Picture a lush green highway circling London that’s entirely navigable on foot. Nope, it’s not just a flight of fancy. What you’re imaging is perfectly real. It goes under the name of the London LOOP.

If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone: most people we’ve spoken to haven’t either, but with an astonishing 150 miles of secret countryside mapped and signposted for Londoners’ enjoyment, it’s a brilliant option for walkers and day adventurers that want to dust off their hiking boots, but don’t really want to head to the Peaks or the Lakes.

Why get your LOOP on, you ask? Well, aside from the obvious benefits of going for a long walk, perhaps the stunning views, awesome nature, and funky critters are enough to sway you? What if we said it’s easily accessible using an Oyster card?

What is the London LOOP?

The London Outer Orbital Path, or LOOP as it has been affectionately named, is the brainchild of the London Walking Forum. Thanks to these good people, even the most novice walker can enjoy the green fields and leafy woodlands practically on our doorstep. The TFL site has mapped out 24 separate walks that, together, make one giant circle around London. The longest section runs from Elstree to Cockfosters and takes walkers on a 11 mile-long journey, while the shortest is Banstead Downs to Ewell which clocks in at just 3.5 miles, so each section is possible to complete in a day.

History of the LOOP

The LOOP was first proposed back in 1990, officially given the green light by the House of Lords in 1993, and the first section was opened three years later, in 1996. Sections were opened as they were completed and the route was walkable as a continuous loop in 2001.

We’d be wrong to mention the LOOP without giving credit to the London Green Belt. In 1938, an act was passed to protect the greenery around London. Although under pressure in recent years, the London Green Belt continues to champion green space and fight for its preservation. Because of these endeavours, Londoners can enjoy protected green space around the whole of outer London. Check out this site to see more.

Getting around

Each walk has signposts along the way to the nearest transport and amenities. Although these are great and the routes well marked, as with all walking expeditions, it’s never a bad idea to have a backup just in case, as sometimes signs are lost or taken. The safest bet is to download the walk PDF onto a phone (take a battery pack if your phone has a tendency to lose its power) – that way it’s handy whenever it’s needed. The PDF comes with fun facts about the sights and easy-to-understand directions for getting from A to B.

What you’ll need

Hiking boots, rucksack, water, a saved copy of the route, lunch (the TFL website has pub-stop suggestions for those that don’t want to cart around sarnies) or a snack, and oyster. All your regular walking kit, really (and if you need somewhere to store it when you’re not walking, especially if you tend to only venture out during the warmer months, give Boxman a call. There’s no sense in having all your outdoor kit taking up valuable space at your place, especially when storing it can be such a cinch).

Our pick of the paths to start you off.

Head to the Havering-atte-Bower to Harold Wood route for a great walk (Section 21, if you’re curious). It has a lovely, countryside feel to it.

To start you’ll need to get the 375 from Romford (or the 103 and some extra walking on Sundays when the 375 doesn’t run). Once on the way, walkers can take in sights such as Foxburrow Wood, Round House, and Central Park. Download a copy of the route from TFL for some fun factoids about the surroundings and sights. The walk as it’s mapped out serenely strolls along a stream and ends conveniently at Harold Wood Station.

Site: TFL LOOP

The London Loop is one of many great reasons to venture out of central London, but driving to a self-storage facility? Not so much. That’s where Boxman comes in. We’ll deliver sturdy boxes straight to your door, leave you to pack them up and then return to whisk them away to our warehouse when you’re ready. So, whether you’re moving house, downsizing, or need somewhere to store your outerwear during the non-walking season, Boxman can help. Give us a call. We like to chat.

Featured Image from luphen.org.uk, a site well worth checking out for lots more information, photographs and reports of the London Loop.