A TALE OF TWO CITIES

Spring is in the air, and London beckons. Jessica Furseth explores the 78-mile Capital Ring, offering parks, abandoned Tube lines and the chance to see the city in a brand new light

- 

The sap is rising in London – nature is waking up, and that includes all of us. After shying away from going outside all winter, I’m desperate to go on some long walks and gush about how nice it is to be out. If you’re feeling it too, I suggest the Capital Ring – it’s here that I’ve enjoyed many of my favourite times with my city.

The Capital Ring is a waymarked walking route that links up scenic spots in a circle around London, all within 10 miles of Big Ben. The 78-mile (126km) path is a mix of urban and green walking, starting in Woolwich in the east and heading south through Crystal Palace. After passing Tooting and reaching Richmond in the west, the trail crosses the Thames and heads up to Harrow, before turning north towards Highgate. Then the trail runs through Hackney and down to the Royal Docks, before returning to its starting point.

If you’ve already been to Hampstead Heath and Kew Gardens and want to see more, the Capital Ring is a brilliant way to get under the skin of London. I’ve lived in nearly every corner of the city in my 20 years here, and I was still amazed to find just how much was still unknown to me. For every leafy moment on the Capital Ring, like the serenity of the 8,000-year-old heritage forest in Oxleas Wood, there’s an urban reveal, such as walking along the fascinating abandoned Tube line in Haringey.