I love a good London walk. I’ve published a lot of self-guided London walking tours on the blog over the years, and I’ve received requests for advice on which is best for which time of year. To answer that question, today I want to share A Lady in London’s top picks for autumn walks in London.

Autumn Walks in London

Autumn Walks in London

You can do any of my London walks in any season, but there are some that lend themselves best to a specific time of year. Whether it’s because of spring flowers or fall colors, they come into their own during certain periods.

Autumn is a good time to be outside, as it’s a great season to be in London for changing leaves and bright hues. Because of this, I’ve chosen walks for this blog post that focus on parks and other outdoor spaces.

The leaves change at different times every year. Sometimes the foliage is at its best in October, sometimes November. It’s great to do these walks again and again to see how things look different on each visit.

Whenever you go, keep in mind that the weather in London is unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to bring an umbrella on your walks. If you’re in the UK, I recommend this one. If you’re in the US, this one is ideal. My autumn packing list for London can help you figure out what to wear, too.

Autumn in Hampstead Heath

1. Self-Guided Walk in Kensington

The first of my autumn walks in London is in Kensington. This London neighborhood is full of pretty lanes and quiet mews. It’s a great place to explore if you like getting off the main roads and onto the side streets.

This London walk will guide you around the best places in Kensington, from the hidden mews to the foliage-rich garden squares. At the end, you can continue it with my South Kensington walk if you want to follow a longer route.

This walk is perfect for autumn for a number of reasons. The main one is that Kensington is full of seasonal colors and Virginia creeper. Its streets and mews come alive in autumn as the leaves change.

This is particularly true of Kynance Mews, where people come from all around to photograph the changing leaves.

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

Kynance Mews, London

2. Self-Guided Walk in Dulwich Village

The second of my autumn walks in London is in Dulwich village. Dulwich is one of the prettiest areas in south London. With a park, a picture gallery, and stunning houses, it’s ideal for wandering.

This walk will take you through Dulwich’s leafy streets and green spaces. It’s just the thing if you want to explore more of south London and feel like you’re far from the city at the same time.

This walk is perfect for autumn because of the area’s many trees and green spaces. The foliage on the streets and in Dulwich Park make it great for exploring in fall.

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

Dulwich Park

3. Self-Guided Walk in The Royal Parks

The third of my autumn walks in London goes through the Royal Parks. These are great places if you like getting into nature in the city. This walk winds its way through Hyde Park, Green Park, and St James’s Park.

Hyde Park is great for a long walk and a warming drink by the Serpentine, Green Park has beautiful tree-lined walkways, and St James’s Park has great views in and around the colorful foliage.

This walk is good in autumn because the leaves are turning and the colors are at their best. There are fewer crowds than during the summer months, too.

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

Hyde Park in Autumn

4. Self-Guided Walk in Notting Hill

The fourth of my autumn walks in London is in Notting Hill. This London neighborhood is famous, but most people get stuck on Portobello Road and other familiar streets when they’re in the area.

There are a lot of beautiful places in Notting Hill that aren’t on the tourist trail, though. It’s worth seeing a different side of the neighborhood and taking in all it has to offer.

This walk is good for autumn because there are fewer crowds than there are during the summer months.

Notting Hill can get incredibly busy in peak periods, so fall is a good time to explore if you want to experience the area in a less hectic season.

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

Colorful Houses in Notting Hill

5. Self-Guided Walk in Hampstead

The fifth of my autumn walks in London is in Hampstead. It goes through the area’s streets, giving a detailed overview of the neighborhood, its hidden lanes, and its pubs.

It also has an optional jaunt into Hampstead Heath that I highly recommend in autumn.

This is a great walk if you want to get to know a part of the city not many visitors make it to. It’s one of the prettiest parts of London, and feels like a village.

I love this walk in autumn because Hampstead comes alive with color. The trees in Hampstead Heath in autumn are bright with reds, yellows, and oranges, and it’s a great place to get outdoors in crisp weather.

The pubs are fun places for drinks on chilly days, too.

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

Hampstead Heath in Autumn

Self-Guided Autumn Walks in London

I hope you like these autumn walks in London as much as I do. If you want to see more, you can look at the full list of 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.

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Autumn Walks in London

2 Comments on Lady’s 5 Self-Guided Autumn Walks in London

  1. London is so beautiful in fall! It’s one of my favourite times to be in London. I’ve been to Kensington, Hampstead and Notting Hill, but I hadn’t heard of Dulwich village. Just added it to my bucket list for next time!

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