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Getting out for a walk is one of the simplest and most surefire ways to boost your mood. And in cities like London, where there’s non-stop activity and constant stimulation, being able to stroll around can be a godsend.
Don’t just take our word for it. Research shows that people who live in pedestrianised places are happier and healthier. It has found that walkable cities are better for the planet, create a better sense of community and benefit local economies by creating more footfall for businesses. Plus, walking around is one of the best ways to discover hidden gems and lesser known corners of some of the world’s best cities, in our opinion. All in all, they’re a win, win.
So, here at Time Out we wanted to know which of our favourite cities around the world are the most pedestrian-friendly. We asked 18,500 people across the globe to rate their hometown’s walkability on a scale of one to five with one being ‘awful’ and five being ‘amazing’. And London fared pretty well.
Seventy-nine percent of Londoners who responded to our survey rated the city’s walkability ‘good’ or ‘amazing’, making it the 18th most walkable city ion the world (on par with Washington DC and Lyon, France).
Our capital may be vast, but it’s pretty easy to get by in London without a car. Central London is a particularly great way for tourists to get the steps in, with places like the National Portrait Gallery, British Museum, the West End, Covent Garden and South Bank all within a very easy walking distance of each other.
There are loads of paths perfect for an amble, like Regent’s Canal, London Wall and the gorgeous Thames Path. You’re never far from a big green space to stroll through, clear signage to help you find your way around, or from public transport (also highly rated by Time Out readers) that’ll get you to neighbourhoods a little further afield.
On top of all that, there’s always work going on to make London even more pedestrian-friendly. In 2018, Mayor Sadiq Khan introduced the Walking Action Plan to encourage more people to get around the city on foot (or by wheelchair). And right now, there are plans to pedestrianise Camden High Street and Oxford Street and rumours that Soho could bring back its pedestrianised street dining zones in the summer.
See which other UK cities made the cut here and the full list of the world’s most walkable cities, according to Time Out readers, here.
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