Lady’s 5 Beautiful Self-Guided London Walking Tours for Summer

One of my favorite things to do in London is walk. I enjoy it in any season, and I’ve loved bringing you my favorite London walks on the blog over the last few years. I’ve recently gotten requests for advice on which of them is best for which season, so today I want to share A Lady in London’s best self-guided London walks for summer.

Self-Guided London walks for Summer

I always tell people that you can do any of my walks in any season. There are some walks that lend themselves better to one time of year than another, though.

Summer is a great time to be outdoors, as it’s usually the best time to be in London for warm weather and sunshine.

As such, I’ve chosen walks that focus on parks, summer gardens, markets, riverside areas, and other outdoor spaces for this list.

Keep in mind that London’s weather is unpredictable, so make sure to bring an umbrella if you go. If you’re in the UK, I recommend this one. If you’re in the US, this one is perfect.

My summer packing list for London can help with what to wear, too. It has lots of tips for summer clothing for the UK capital.

1. Self-Guided Walk in Richmond

The first of my self-guided London walks for summer is in Richmond. This London neighborhood is full of riverside charm and leafy parks.

A good distance from the city center, it has a village feel with quiet lanes, historic pubs, and colorful boats along the Thames.

This walk will take you around the highlights of Richmond, from the historic alleys to the river and beyond. At the end, it has two options for continuing the walk in the way that fits your interests.

This London walk is perfect for summer for a number of reasons. Given parts of it go along the Thames, it’s a great one for stopping for a drink at one of London’s riverside pubs.

It’s also good for exploring the parks and green spaces, especially the vast expanse of Richmond Park.

If you want to do this walk, you can get the details and map here.

2. Self-Guided Walk on the Thames Path

The second of my self-guided London walks for summer is on the Thames Path. This one goes from Hammersmith to Chiswick, hugging the river along its route.

This loveliest of London walks goes by rowboats and barges, islets and pubs. There are picture-pretty houses en route, and lots of gardens to peer into. The Thames Path walk is ideal if you want something with a local London feel to it.

This walk is just the thing for summer for one major reason: it’s on the water. Who doesn’t want to be on the water in the summer?

If you want to do it, you can get the details and map here.

3. Self-Guided Walk in The Royal Parks

The third of my self-guided London walks for summer is in the Royal Parks. It’s perfect if you love the city but also like being in nature. This walk weaves its way through Hyde Park, Green Park, and St James’s Park.

Hyde Park is great for watching the boats on the Serpentine, Green Park is perfect for seeking shade under the tree-lined walkways, and St James’s Park is ideal for soaking up the colorful gardens.

This walk is lovely in summer because the gardens are in full bloom and the baby waterfowl in Hyde Park and St James’s Park are at their most adorable. It’s always nice to walk in parks in warm weather, too.

If you want to do this one, you can get the details and map here.

4. Self-Guided Walk in Hampstead and the Heath

The fourth of my self-guided London walks for summer is in Hampstead. This one winds through the heart of the village and into Hampstead Heath, which is one of the largest and wildest parks in the city.

This London walk is ideal if you like a mix of London neighborhood and London nature. It’s also good if you want a long walk, as it can take up an entire day if you go around the entire heath and to Kenwood House.

I love this one in summer because Hampstead Heath comes alive with sunbathers, swimmers, and picnics in the warmer months.

The village is also less crowded than parts of central London, so it’s a nice place to escape the bustle of the city center.

If you want to do this walk, you can get the details and map here.

5. Self-Guided Walk in Spitalfields

The fifth of my self-guided London walks for summer is in Spitalfields. This is one of the city’s most exciting historic areas.

Heritage buildings sit alongside contemporary street art, markets sell all kinds of vintage treasures, and pop-ups open all the time.

This London walk goes through Spitalfields’ streets and markets. Sunday is the best day to go since all the markets are open. The area is buzzing and there’s a great atmosphere.

This walk is perfect for summer because dry weather is ideal for hunting down and admiring the street art in Spitalfields. It’s also great for browsing the outdoor markets, of which there are many on Brick Lane.

If you want to do it, you can get the details and map here.

Summer Walks in London

I hope you enjoy these self-guided London walks as much as I have. If you want more, you can see the full list of all my London walks here.

You can read about other great walks in London’s Hidden Walks, too. You can get it here. There are additional ideas in my London walking books post, too.

Beyond London walks in summer, I’ve written about spring walks, autumn walks, winter walks, and Christmas walks if you want to know which ones are the best in other seasons. Happy walking!

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