For short journeys, walking is quick and reliable. Use the walking journey planner or Walkit to see how long it will take to walk somewhere.
Travel planning
It might be quicker to walk than to take the bus or train
TfL have produced a map of walking times and distances between stations to show journeys that could be quicker if you walked, such as between Hackney Central and London Fields stations.
Personalised travel plans
If you’re looking for help to plan a regular journey to work, school or the shops, contact us for a personalised travel plan.
Our professional travel advisers can help you to get fit and save money – email movegreener@hackney.gov.uk.
Programme of organised walks
Walkingtogether is our programme of weekly and monthly walks around Hackney. Read the programme of walks for 2026 to 2027 (PDF 565KB).
Our walkers’ guidance (Google Doc) outlines the steps that everyone must take when joining our Walkingtogether programme.
We make every effort to accommodate attendees on a first come, first served basis. Once maximum class numbers are reached, we cannot take any more walkers. We’ll give you priority if you’re a Hackney resident or are registered at a GP in Hackney. You need to book in advance for the Fit 4 Health slow pace walk and the walks of interest.
Before your Walkingtogether walk
If you’re a new participant or your details have changed since you last took part, you must complete a registration form.
Clissold Park walk
This walk runs until 1 December 2026. It starts again on 2 March 2027.
When: Tuesdays, moderate intensity, 1pm to 2pm.
Where: Meet in the outside area (ground level) of the main entrance to Clissold House Cafe, Clissold Park, off Green Lanes/Church Street N16 9HJ.
Hosted by Rita Saha.
Nearby buses: 73, 106, 141, 341, 393, 476
Call us on 020 8356 4897 or email walking@hackney.gov.uk for more information or speak to the walk leader at the session.
Fit 4 Health slow-paced walk
This walk runs from 22 April 2026 to 11 November 2026.
There will not be a walk on 26 August and 2 September 2026.
When: Wednesdays, 11.30am to 12.15pm. Book your place in advance.
Where: Meet in the garden of Clissold House Cafe, Clissold Park, off Green Lanes/Church Street N16 9HJ.
This walk is for people who have suffered a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), or have mobility issues. You must be a Hackney resident or registered at a GP in Hackney.
Nearby buses: 73, 106, 141, 341, 393, 476
Hosted by the Fit 4 Health Team. See Fit 4 Health slow paced walk to book and for more information.
Starts for the year on 22 April 2026.
Hackney Diabetes Centre walk (Type 2)
When: Mondays, 10am to 11.30am (arrive 15 minutes early) – new members should arrive half an hour early to register.
Where: Homerton University Hospital, Hackney Diabetes Centre, Homerton Row, E9 6SR. Leaders: Diabetes Lay Educators. Intensity: varied.
You must have diabetes or pre-diabetes to attend this walk and be a Hackney resident or registered at a GP in Hackney.
Nearby buses: 236, 242, 276, 394, 425, 488, W15
We check walkers’ blood glucose levels before and after the walk. For more information call the Diabetes Lay Educators on 020 8510 5920 or 020
Hackney Type 1 Diabetes Monthly Walk and Talk
When: Every third Monday of the month, 6.30pm to 7.30 or 7.45pm
Where: Homerton University Hospital, Hackney Diabetes Centre, Homerton Row, E9 6SR.
Route: We will take a leisurely walk (4.3km) around Millfields Park. Approximately an hour of walking. We aim to stop for refreshments part-way through or afterwards.
Walk and Talk Groups offer an opportunity to be active and social in the outdoors. These groups are facilitated by the Hackney Diabetes Centre staff and patient volunteers.
You must have type 1 diabetes to attend this walk. Priority will be given to Hackney residents and those registered at a GP in Hackney.
Nearby buses: 236, 242, 276, 394, 425, 488, W15
Email Samina at samina.hassan@nhs.net or 07876003103 for more information and dates.
London Fields walk
There will not be a walk on 15 July, 26 August and 2 September 2026.
When: Wednesdays, 12.15 to 1pm, moderate-intensity
Where: Meet at Hackney Town Hall steps (end closest to Reading Lane), Mare Street, E8 1HH, hosted by Lynne Thorburn.
Nearby buses: 55, 106, 236, 242, 254, 277, D6, W15
Call us on 020 8356 4897 or email walking@hackney.gov.uk for more information or speak to the walk leader at the session.
Millfields Park Circular walk
When: Thursdays, low to moderate intensity, 11am to 12pm.
Where: Meet at the park entrance on Millfields Road on the corner of Chatsworth Road opposite Millfields Cafe, E5 OLA. Hosted by Rosemarie Michael.
Nearby buses: 38, 55, 106, 242, 253, 254, 308
Call us on 020 8356 4897 or email walking@hackney.gov.uk for more information or speak to the walk leader at the session.
Springfield Park walk
This walk runs until 2 December 2026. It starts again on 3 March 2027.
When: Wednesdays, 2pm to 3pm.
Where: Meet outside of Springfield House (the large white building) Springfield Park, E5 9BE. Hosted by Rita Saha.
Low to moderate intensity.
Call Darren English on 020 8356 4897 or email: walking@hackney.gov.uk for more information or speak to the walk leader at the session.
United Ladies N16 Walking group
When: Every Wednesday, 10am to 11am. No walk on 26 August or 2 September 2026.
Where: Meet outside of Yorkshire Grove Community Hall 20 Gunster Rd, London N16 8HF.
Join Zulekha and Rabia on a sociable and friendly Muslim women’s walk, open to women of all backgrounds, which explores different parts of N16 such as Clissold Park and Butterfield Green.
Nearby buses: 73, 106, 141, 341, 393, 476
Call us on 020 8356 4897 or email walking@hackney.gov.uk for more information or speak to the walk leaders at the session.
Walks of interest
Free guided walks (generally 1 to 2 hours long) delivered over easy to moderate terrain. The walks are delivered at various locations and cover a range of historical and topics of interest.
We welcome walkers to bring their own memories and stories to share on the walks.
To book onto a walk of interest, register to the programme and complete the walks of interest booking form. Contact Darren English via walking@hackney.gov.uk or 020 8356 4897 for more information.
See Walks of interest 2026 (PDF 1.3MB).
All the walks of interest are fully booked, but you can join the waiting list.
Down around the Downs
On this walk, hear about:
- how Victorian opposition to development helped save Hackney Downs for public use
- a school that produced world-class writers and artists
- the park’s connections to the suffragettes
- the earliest cycling club
- horse racing
- hot air balloons
- a current movie star
- the singing sisters
Date: Saturday 8 August 2026
Time: 11am to 1pm
Meeting point: Hackney Downs Rail Station E8 1LA
Walk leader: Sue
Intensity: moderate
Hackney and the City of London
On this walk, learn about:
- shopkeepers on Bishopsgate
- a suffragette who ran a typing and translation business
- Bank of England governors - including one who sold his building so the bank could be extended
- brave citizens with memorials in Postman’s Park
- a merchant who was attacked in the street by a rival
Date: Saturday 5 September 2026
Time: 11am to 1pm
Meeting point: Bank Underground Station EC3V 3DG
Walk leader: Sue
Intensity: moderate
Chats by the Lea
On this walk, learn about:
- Chatsworth Road’s long-running market
- 2 hospitals
- the remains of workhouses
- a palace which was formerly a library
- Clapton Orient
- a greyhound stadium
- the banks of the River Lea
Date: Saturday 17 October 2026
Time: 11am to 1pm
Meeting point: outside the John Howard Centre (former Hackney Hospital), E9 5TD
Walk leader: Sue
Intensity: moderate
Castle and Countryside
On this walk, learn about:
- Hackney’s castle - a former Victorian water pumping station designed to look like a castle to make it acceptable to local residents
- New River - now regenerated for leisure
- Woodberry Down - it’s been regenerated but still has reminders of wealthy people from centuries ago
- Woodberry Wetlands
Date: Saturday 7 November 2026
Time: 11am to 1pm
Meeting point: Manor House Underground Station N4 2LJ
Walk leader: Sue
Intensity: moderate
Train as a Walkingtogether walk leader
Walk leader training is aimed at volunteers who want to lead community walks, and is run where there is an existing Wellbeing Walks Scheme in partnership with the Ramblers.
To help us to encourage, engage and increase physical activity levels among our residents, we are seeking volunteers and partners who are friendly, approachable, enthusiastic and reliable.
Training is free, but we do ask that you give a minimum of 2 voluntary hours on completion of the course. This can be as a walk leader or assistant leader of your own community walk or as part of our Walkingtogether scheme. We ask that these hours are completed in Hackney or through a Hackney scheme.
The walk leader training covers:
- walk planning and safety
- managing and leading a walk
- benefits of walking and physical activity
- demonstration of a walk
Training combines online and face-to-face learning. You’ll need to shadow a community walk as well as lead a walk as part of the course.
You must be over 16 years old.
Exercise made easy – how walking can improve your health
A regular 10-minute brisk walk can make you feel better in many ways – it can boost your energy, clear your head and lift your mood, and can help people with lower back pain or at risk of high blood pressure. It can also improve your long-term health as it can reduce your risk of serious illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Brisk walking is simply walking faster than usual, at a pace that gets your heart pumping. Start with a 10-minute brisk walk a day and then see if you can gradually build up to more. Find out more about how brisk walking can keep you healthy and get support to get started.
You can read about three Hackney residents to find out more about the benefits of walking and the ways that walking can help with your health and wellbeing. They all participate in the Walkingtogether programme.
The Ramblers
Walkingtogether is delivered together with the Ramblers. The Ramblers is dedicated to:
- removing barriers so everyone can enjoy walking in green spaces
- preserving and improving well-loved paths, tracks and trails across England, Scotland and Wales
Watch this video on what you can expect from a Ramblers walk.
Walking routes
Canal and River Trust walks
Walk Hackney - self-led walks
Sean Gubbins delivers a range of walks of interest across Hackney.
Sean has used his knowledge and creativity to offer self-led history focused walks. The routes are snippets of Walk Hackney’s walks, devised and led by Sean since 2002.
To relieve pressure on the parks at this time, these routes are largely through local streets. Remember to:
wear comfortable shoes and take a bottle of water with you
take care crossing roads – use controlled crossings where possible
We plan to rotate the self-led walks every 2 weeks, with a minimum of 15 individual walks to enjoy and explore shown at any time.
Hackney parks walks
The Hackney parks forum have a series of maps of walks through a number of Hackney’s parks and open spaces (including walking distances):
- walk 1 – River Lea to Stoke Newington– Hackney Marshes, Clapton Common, Millfields, Springfield Park and more
- walk 2 – South Hackney’s green and open spaces – Shoreditch Park, Hoxton Community Garden, St Mary’s Garden, Haggerston Park and London Fields
- walk 3 – Hackney’s canals and southern borders– Well Street Common, Victoria Park and more
- walk 4 – Hackney’s northern parks and nature reserves– Clissold Park, Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington Common and Springfield Park
- walk 5 – Green chains and open spaces – Mare Street to Lea Valley – St Johns Churchyard, Clapton Square, Hackney Downs, Clapton Pond and more
- walk 6 – Circular – Hackney Marshes and adjacent green spaces – Mabley Green, Wick Woodland, Hackney Marshes, East Marsh and Daubney Green
You can also see our walks connecting Hackney’s parks and open spaces or follow an audio tour of Hackney bringing to life local history and characters.
Wild Walks guide
Hackney Wild Walks is our new walking guide for children, with 3 fun walks around Hackney. Walk from Haggerston to Hoxton to see a giant snake and a mysterious stone circle, discover hidden playgrounds and the perfect spot for flying a kite on the Hackney Marshes route, and encounter wizards and open water in Woodberry Down.
Capital Ring
The Capital Ring is a surprisingly green route that encircles London.
The total distance is 125km (78 miles) connecting parks and open spaces, mostly following pleasant residential roads in between.
The route passes through Hackney’s Clissold Park and Springfield Park.
See Walk London for more information.
London Living Streets
Go Jauntly
A walking app that provides a range of walking trails for you to enjoy.
Visit Go Jauntly.
Active 10 walking tracker app
The Active 10 app tracks your walking and shows you when to increase your pace to benefit your health. The app is designed to quickly and simply help you do more brisk walking in bursts of 10 minutes, known as Active 10s. It tracks all your walking and rewards your progress.
Explore quiet and interesting local walking routes with Footways
Walking as part of your daily routine is the easiest way to stay healthy and active, so we’ve teamed up with Footways to design some routes which connect Kings Park with a range of other destinations. The routes are full of history, beauty and intrigue, so there will be plenty of things to see and nature to enjoy along the way. These routes avoid the busy streets and follow quiet routes through Hackney.
The routes are available on the Go Jauntly app available on the Android or iPhone app store.
Once you’ve downloaded the app, you can go straight to our first two routes using these links:
If you give permission for the app to track your location you’ll can see all walks in London and beyond. We’ll be adding more local routes soon so keep checking the app.
Visit Footways to discover more quiet and interesting walking routes across London.
Physical Activity
Address
Leisure, Parks and Green Spaces
Environment and Climate Change Division, Housing, Climate and Economy Directorate
Hackney Council, Springfield House, Springfield Park, Springfield, Hackney
E5 9EF