Middlesex is the historic county now largely absorbed into Greater London, but it still holds some of the capital’s best green corridors for walking. From the Thames towpath and royal deer parks in the south to the Grand Union Canal and Lee Valley in the north and east, there’s a surprising amount of countryside and waterside walking packed into a small, mostly urban county.

Thames Path. The riverside path through Hampton Court, Kingston and Richmond takes in Tudor palaces, deer parks and quiet stretches of towpath, with plenty of pubs to break the walk into shorter loops.

Bushy Park and Hampton Court. One of London’s Royal Parks, home to free-roaming deer and avenues of chestnut trees, right next to Hampton Court Palace. Circular routes run to around 4–7 miles.

Grand Union Canal. A flat, easy towpath through west Middlesex, passing locks, reservoirs and industrial heritage between Uxbridge and the edge of London.

Lee Valley Park. Parkland, reservoirs and wetland reserves following the River Lee through east Middlesex, popular for birdwatching as well as walking.

Ruislip Woods. A National Nature Reserve and one of London’s largest surviving areas of ancient woodland, with waymarked trails of 3–5 miles around Ruislip Lido.

Most Middlesex walks are easy to reach by train, Underground or bus, so you can start and finish at different stations. Paths close to London are popular with cyclists, runners and dog walkers, and Thames-side and canal paths can flood after heavy rain, so check conditions in winter.