Eight of the best walking and running routes in Islington parks

Islington’s parks and nature reserves are full of great routes for walking, running or cycling. Six parks have circular routes, with running markers showing the distance you have covered, while New River Walk and Parkland Walk are beautiful walkways where you can enjoy a gentle stroll and discover Islington’s plants and wildlife.

You can find a disabled access guide on the AccessAble website.

Caledonian Park

Caledonian Park is a popular site, full of history. It’s a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, with semi-mature woodland areas, a community orchard, herb beds, and short and long grass meadows. Its centrepiece is a 155-foot (47.5-metre) high, grade II listed clock tower built in 1853. The Friends of Caledonian Park look after a gorgeous wildlife garden, and you can also find a cafe and toilet facilities. The park has a 600-metre circular walking route with running markers.

Highbury Fields

Highbury Fields is Islington’s biggest park – and one of the most popular. It’s also been designated a Site of Local Importance to Nature Conservation, and when visiting you’ll see why: you’ll find a fenced-off woodland garden, avenues of plane trees to walk under and in summer, long grass meadows. The park is also home to the Boer War memorial, a children’s playground, a cafe, toilets and lots of sports facilities. It has a circular walking route you can follow.

King Square Gardens

King Square Gardens is a large, popular park with a big play area. It has a bog garden and a 450-metre walking route, and is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.

New River Walk

There is a beautiful walking route along the New River between Essex Road and Canonbury stations. Enjoy the shade provided by weeping willows and other mature trees and shrubs, and watch as ducks, coots and moorhens as they go about their day.

Paradise Park

Paradise Park is a great place to go for a walk. It has an RSPB sparrow meadow, an open grass area, and the Mary Tealby peace garden. You can find it next to Freightliners City Farm, which is free to visit and has toilets and a cafe. The park has a route which is not paved but has running markers.

Rosemary Gardens

Rosemary Gardens is a large popular park in the east of the borough. If you follow its 540-metre running and walking route, you will find a grass meadow and mature weeping ash trees. There are also accessible toilets and a children’s playground.

Parkland Walk

Parkland Walk in Islington and Haringey is a four-and-a-half-mile green walkway which follows the course of the railway that used to run between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace. As London’s longest nature reserve, it’s a great place to explore on foot for a chance to enjoy a tranquil place in the heart of the city. It includes the borough’s only area of acidic grassland, which is home to several rare plants and insects. Look out for The Spriggan sculpture, embodying the ‘spirit of place’, emerging from beneath an arch.

To explore Parkland Walk with children, download the education pack

Tufnell Park Playing Fields

Tufnell Park Playing Fields are in the north of the borough. They include a children’s play area, toilet facilities, sports facilities and a 475-metre walking route with running markers.