Five of the Best London Walks
and the Perfect Pub at the End
London is a city best experienced at walking pace. At Hotel Saint, we curate more than a place to stay; we offer a lens through which to see the city differently. Here are five exceptional walks, each beginning within easy reach of our doors and each concluding with a pub where atmosphere is as important as the ale.
1. South Bank Stroll
Getting There: A ten-minute walk from Hotel Saint takes you to Tower Bridge, where steel arches frame the city beyond. Cross into Southwark and join the Thames Path heading west.
What to Expect: The river guides you past layers of London’s story – the warehouse brick of Shad Thames, the whitewashed timbers of Shakespeare’s Globe, and the raw modernism of the Tate. Street performers set a soundtrack of jazz and acoustic guitar, while the air carries hints of coffee, grilled fish, and river breeze. As the sun arcs westward, the city’s skyline glitters in gold.
Distance: 3 miles, flat and leisurely.
Where to Finish: The Anchor Bankside – a 17th-century riverside pub, once a haunt for river traders, now the perfect spot for a pint with the water lapping just beyond your table.
2. Regent’s Canal Meander
Getting There: Stroll ten minutes to Liverpool Street Station, then make your way to Angel, where the canal emerges like a hidden waterway from another century.
What to Expect: Life slows here. Narrowboats in rich greens and reds glide quietly, their windows hung with lace curtains and potted geraniums. Ducks trace lazy ripples through the water, and towpath cafés beckon with the scent of fresh pastries. Graffiti walls bloom like urban murals, while iron footbridges offer perfect pauses for photographs. Continue west, and Camden’s market energy greets you like a sudden crescendo.
Distance: 4 miles to Camden, mostly flat.
Where to Finish: The Engineer – an elegant yet unpretentious gastropub where wooden floors, leafy terraces, and a seasonal menu provide a graceful return to the city’s hum.
3. Green Park to Kensington Gardens
Getting There: From Aldgate, take the Tube to Green Park (about 15 minutes).
What to Expect: Begin beneath a canopy of plane trees, their leaves whispering above the clipped lawns of Green Park. The grandeur of Buckingham Palace emerges suddenly, a sweep of white stone and wrought iron. Slip into St James’s Park, where pelicans glide across the lake and flowerbeds overflow with colour. Hyde Park opens in broad, sunlit avenues, before giving way to the Italianate calm of Kensington Gardens and the burnished gold of the Albert Memorial.
Distance: 3.5 miles of open space and architectural grace.
Where to Finish: The Churchill Arms – its façade is a living wall of blooms, and inside, a blend of polished wood, framed history, and the surprising delight of Thai flavours paired with fine ales.
4. The City’s Historic Alleyways
Getting There: Step outside Hotel Saint and the city’s oldest streets are at your feet.
What to Expect: This is London in close-up. Stone-paved lanes no wider than a whisper lead to courtyards scented faintly with rosemary from potted plants. Churches rebuilt by Wren cast shadows on remnants of the Roman Wall. Glimpses of the Gherkin and Leadenhall Market flash between the narrow lanes, reminders that the past and present live here side by side.
Distance: Around 2 miles, unhurried and full of detours.
Where to Finish: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese – lit by flickering candles, its low ceilings and wood panelling create an atmosphere that feels suspended in time.
5. Hampstead Heath Circuit
Getting There: Take the Tube from Aldgate to Hampstead (about 25 minutes).
What to Expect: A breath of wild air. Paths wind through woodland dappled with sunlight before opening to meadows alive with birdsong. From Parliament Hill, the city unfurls like a painted skyline, its domes and towers softened by distance. In summer, the ponds mirror the sky; in winter, frost paints the grass silver. This is the London poets keep for themselves.
Distance: About 5 miles for a full loop.
Where to Finish: The Spaniards Inn – a whitewashed 16th-century coaching inn, rich with literary lore, where a fireside table makes the perfect reward for your walk.
Hotel Saint is the perfect base for exploring London. From our doors, the city’s most captivating walks are within easy reach, and every return feels like coming home to a space of calm and elegance. Start planning your own London story with our Book Early and Save package – secure your dates now and enjoy exclusive savings on your stay.
