The Thames Path provides casual walkers and active hikers with a useful trail all the way along the banks of the UK’s most famous river.
The challenge with some river walks is finding a good circular route that doesn’t require doubling back or having to cut the walk short.
Fortunately, if you plan ahead you can find some great circuits that take you along both sides of the river so you can make the most of everything the river has to offer.
Here are three of our favourite Thames Path circular walks both inside and outside London.
Southbank to Battersea and back
Heading from the touristy Southbank to the now vibrant Battersea is a great way to explore these parts of London, and with each route along the river taking less than one and a half hours it doesn’t have to take the whole day.
Once you’re at Battersea, you can explore the iconic power station or discover the many things to do in Battersea Park.
To make this a circular route, all you have to do is then cross the Thames over Chelsea Bridge or Albert Bridge then follow the Thames Path back to Blackfriars on the other side of the river.
Read our blog on the Blackfriars to Battersea walk to learn more about this route along the Thames.
London Bridge, Greenwich and Canary Wharf
One of the most popular stretches of the Thames Path is from London Bridge to Greenwich, as it takes you from the busy Southbank, past landmarks like Tower Bridge, and then to the beautiful Greenwich.
That walk on its own is a good enough way to stretch your legs, but to make it circular you can then take the Greenwich foot tunnel under the Thames and over to the Isle of Dogs.
Now you’re on the north bank of the river, you can follow the Thames Path west, all the way past Canary Wharf, through Limehouse, then back into central London.
We’ve covered the first stretch of the walk from London Bridge to Greenwich on our blog, so check it out for more details.
Hambleden Mill to Henley-on-Thames
The Thames Path extends west out of London, so if you’re after a walk that’s not in an urban setting there are plenty of options to choose from along this river.
The 6-mile-long Hambleden Mill to Henley-on-Thames circular walk takes you through Oxfordshire and around the southern edge of the Chilterns.
The route starts in Mill End, from which you can follow a quiet section of the Thames west and down to Henley-on-Thames before heading back via a different path.
This circular walk offers a good chance to see kingfishers along this part of the river, and Henley-on-Thames is a beautiful small town that provides a great halfway point to stop for lunch.
