Did you know May is National Walking Month? Before you get ready to lace up your shoes and put your best feet forward, we’ve got some exciting news to share.
Ealing Council is asking you to vote in a contest to find the borough’s best, or most popular, walking route.
It’s no secret our borough is home to beautiful green spaces and award-winning parks, making it one of the best places in London for a stroll.
But if you had to pick just one favourite walk — could you? It’s a tough call, which is why we need your help to crown the winner.
We’ve started by shortlisting 8 of the borough’s most popular routes, each one showcasing at least one of our amazing 7 towns.
We’ve also tried to ensure the walks are accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of walking ability — and they all feature some of the borough’s best-loved beauty spots.
Walking is a simple, free way to stay active, boost your mood, and enjoy your surroundings. Whether you like short strolls or longer treks, our top 9 hit that happy middle ground.
Choose your winner
Head to our online voting page today to view the list and cast your vote. You have until the deadline of 23:59pm on Sunday 11 May 2025.
The winning walk will be revealed in the summer edition of Around Ealing magazine — out in June – and we’ll be filming a special video to celebrate it.
Discover a new favourite
Councillor Polly Knewstub, the council’s cabinet member for healthy equal lives, said: “As the days grow longer and the weather warms up this May, it’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the borough’s fantastic green spaces.
“We’re lucky to have so many beautiful walking routes right on our doorstep, and we want to hear from you – vote now in our competition to find our borough’s best walk. Who knows you might discover a new favourite spot not far from where you call home?”
Your fave didn’t make the list?
If your personal favourite didn’t make the list, we’d love to hear about it. So, please email us a photo of you on your top walk and why you like it (to aroundealing@ealing.gov.uk), and we’ll do our best to give it a shout-out in a future article.
Thanks for going the extra mile (pun fully intended!) and getting involved. If you want to read a little write-up about each of the 8 shortlisted walking routes before you vote, please read on…
The 8 walks
Walpole and Lammas parks
This pleasant walk is just under 2 miles long and is suitable for people using wheelchairs.
The walk begins at the war memorial in front of Pitshanger Manor. The route then goes through Walpole Park and into the nearby Lammas Park before ‘wrapping’ back around into Walpole Park.
The walk is especially lovely in June when roses are in bloom and there are some lovely water features and landmarks like Ealing Studios on the way.
For more information, including directions, visit the Ealing Council website.
Brent Meadow to Top Locks
This scenic walk takes you from the beautiful Brent Meadow, along the historic canal locks past Canalside Park to Top Lock and back down the canal towards Hanwell.
It should take around an hour to complete in total and is 2.5 miles in length.
Also, if you fancy a drink why not finish your stroll at Hanwell’s The Viaduct pub nearby?
Fun fact, the walk takes you near one of Ealing’s most interesting buildings, St Bernard’s Hospital, a 19th Century building steeped in history and once known as Europe’s largest ‘lunatic asylum’.
For more information, including directions, visit the Ealing Council website.
Gunnersbury Park
It’s home to one of the borough’s most popular Parkruns, excellent sports facilities and a handful of scenic spots.
The walk begins by the large mansion taking you clockwise (towards the M4) around the garden path, boasting some interesting landmarks like Princess Amelia’s Bath House, the mock gothic ruins, the pavilion and tennis courts, past the car park and café back to your starting point.
The walk is just over 3km in distance and suitable for wheelchairs if Princess Amelia’s Bath House is left out.
You can find out more about the park’s history on the Ealing Council website.
Acton Green Common, Gunnersbury Triangle Local Nature Reserve and Chiswick Common
Here’s a walk which joins up three open spaces, which are all nearby a rail or underground station.
The route starts and finishes at Turnham Green tube station, going through Acton Green Common towards Gunnersbury Triangle Local Nature Reserve and looping around towards Chiswick Common back to the starting point.
If you get thirsty or fancy a bite to eat, there are several cafes and shops in Turnham Green Terrace around the station.
The walk is mostly quite level, but it does go over a footbridge at one point, and there are some steps in the nature reserve.
For more details including accessibility and directions visit the Ealing Council website.
Horsenden Hill circular
This circular walk takes you to and from Horsenden Farm, along an ancient piece of countryside now used for nature conservation.
The walk boasts fantastic views as far as Chilterns on a clear day and there are viewing platforms placed around the route.
The walk is up to 1.8 kilometres in distance and those travelling by car should be aware there is limited parking.
For more information, including directions and accessibility, on the Ealing Council website.
Pear Tree Park and athletics track
This lovely walk takes you from Greenford Hall across level pavements and paths – through parkland, round Perivale Athletics Track and back again.
It can include enjoying Pear Tree Park, a 49-acre park that opened last summer. It is full of biodiversity and there is a mix of wildflower meadows, native trees and more.
If you’re travelling to the walk by car there’s a pay and display car park in Greenford Broadway as well as lots of cafes and shops.
The walk is also suitable for wheelchairs. Find out more information, including directions, on the Ealing Council website.
Northala Fields
It’s one of the most famous walking spots in the borough and it’s not hard to see why.
Known for its iconic mounts along the A40, this walking spot received a Green Flag Award from Keep Britain Tidy ins 2009.
The site lies to the east of the Target roundabout and directly south of the A40 Western Avenue.
The site is accessed via several entrances around the park from residential areas, linking with the subway under the roundabout.
As well as a popular walking destination, there are 6 fishing lakes used by budding anglers.
For more information about Northala Fields visit the Ealing Council website.
Paradise Fields and Greenford beavers
This exciting walk has a furry new attraction – the Greenford beavers.
Starting at Horsenden Farm, the route goes along the canal towpath to Paradise Fields and back again.
There’s a sculpture trail and loads of wildlife to observe.
Paradise Fields is the home of one of London’s first families of urban beavers, which are based in the main lagoon, but be warned they’re not always visible.
For the full walk directions visit the Ealing Council website.
Good luck beaver watching.
