Four Royal Parks and The Mall

Royal-Parks-Strava-Route-Where-to-run-in-LondonClick here for a zoomable map and the Strava route

  • Distance – 6.8 miles
  • Surface – Road
  • Terrain – Flat
  • Surroundings – Parkland
  • Traffic Free – No (only traffic around Hyde Park Corner, though)

London is made of 40% public green space. This route takes in four of London’s fantastic Royal Parks and also allows a little sightseeing including The Mall and Buckingham Palace.

The Route

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The Mall looking towards Admiralty Arch (its not like this everyday)

This route starts the Admiralty Arch which is the gate between Trafalgar Square and The Mall, but you can pick it up on any part of the route.

Head off down The Mall (its traffic-free on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) towards Buckingham Palace. When you get to the Victoria Memorial turn left into Green Park and go around the park to Hyde Park Corner.

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Footpath through Hyde Park

Cross the road to Hyde Park Corner going anticlockwise around the edge of the Hyde Park. Halfway around you will pass into Kensington Gardens. Keep following the edge of the park passing Kensington Palace, Albert Memorial, Royal Albert Hall and the Serpentine Lake back to Hyde Park Corner.

Head back to Green Park, along Constitution Hill past Buckingham palace into St James Park and keep to the right of the lake through the park tracking Birdcage Walk and Horse Guards Parade back to The Mall where you started.

Opening Times

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Hyde Park Aerial View

The four parks are open between 5 am and midnight. It’s recommended not to run in the park when it’s dark for safety reasons.

Parking

Use public transport

Getting there – Public Transport – to Trafalgar Square

  • Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern line)
  • Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern line)

Eat and Drink

The parks are surrounded by a number of cafes; however, there are cafes in the parks to get a coffee and a bite to eat.

  • Hyde Park – Serpentine Bar and Kitchen & The Lido Bar and Café
  • Kensington Gardens – Italian Gardens Café
  • St James Park – St James Cafe

Strava

Click here for the Strava route which you can print or export.

Alternatively search “Where to Run in London” in the Strava app, go to “Routes”, pick the route and “Use”