5 of the best places to run in London this summer

At World of Leggings, we’re all for a treadmill run now and again, but now that the weather’s picking up for the highly anticipated arrival of summer, we say it’s time to take those workouts outside and make the most of the great outdoors! When the sun’s shining down on one of the best cities in the world, it’s not hard to see why so many of us are starting to ditch the same 4 walls of the gym in favour of an outdoor run. When there’s a whole city out there to discover and see, it makes no sense running your life away on a treadmill right?

With so many great running routes in London offering everything from riverside paths to spacious parks to scenic bridges and hilltop views, we say it’s time to shake up your workout routine this summer and see what some of London’s most famous running routes have to offer. From speedy lunchtime jogs to long weekend runs to a power walk with friends, whatever your vibe, here’s our top 5 picks of the best places to run in London this summer…you can thank us later!

1) Hyde Park (The Princess Diana Run)

If you fancy killing two birds with one stone on your weekend run, then why not combine fitness with sightseeing at Hyde Park? This way-marked figure-of-eight course allows you to spy on many of London’s green spaces, including Hyde Park, Green Park and Kensington Gardens, by running anti-clockwise around the lake. You’ll even come (run) across Buckingham Palace! Now that is a royal run if we ever did hear of one.

2) The Thames Loop

Fancy watching the world go by as you clock up the miles? Sounds good right! Set off from the infamous Big Ben and make your way along the riverside path, taking in some of London’s most iconic sights as you follow the Thames. From the Houses of Parliament to the London Eye and the Tower of London, this is a running route you need to add to your bucket list. This is both a flat and straightforward route, making it the perfect destination for a sightseeing Sunday run.

3) Hampstead Heath

If you fancy escaping the city for a couple of hours, then head north to Hampstead Heath. One of London’s most ancient parks awaits with 800 acres of terrain to choose from, making it the perfect destination for the perfect scenic Sunday run. From grassland to paths to woods and hills, Hampstead Heath makes for the perfect setting for a leisurely run or a bit of HIIT practice, depending on how hard you feel like training!

4) Regent’s Park

For one of London’s most popular runs, then why not check out Regent’s Park this summer? With running tracks covering almost 5K of parkland, Regent’s Park is a fuss-free running route that’s favoured by many. Feeling brave? Finish off your workout by heading to nearby Primrose Hill for a more intense workout. The views of the city from the top are well worth the steep climb, trust us!

5) Richmond Park

Richmond Park is a huge royal park with an abundance of trails through woods and fields on offer, making it the perfect running spot in London to discover this summer. Although the running possibilities are endless when it comes to Richmond Park, most people opt for the long perimeter run on the Tamsin Trail as a starting point. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for those famous deers…

So there we have it, our top running spots in London to try this summer. Now the big question is, which one are you going to take for a spin first?