Vibrant City Walks in London this Autumn

Bell | 16 August 24

London is beautiful through all seasons, but there is something special about the myriad of colour that autumn brings to the city’s green spaces. From stunning fall foliage in one of London’s many parks to an explosion of colour along the canals, London’s city walks are well worth a visit this autumn.

When you think of visiting London, walking may not be on the top of your to-do list. And yet, it is my absolute favourite way to explore this city. From the beautiful Regent’s Canal to the deer in Richmond Park, tons of London’s “hidden” treasures can only be found when walking.

If you are lucky enough to live in this beautiful city, this is your inspiration to get outside this autumn and make the most of this season.

To skip straight to the best city walks, click here, or continue reading for transport and accommodation recommendations.

Table of Contents

How to get to London:

London has 4 main airports for international flights. Getting into Central London for each of them is slightly different:

London Heathrow – take the Picadilly line (London underground) into central London for the cheapest way, or the Heathrow Express for the fastest route at a slightly higher cost.
London Gatwick – get the train from central London straight to Gatwick. I would recommend downloading Citymapper to find the cheapest and easiest route. Or you can go by National Express bus from London Victoria, which is often the most affordable option.
London Luton – If you book in advance, you can find train tickets as cheap as 4GBP from Luton to London. There is a shuttle that brings you to the train station
Luton Airport Parkway, from which it is only 20 minutes to the center. Once again, you can get a National Express bus.
London Stansted – I usually get the National Express Bus from Stansted to London as part of my flight ticket, which only costs an extra 10 GBP with Ryanair. The ticket is valid for any bus on the day and you just join the queue outside Stansted arrivals. You can also buy it separately or get the Stansted Express train for around 15 GBP. The train is slightly faster than the bus, depending on traffic.

I would highly recommend downloading the Citymapper App to figure out transport in London. This way, you know which train station is closest to your accommodation and exactly what your transport options are. It also tells you how much each journey costs.

How to get around London by public transport:

Contactless or Oyster Card

Many years ago, an Oyster card was required for London transport. You could, and still can, buy this at any major underground station and some news agents.
However, as a tourist, it is fully unnecessary. You can use all of London's public transport using a contactless payment card. Journey prices are the exact same as with an Oyster card and there is no need to set anything up.

The main transport options in London are underground, trains and buses. I've already mentioned this, but Citymapper is a lifesaver in London to know where to go, how much it costs and any real-time updates.

Where to stay in London:

Best hostels in London for backpackers:

Wombat’s City Hostel London – I stayed in this hostel and found it nice for London standards. The rooms are clean, there is a large kitchen and they organise some fun events.

Urbany Hostel London – this is the hostel for solo travellers who want lots of fun activities with a young crowd. It’s also in a really good location.

Best hotels in London:

Novotel London Canary Wharf
– Canary Wharf is one of my personal favourite areas in London and this hotel offers great amenities at a reasonable price.

NOX Hyde Park – there are several NOX hotels in London, though the Hyde Park one is by far the best. Value for money is key with this one, and that right in the center of London.

The Landmark London – for those looking for a more luxurious stay, this hotel is worth the treat. Rooms are opulent and they have a beautiful pool, as well as their own High Tea. Welcome to London!

Best Autumnal Walks in London

From Little Venice along Regent’s Canal

Little Venice is one of my all-time favourite areas in London year-round. In autumn, the area surrounding Regent’s Canal is transformed into an explosion of orange and red.

The walk I would recommend here is from Little Venice to Camden along the Canal. It is stunning and takes about one hour. To start, head up from Paddington along Paddington Basin and then turn right onto Regent’s Canal. From there, just follow the Canal.

There are some cute cafes and restaurants along the way, one I can highly recommend with beautiful views over the Canal and fall foliage is Cafe Laville.

Greenwich Park for autumn city views

Another one of my favourite areas in London and, in my opinion, the best view over London is in Greenwich Park. The entire park spans an area of 182 acres and is full of trees and wildlife. This makes for a beautiful transition of seasons and the perfect fall foliage.

I would recommend getting the train to Blackheath and then heading up through Greenwich Park towards the Royal Observatory Greenwich. You don’t need to go in, but the views you get right next to it over London downtown are unbeatable. The fall colours add another stunning dimension to it.

You can then either head back to Blackheath for some delicious snacks at a local cafe or head down the hill into Greenwich, which has lots of shops and restaurants.

Autumn colours at Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens, spread over 300 acres, is home to 14,000 trees, making for a striking autumn display. On top of that, it is the “largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections” globally and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it the perfect location for a walk.

It does cost £20-22 entry from February to October and £12-14 the rest of the year, but it is well worth the money, especially if you are visiting for the first time. I would recommend booking online to save a few quid and avoid the queues at the gate.

Hampstead Heath’s hidden treasures

Hampstead Heath is a huge park in the North of London which has swimming ponds in the summer. In autumn, it transforms into a dreamscape of colourful foliage. There are endless walks you can do here, such as to the hidden gem that is Kenwood House or up to the Parliament Hill Viewpoint for stunning views over London.

The small town of Hampstead is the perfect starting (or ending) point for your walk, with tons of cute cafes and restaurants to grab refreshments from.

Isabella Plantation and Richmond Park for autumnal wildlife

Isabella Plantation is a garden in Richmond Park full of rhododendrons and azaleas. It is most well-known in spring when everything blooms, transforming it into a fairytale scape of pink and red. However, I think it is seriously underrated as an autumn walk. The trees turn every shade of orange and you can find lots of small wildlife in the river and trees.

Richmond Park itself is also the perfect walk location, especially as you can spot the hundreds of deer roaming it freely. You can spend hours here, admiring the colourful leaves and breathing in the clear air.

Be mindful

Deer rutting season starts in September in Richmond Park and lasts all through autumn.

Be extra careful during this time – stags (male deer) are bigger and stronger than you would expect with huge antlers and they will protect their herd from anything, including you. Don’t get close to them and NEVER touch any of the deer. If you have a dog, keep them on a leash as the deer are much more aggressive this time of year.

What month is autumn in London?

Officially, autumn is September to November in the UK. If you are aiming for colourful leaves, you’re most likely to find them from the end of September to the beginning of November.