Want to know more about this one? Try any of these podcasts:
The Perfect Start London Unrolled Where London Begins
Border Country…steeped in history
The above’s a link to a detailed podcast about Hadley Wood, our beachhead, our jumping off point. Why it’s special. Prefer reading to listening? There’s a script to go with it.
The Curtain Rises at Hadley Wood
And The Curtain Rises at Hadley Wood – also a link – makes two. A second, different, detailed podcast about the starting point for this walk. It includes a really good tip if you get there early. Prefer reading to listening? There’s a script to go with it.
Dr Livingstone, I presume
And this one’s my (David’s) response to the walk. I went on the first one. This podcast goes over the ground. It reports back. Yes, there’s a script if you’d rather read than listen.
This is it…
The start line of an epic journey across the capital – one foot in Hertfordshire, one in London. Move off dipping down the Broadgate meadows with their Green Belt ‘mosaic of habitats’ to enjoy the pasture beyond. And pause. Is this where London’s green belt is too tight for its housing appetite? Might it be loosened? Diving into Hadley Woods, it’s easy leave that thought behind.
And as you emerge onto Hadley Common the Tudor tower of St Mary’s church heralds the village of Monken Hadley clustered round its green and village ponds. Really? In Greater London? Yes really.
Imposing house fronts speak of centuries of well-to-do living –in touching distance of the city. The cottage clusters may have serviced Great North Road coaching inns – one change of horses out from London. Then the view – a great vista of what’s ahead on this journey before the hill plunges towards High Barnet. To finish, you’re on the ground of the Barnet horses fairs, where Romany and traveller families bought and sold, where horses raced till the railway cut the course in half. This is a London like you’ve never seen it.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Ant –
Although writing this after Day 4 as I have signed up for the Ultimate walk – a little teasing along the way.
Charlie our Guide immediately put us all at ease and headed to the border of Hertfordshire and prepared us for our end stop on the border of Surrey over 14 walks – 7 days.
Excellent information on the practicals (type of walking terrain – times – toilets – food – safety – transport etc).
Walks have all started and finished on time. Organisation very good.
Whether doing one or fourteen walks Charlie makes everyone feel included.
…….to be continued……. Walk 2
Lindsay –
I signed up to all 14 sections of this walk ( “The London Camino”) months in advance , booking accommodation in London to allow me to do so. I knew very quickly during the first section that the commitment was entirely worth it. Charlie is a very professional and affable guide, well able to explain and give narrative to the borders of the city and the villages , garden suburbs and communities within. During this first section we rarely walked on pavements, weaving a route – at times almost magical- through forests, parks, trails and ‘ village’ greens , learning not just the what but the why. Often it was difficult to believe we were still in the city.
Charlie has developed a very clever and enjoyable route, and the pre walk info he sends out is excellent. Each section ( I’m writing this on day 3) has been 10-12k steps. I’m looking forward to being both fitter and cleverer !
I recommend the walks very highly.
Sent from my iPad
Jacky –
Sections 1 & 2: Hadley Wood to Woodside Park.
The “practicals” and the walk information supplied by Charlie via email prior to the walk were excellent: clear transport information, plus details of available toilet facilities and suggestions for lunch for those walkers doing the whole day.
We were a group of 20 plus Charlie. Some, like me, have signed up to walk all 14 sections over 7 days. Others joined only for the morning or afternoon walk. The pace was medium-fast which suited me.
There was a short walk from the station to the official start-line – the London & Hertfordshire border. We walked through woodland and quiet village / suburban streets, stopping at frequent intervals. Charlie is an excellent guide, knowledgeable, affable, and clearly spoken. He pointed out things of historical or architectural interest, explaining the different housing styles, from manor houses to council estates, and described the history of each area we passed through, from historical fairgrounds and livery stables to extinct sewage farms.
It was special to see a heron on the pond and to stand underneath the “Totteridge Yew”; reportedly the oldest tree in Greater London. There is more to London than Buckingham Palace!
A B A –
(Section 1) of the Ultimate London Walk September 2026.
The pre-walk information was excellent. The detailed email covering meeting points, potential toilet stops, and terrain details made it easy to prepare and pack appropriately.
The group size was ideal, allowing everyone to hear clearly, and we were encouraged to walk at our own pace without feeling rushed.
Our guide, Charlie, was outstanding. He is attentive to detail, passionate about sharing his knowledge, and open to input from the group.
The walk itself is real eye opener, casting a whole new light on London. It’s route feels more like a country walk and you can easily forget you are in London.
If you are considering doing this part of the walk or all of it then don’t hesitate, it really is a great way to learn and see the city.
Michael Stolz –
Charlie‘s walks across London are exceptional. I just followed the first two episodes this Sunday. We went through unknown parts of the city‘s surroundings even not known by fellow walkers who had lived in the areas: small villages, woodland, areas with gorgeous views towards London. Charlie‘s comments are very instructive and entertaining. Highly recommendable!
Dorothy MacDonald –
Great start to the Ultimate London Walk with sections 1 & 2 yesterday. This promises to be a fascinating journey, who would have believed these woodlands and meadows still exist. As always Charlie is a fountain of knowledge presented in such a fun and lively way.
Dorothy MacDonald –
Great start to the Ultimate London Walk with sections 1 & 2 yesterday. This promises to be a fascinating journey, who would have believed these woodlands and meadows still exist. As always Charlie is a fountain of knowledge presented in such a fun and lively way.
Patricia Pledger –
Today I joined the first and second walks of 14 in the Ultimate London Walk with Charlie. Always wonderful value and full of fascinating information, Charlie never fails to give the “ultimate” in content and interest, and this was no different. Both walks took us through countryside, fields, woods and villages from Hadley Wood on the Hertfordshire border to Woodside Park and it was hard to believe one was in London. This is a totally new area for me and I will be joining walks 3 and 4 next Saturday to continue the adventure.
Mary Alden –
I just finished section 1 and 2 of this walk. It was fantastic. Charlie created a wonderful route that included a lot of green space. As always, Charlie has very interesting comments and information. I highly recommend these walks