Last updated: 26 September 2023
Next review: 14 November 2023
Why walk?
Walking has a huge range of benefits including:
- Physical health - for a longer life expectancy, more energy, stamina, improving core muscle strength, and boosting the immune system.
- Mental health - for a mood enhancer, stress and anxiety reliever, better sleep, improved memory and a way of calming your mind.
- For your neighbourhood - every journey walked means less by car, improving air quality and fostering a sense of community.
Waltham Forest Wanders
Discover Waltham Forest with our walking and cycling trails showcasing a number of famous people and places in the borough and sharing some of Waltham Forest’s lesser-known secrets.
The nine routes can be followed on your own or with family and friends and are a great way to learn more about our borough while enjoying the great outdoor spaces and finding new favourite places.
There are nine routes to choose from:
- Murder and the Orient
- Planes, bike and automobiles
- Swimmers, bakers and olympic games makers
- Arts and crafts
- A wander down the hill
- Leyton and Leytonstone
- Highams Park animal sculpture trail
- Waltham Forest's industrial past
- A tale of three boroughs
Download the full guide or the individual routes by clicking on the links above, or view them on our Living Map.
Feel good walks
Our Feel Good Walks are suitable for anyone to join and are FREE. They provide a great way for you to get out and about, meet new people and explore some of the beautiful green spaces Waltham Forest has to offer.
Walks are led by trained volunteers and take place across the borough with options for shorter and slower-paced walks. Find out more on the Ramblers' wellbeing walks website or by emailing feel.good@walthamforest.gov.uk
2023 Programme
Mondays
Friday Hill, Chingford
Every Monday 11am to 12pm
Steady pace
Meet outside The Chingdale Centre, 19 Chingdale Road, E4 6HZ
Bury Road, Chingford
Every Monday 10:30am to 11am
Gentle stroll
Meet at Bury Road Car Park, E4 6AR
Leyton, Ladies only, in association with The Hornbeam
Every Monday 9.45am to 11:15am
Steady pace
Meet at KukooLaLa Cafe, Leyton Jubilee Park, E10 7BL
Tuesdays
North Chingford
Every Tuesday 11am to 12.30pm
Steady pace
Meet at Bury Road Car Park, E4 6AR
Leyton: Gentle Tuesday walk
Every Tuesday 11:30am to 12:30pm
Gentle Stroll
Meet at Leyton Sports Ground, 485 High Road, Leyton, E10 6PY
Tea and biscuits at the sports ground are provided after the walk
Walthamstow
Thomas Gamuel Park, Walthamstow in Partnership with Leyton Orient Trust
Every Tuesday from 11am to 11:30am
Steady Pace
Meeting at Thomas Gamuel Park, E17 8NP (entrance near Collingwood Road)
Finishing at Stafford Hall, E18 8JY for teas and coffees
Wednesdays
Leyton
Every Wednesday 11am to 12.30pm
Steady pace
Meet at KukooLaLa Cafe, Leyton Jubilee Park, E10 7BL
Thursdays
Leyton
Coronation Gardens, Leyton in Partnership with Leyton Orient Trust
Every Thursday weekly from 11:30am to 12pm
Steady Pace
Meet at Coronation Gardens Park entrance, E10 5PW (entrance near Buckingham Road)
Leytonstone
Every Thursday 11am to 12.30pm
Steady pace
Meet at Lakeside Diner, Hollow Ponds, E11 1NP
Bury Road, Chingford
Every Thursday 10am to 11am
Brisk pace
Meet at Bury Road Car Park, E4 6AR
Fridays
Highams Park
Every Friday 11am to 12.30pm
Steady pace
Meet at Humphrys Cafe, The Highams Park, IG8 9RF
This walk finishes at Coco Café on Hale End Road, E4 9PB
Sundays
Walthamstow: GEM family walk
First Sunday of the month
2pm to 3pm
Slow pace
Meet at the grass field next to Coppermill Fields Car Park, E17 7HG
For under-represented communities in the borough, also known as "global ethnic majority families".
Parkrun
Parkrun takes place at The Peter May Centre, 135 Wadham Road, Walthamstow, E17 4HR.
Parkrun is a 5 kilometers weekly timed event open to all ages and abilities, you need to register to get your barcode and take part.
To find out more, visit the Peter May Leisure Centre website.
Junior parkrun
Junior Parkrun takes place at Leyton Jubilee Park, Marsh Lane, Leyton, London, E10 7BL
Junior Parkrun is a free, fun, and friendly, consisting of weekly 2 kilometers events for juniors aged 4 to 14 year olds.
To find out more, send an email to leytonjubileejuniors@parkrun.com
Walking groups in the Borough
Other walking routes and maps
- Walks Past: Free self-guided local history walks
- Wood Street Walls: Local street Art Maps
- William Morris Design Line Map: Local street Art Maps
- Go Jauntly: Walking Route App
- Walk London