Lancaster Gate- Queensway (Central Line); Knightsbridge-Hyde Park Corner - Green Park (Piccadilly Line)
Abbreviations: TL=turn left. TR = turn right. SO = straight on. X= cross. Rd = road

Leave Marble Arch station by Subway 3 (signposted Hyde Park/ Speakers Corner). At top of steps enter park and SO then TL down path between green railings to main path and cycle path.

TR into park heading west, away from Marble Arch and Oxford Street, following path running parallel to North Carriage Drive (the inner ring road). Cross rd with care and heading towards gate and Bayswater Road, TL just before gate. Follow path inside the park, with North Carriage Drive on left and Bayswater Road on right. Cross rd and SO with flower beds and Buckhill Lodge on right.

Following main path (North Walk) to Black Lion Gate (main road on right) Cross the Broad Walk (main north /south footpath). The Princess Diana Memorial Gardens are to the left, Black Lion Lodge is to the right.

At end of path (wall of the coach park), TL towards Kensington Palace.
Go through pedestrian gate at the end, and past the Orangery on left. TL just before the State Apartments. TR into the Sunken Gardens, follow path round garden, exit and TR to the Broad Walk. TR.

Pass the Queen Victoria Statue on right and then TR along path passing in front of Kensington Palace. At the end of the path, TL and follow the path along the brick wall. Kensington Palace Gardens Hotel on right. Cont to bottom. (heading towards main road - Kensington High Street)

2 miles. Keep SO main path (ignoring path on left back up Kensington Palace and right turn to Kensington High Street).

Cross path and keep ahead (signposted to Albert Memorial) along path just inside perimeter of park, (public toilets on R) With gates to the right, the footpath widens into a roadway (no traffic except for cyclists and roller bladers) Stay on path closest to road.

Passing Albert Memorial on left and Albert Hall on right, SO and cross rd (Alexandra Gate) following footpath ahead on left hand side of the road (past tennis courts/bowling green on left, adjacent to horse riding track).
3 miles. Passing Knightsbridge Barracks on right, Cross RD at lights and continue towards Hyde Park Corner to steps (on right)

For a shorter route (4 miles) cont. on path towards Apsley House, crossing rd (South Carriage Drive) at zebra crossing and TR along the pavement. Following footpath, TL through barriers and TR up main path (Broad Walk) passing statue of Achilles on right, SO to Speakers Corner at Marble Arch, passing the Joy of Life Fountain to right. Finish back at Speakers' Corner. (Marble Arch)

To continue on longer route : TR down steps out of Hyde Park to main road by bus stop. TL on pavement, and down subway path (Exit 1) into Hyde Park Corner underground station. Keep left all the way through subway, TL up path (Exit 2) to traffic island.

With Victory Arch on right, pass war memorial on left, and down steps back to the subway. At end of subway TR and up footpath SO at top of path and follow path down Constitution Hill.

4 miles. With Buckingham Palace on right, and Canadian War Memorial on left, stay just inside Park and follow curved wall round to right. (can also follow footpath outside park)

Cross rd at lights: either (1) TR (facing Buckingham Palace) follow footpath round with park on left and Wellington Barracks on right. Or (2) SO down path into park and bearing right, follow path round edge of lake and TR up path to road. TL on to Birdcage Walk. Wellington barracks and the Guards Museum are on R.

Cont. to corner (police station and with Big Ben ahead) TL into Horse Guards Road with HM Treasury, Foreign Office, War Cabinet Museum on right. Pass Household Division war memorial on left, TL on to the Mall back towards Buckingham Palace.
5.2 miles. X the Mall at first set of lights and stay on footpath heading back towards Buckingham Palace. Cross Marlborough Road and Stable Yard at Clarence House . TR up footpath (Queens walk) along side of Green Park. Just before top of hill, TL back into park. SO, heading back to Hyde Park Corner

Follow footpath as it bends to left then, retracing route back into Hyde Park : TR down steps and TR
into subway and SO up steps at end to traffic island. With statue of Wellington on left, down ramp back to subway past tube station entrance on left. Up path at Exit 1 and TR at top up steps and TR along pavement.

6. 5 miles. Cross rd (South Carriage Drive) at zebra crossing and TR along the pavement. Following footpath, TL thru barriers then TR up main path (Broad Walk) passing statue of Achilles on right, SO to Speakers Corner at Marble Arch, passing the Joy of Life Fountain over to right. Finish back at Marble Arch (7 miles)

There are, of course, lots of paths and routes to train or walk through the Royal Parks in Central London. The Royal Parks Route is a tried and tested training route and a good way to see the sights of London.

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Route 1: Royal Parks (7 miles) (option for shorter 4 mile)