One of the questions I get asked a lot is which of my self-guided walks in London is best to take in which season. To answer that, I’ve been publishing a series of blog posts about which walks to do when. I’ve already written about spring walks, summer walks, autumn walks, and Christmas walks, so today I want to share A Lady in London’s best self-guided London winter walks with you.
Self-Guided London Winter Walks
Any of my London walks will work at any time of year, but a handful of them are ideal for doing in a given season. Whether it’s because of spring magnolias or autumn leaves, they’re perfect during specific months.
Winter is a great time to take Christmas walks in London, and I’ve written a blog post with my favorites for the festive season.
But winter lasts beyond December, and there are other walks that are great for when the lights go off and the trees come down.
Tips for Walking in London in Winter
No matter which of my London walks you do, bear in mind that the London weather varies and temperatures can plummet in winter.
I suggest wearing warm clothing and carrying a good umbrella with you when you go. If you’re in the UK, I recommend this umbrella. If you’re in the US, this one is ideal.
My winter packing list for London can help you figure out what to wear, too.
It’s also worth noting that daylight hours are limited in winter. If you want to make the most of these walks and see the areas they go through before it gets dark, it’s a good idea to finish before 4pm.
1. Self-Guided Literary Walk in London
The first of my London winter walks is a literary walk. London is full of bookshops, libraries, and other places book lovers love, so exploring the city on that theme is a fun thing to do.
This self-guided London walk will take you around some of the UK capital’s most famous bookshops, quirky literary destinations, and museums.
From Covent Garden to Bloomsbury, it covers a lot of central London’s literary hot spots.
This walk is ideal for winter because it provides a good balance of indoor and outdoor exploration. You can stay for as little or as long as you like to warm up in the indoor spaces, and linger outside if the weather is mild.
If you want to do my London literary walk, you can find the route and map here.
2. Self-Guided Walk in Hampstead
The second of my London winter walks is in Hampstead. This one will guide you around the village’s lanes, showing you the best of the area’s quiet corners, side streets, and pubs.
This is the perfect walk if you want to explore a London neighborhood not many visitors go to. It’s worth a trip for its pretty streets and local feel.
This walk is great for winter because there are lots of cozy pubs along the route. It’s fun to pop in for tea (or something stronger) on a cold day.
If you’re interested in going on it, you can find the information and map here.
3. Self-Guided Walk in Belgravia
The third of my London winter walks is in Belgravia. This upscale part of the city is home to flower-covered shops, hidden mews streets, and grand embassies.
This winter walk in London will take you to the best of Belgravia, including the famous shops on Elizabeth Street.
It will also guide you around the lesser-known parts of the neighborhood, which have some of London’s prettiest side streets.
This walk is perfect in winter because there are lots of cute cafes, coffee shops, and hidden pubs along the route. There are also patisseries, cheese shops, and chocolate shops to indulge in.
It’s a great one to take at a leisurely pace and stop to warm the body and stomach up a few times along the way.
If you want do this loveliest of London winter walks, you can find the route and map here.
4. Self-Guided Walk in Spitalfields
The fourth of my London winter walks is in Spitalfields. This part of the UK capital is famous for its markets, historic buildings, and street art.
This London walk will give you an overview of the area, from the big covered markets to the 18th-century Huguenot silk weavers’ houses. It will also take you past some of the neighborhood’s famous murals.
This self-guided London walk is just the thing for winter because there are a lot of places where you can head indoors or under cover in case of cold weather or rain.
The markets are great places to stay warm and dry, and there are good coffee shops and pubs along the route.
If you’re curious about this London winter walk, the information and map can be found here.
5. Self-Guided Walk in Greenwich
The fifth of my of my London winter walks is in Greenwich. This area is home to a lot of London’s maritime history as well as a huge park, a famous observatory, and a covered market.
This walk will lead you around Greenwich so you can take in the beautiful historic architecture, stunning views, and pretty side streets.
My Greenwich walk is ideal for winter for a number of reasons. First, there are a lot of places to go indoors along the route.
The National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark, Queen’s House, Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, and Royal Observatory are just a few.
It also has the aforementioned market and some great local pubs to warm up in.
If you’re up for doing this self-guided London winter walk, the route and map are here.
London Winter Walks
I hope you found inspiration in this list of London winter walks. They’re a good way to get out and explore the city in the cooler months.
If you want additional ideas, you can take a look at the full list of my self-guided London walking tours here.
You can see more great walks in London’s Hidden Walks, too. You can get it here. There are more ideas in my London walking books post as well. Happy walking!
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