Walks Near Putney: Putney Heath, Putney River Walk & Beyond
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Looking for the best walks near Putney? Putney is situated along the River Thames and between Putney Heath’s woodlands and Richmond Park. I’ve rounded up the best walks near Putney below.
Although Putney is located in one of the busiest cities in the world, it’s home to many walks and outdoor areas. It’s one of my favourite things about living here.
From a light stroll in Putney Heath to a riverside Thames walk, there are enough walks near Putney to keep you entertained in your spare time.
Below I have listed the best walks near Putney that I have found (so far), but will continue to add to whilst living here.
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Best walks near Putney, London
1. Putney Heath to Wimbledon
(1 hour 15 mins +)
Putney Heath is a 400-acre woodland situated between Putney and Wimbledon.
You can begin your walk at the famous 18th Century Green Man pub. Continue walking just over 4.5 miles to Wimbledon Common and Wimbledon high street.
The walk isn’t too strenuous as it starts at the top of Putney Hill. It will take around an hour to do depending on your pace.
Be sure to check out one of Putney’s oldest pubs, The Green Man, known for being an old duelling spot and being opposite one of the most notorious highwayman paths. A bit of history always makes for an interesting walk!
The trails through Putney Heath and Wimbledon Common are slightly different. Putney Heath has few open spaces, thick woodland and cute ponds, whereas Wimbledon Common is the opposite! It has large areas of open heath and a big pond, which is perfect for a picnic spot!
Oooh, and if you’re looking for a good pub en route, stop off at the Crooked Billet in Wimbledon (especially if it’s a sunny day!) You’ll find people of all ages sitting on the green or in the beer garden enjoying the weather and drinking a pint.
Plus it’s a great spot for an afternoon read!
🇬🇧 TOP LONDON TRAVEL BUY: I use my Insta Mini 11 to take photos on all of my trips. As they print instantly, they’re perfect for making a scrapbook and writing in all your favourite and funniest memories. I’ve even got my boyfriend joining in on it now too!
2. Putney to Battersea Riverside Walk
(1.5 hours +)
Start your walk from Putney to Battersea from Putney’s town centre, and walk as far along the river as Battersea.
You can walk on either side of the river. It’s preferable to walk on the south side due to the wider path and parks you will cross through.
However if it’s a sunny day or weekend, the path can get pretty busy. It’s easy enough to cross over to the north side of the river if you find this is the case.
There are benches en route if you need to stop, as well as shops, cafes and pubs (I recommend the Ship in Wandsworth if you have time). If you need the toilet, there is a big Sainsbury’s about halfway through to stop at.
The walk from Putney to Battersea takes about an hour and a half and is around 5 miles long.
3. Putney to Barnes Riverside Walk
(1 hour 15 minutes+)
Another popular walk near Putney is the Putney to Barnes riverside walk.
It’s an easy, flat walk and shouldn’t take longer than an hour and fifteen minutes (if you don’t stop for photos or a pint in the pub).
The popular Putney to Barnes hike also covers the first four miles of the famous Oxford vs Cambridge boat race (although you wouldn’t want to do it on this day, it gets rammed!)
One of the best things about the Putney to Barnes walk is the number of pubs and restaurants you’ll pass on the way, with some favourites being in either Putney centre or Barnes.
Barnes has a real ‘family’ feel to it and is the perfect high street for first-timers to London who prefer a ‘village’ type vibe.
4. Hammersmith to Putney Towpath Loop
(1.5-2 hours)
One of Putney’s most picturesque walks, the Hammersmith to Putney towpath is perfect for dog walking or an afternoon stroll after your Sunday roast.
The walk will take around 1.5-2 hours, and for the majority of it, you will be away from busy roads.
Again there are many pubs on the route for a stop off, and benches if you are feeling tired. You can join or leave the walk whenever, or just loop back around from where you started.
If you’re a fan of bridges, you can tie in the famous Putney Bridge and overlook the Thames from there. Putney is also full of bars, restaurants and cafes for you to enjoy some downtime before or after your walk.
You’ll also pass Bishop’s Park and Fulham Football Club.
🇬🇧 TOP LONDON TRAVEL BUY: If you’re solo travelling, don’t forget to take earphones for busy London tubes and public transport. Listening to a podcast or tuning out from the noise is a lifesaver on a busy city trip!
5. Putney to Richmond Thames Path
(3.5 hours+)
One of the longest walks from Putney would be directly along the river to Richmond. It’s a great one to do, especially when the sun is shining, but you might want to hop on the bus or tube back!
The route passes the Wetlands Centre, passes under Hammersmith Bridge, Barnes, Kew, the Royal Botanical Gardens and Kew Palace (meaning you could always stop off en route).
If you continue on, the path will take you past Old Deer Park (which is worth coming back for), Richmond Lock and then into Richmond town centre.
Like I said, it’s a longer walk, and although it’s not uphill, it will take around 3.5 hours to complete.
The walk can be done in either direction, and if you’re feeling exhausted halfway through, there are many transport links along the way.
If you’re starting in Putney and ending in Richmond, I recommend stopping off for lunch at the White Cross by Richmond Bridge. It has great riverside views and the beer will feel very well deserved!
🇬🇧 TOP LONDON TRAVEL BUY: Solo travelling in London? Stay safe by carrying your cash or card in a money belt. I know it sounds silly, but London can be chaotic and pickpockets are known to work in busy areas. it’s better to be safe than sorry!
6. Putney Heath Circular Loop
(1.5 hours +)
Starting and finishing at the Green Man on Putney Hill, this circular loop covers 5 miles of woodland and forest. It’s perfect if you want to be away from busy roads or the bustle of London.
This walk can be done on a summer’s evening with a dinner to finish off in the Green Man.
If you’re relatively fit, the hiking trails are easy as it’s all flat and straightforward. However, as Putney Heath is mainly woodlands, look out for unexpected tree stumps and loose branches!
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7. Putney Heath Short Walks
If you’re not looking for an hour-plus walk, one of our favourite things to do in Putney is to just go on a short walk through the Heath.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t get far, walking through the woodlands gives you an energy boost of nature and makes you feel a hundred miles away from the city.
We only live a stone’s throw away, and I make sure to fit a short stroll in the forest daily.
You can start or finish wherever, just take your time to enjoy nature!
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8. Bishop’s Park, Putney walk
(10-30 minutes)
Bishop’s Park is located just across Putney Bridge, and is the perfect spot for a short stroll if you don’t fancy hours of walking.
Walk directly opposite Putney’s row of rowing clubs (mind the pun), and soak in the sunshine and the glimmer of the River Thames.
Putney is also full of Boris bikes (aka rentable Santander bikes), which can be hired for a few pounds a day (depending on how long you have it). Bishop’s Park is a great place to hire a bike and have a picnic stop.
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9. Putney to Wandsworth Park
(15 minutes)
Another short walk from Putney Bridge is the Thames walk to Wandsworth Park. This is another of my easy favourites as it can be done at sunset and in the lighter evenings easily.
The Queen Adelaide pub is also at the end of the route (if you’re finishing in Wandsworth) which does a cracking Sunday roast and has a welcoming beer garden.
Wandsworth Park also has large tennis courts, a Putt in the Park and a playground. I don’t know if I’m just lucky, but it also attracts owners walking some incredible dogs!
(Honestly, I think I saw the Dulux dog there once and I freaked out 😂)
Walks near Putney: FAQs
Can you walk on Putney Bridge?
Yes. Putney Bridge is open all year round to walk across. The bridge connects Putney high street and Fulham, and the north side of the bridge is the entrance of Bishop’s Park.
I love walking across Putney Bridge, although it can get quite busy. It’s a perfect photo opportunity (when it’s not blowing a gail!)
Can you walk along the River Thames?
Yes, there are many parts of the River Thames you can walk along for good views and lunch spots. Putney is situated on the River Thames and is a good starting point for many walks and trails.
How long does it take to walk along the Thames?
Well, this one isn’t happening in a day, but it’s quite a goal to have! Walking along the Thames will rack up over 185 miles (298 km), and walking 15 miles per day will allow you to finish the route in 14 days.
The Thames’ source is way up in the Cotswolds, so it isn’t an easy task!
Walks Near Putney: In a Nutshell
So, these are (so far) my favourite walks near Putney, and definitely enough to keep you going for a while!
As Putney isn’t a particularly hilly area (well, there are some, but not many on these walks listed and they’re not exactly mountains), most walks are easy for reasonably fit people, and all offer good views that you don’t always expect to see in London.
If you’ve found another walk near Putney that you think should be on this list, let me know in the comments below, or directly on Instagram! I’d love to hear from you.
But for now, I’m off to walk around Putney Heath and get my daily dose of nature! 🌳
Happy travelling!
Jennie 😀 x
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