By Alice Fuller
October 4 2019, 17.25
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Richmond has been voted the number one place to take a walk in London.
The borough, which features the picturesque Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and the Richmond and Twickenham Riverside walk, was voted the top spot to start and end a walk in the capital, according to data by Ordnance Survey (OS).
Walkers and cyclists used the OS Maps app to record and share their favourite routes and voted Richmond Station as the best place to begin a London walk.
Richmond Ramblers member Mavis White said: “Richmond is a brilliant area for walkers because it’s such a green borough.
“We are spoilt for choice with Richmond, Bushy and Home Park, as well as riverside walks, the Grand Union canal and more.”
Nine out of the top 10 starting points were all tube or train stations, including Waterloo and London Bridge.
OS Maps users also crowned Richmond the top place to finish a capital city walk.
Richmond has 1,008 routes, making it the borough with the highest number of walking and cycling routes.
Richmond upon Thames attracts approximately 4.5 million visitors from around the world every year.
OS managing director for leisure Nick Giles said: “It’s no surprise to us that Richmond Station is where Londoners go to start a stroll in the city.”
He added: “Richmond’s got good transport links, is easy to walk around and is a wonderful starting point for getting outside.”
South London reigns supreme over the rest of the capital for the greatest number of routes recorded.
Richmond upon Thames (1008), Wandsworth (736), Croydon (674), Southwark (666), Lambeth (655) and Kingston upon Thames (632) all made it into the top 10.
OS’s Paul Cross said: “I lived in London for many years and you are just not aware of all these beautiful areas of green on your doorstep.
“Statistically, Greater London covers nearly 1,600km2 of which 40% of it is physically green.
“We know there is strong evidence that urban green spaces can improve the public’s health, and people who live in the areas within our cities and towns that have more green or blue space report better mental health as a result.”
The data comes with the release of OS’s pocket-size hand-illustrated Walk London map which aims to encourage Londoners to explore the capital’s green spaces.
