Capital Ring

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A Capital Ring sign positioned near the Preston Road tube station.
A Capital Ring sign positioned near the Preston Road tube station.

The Capital Ring is the name given to a strategic walking route that is being promoted by London's 33 local councils, led by the Corporation of London in partnership with the Greater London Authority and its functional body for regional transport, Transport for London, through which much of the funding is provided. It is called a "ring" because the route completely encircles inner and central London.

The official start of the route is the Woolwich foot tunnel, but the nature of the route means that it can be started or finished at almost any point.

The idea originated in 1990 at one of the early meetings of the London Walking Forum. It passes through green areas of both urban and suburban London.

Contents

[edit] Route sections

[edit] Route descriptions

[edit] South-East London

Here the Capital Ring comprises three walks, walk 1 to 3. It starts from the Woolwich Foot Tunnel and ends in Crystal Palace Park. Points of interest in this section include the Thames Barrier, Severndroog Castle, Eltham Palace and the remains of The Crystal Palace

[edit] South London

Here the Capital Ring comprises two walks, walk 4 and 5. Points of interest in this section include Biggin Wood (one of the few remnants of the Great North Wood), Streatham Common, Tooting Bec Lido and Wandsworth Common.

[edit] South-West London

Here the Capital Ring comprises two walks, walk 6 and 7

Walk 6 consists of a brief walk through suburban Wimbledon Park, then crosses Wimbledon Common and then Richmond Park. Perhaps surprisingly, while the route passes within about 100 metres of King Henry VIII's Mound, with its protected view of St Paul's Cathedral, this is not indicated on the signposts for the route.

Walk 7 continues from Richmond along the Thames, before deviating through old Isleworth, then through the grounds of Syon Park. It then continues along the Grand Union Canal to Osterley Lock.

[edit] West and North-West London

Here the Capital Ring comprises two walks, walk 8 and 9. Points of interest in this section include the River Brent, the Wharncliffe Viaduct, Horsenden Hill (with panoramic views) and Harrow School.

[edit] North London

Here the Capital Ring comprises two walks, walk 10 and 11

[edit] North-East London

Here the Capital Ring comprises two walks, walk 12 and 13. Walk 12 covers Highgate to Stoke Newington, and walk 13 Stoke Newington to Hackney Wick.

This fascinating group of walks can be started at the Corporation of London's Highgate Wood; a well conserved ancient woodland of oak, hornbeam and understory trees and shrubs, just a short walk from the Northern Line's Highgate tube station. It forms a very pleasant starting point, complete with a tea shop, interpretive display, and green grassy picnic area.

Alternatively the walks can be started in the village atmosphere of Stoke Newington, or at nearby Abney Park Cemetery or Clissold Park. Embark at Stoke Newington rail station, fifteen minutes from Liverpool Street, or catch a 73 bus from Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road, Kings Cross or the Angel.

[edit] East London

Here the Capital Ring comprises two walks, walk 14 and 15, which pass through the area earmarked for the London 2012 Summer Olympics, including Pudding Mill Lane DLR station.

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

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