Vitality Health seem to have taken over a huge proportion of Britain's major runs this year and to go along with this Vitality have published a special Britain's Best Runs Vitality supplement with the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The Daily Telegraph / Vitality 'Britain's Best Runs' supplement features run from around the UK - including three that are in / close to London. Information on each of the top London running routes is below:
1) The Thames Seven Bridges, central London
Start: Vauxhall Bridge, South Side
Finish: Tower Bridge, North Side
Distance: 10 miles
"The 'seven bridges' route, from Vauxhall to Tower Bridge, makes for a medium-length, versatile run that tourists and Londoners alike will adore."
- Bridge 1 - from Vauxhall train station, run down Albert Embankment then cross Lambeth Bridge.
- Bridge 2 - run down Millbank and cross at Westminster.
- Bridge 3 - after a quick visit to the South bank, time to come back North, this time crossing Waterloo Bridge
- Bride 4 - Next, take the Victoria Embankment to Blackfriars Bridge and cross the river, going to the South side once more,
- Bridge 5 - run along the bank to Southwark Bridge and cross it
- Bridge 6 - then run along the road to London Bridge and cross the river again
- Bridge 7 - run the final stretch along to Tower Bridge, then cross Tower Bridge and finish!
This route and the bridges give you some great opportunities to sight see too. On your way around this Thames Seven Bridges route you will pass the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the London Eye, Temple, Tate Modern, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Mayor's office, HMS Belfast and many more... (and mornings will be quieter with fewer tourists to run around!)
2) Richmond Park, South West London
Start: Pembroke Lodge car park and follow the Tamsin Trail route in either direction
Finish: Pembroke Lodge cafe
Distance: 7.35 miles
Richmond Park is the largest of the London Royal Parks, with 2500 acres of land to run around in. It is easy to navigate though and the Tamsin Trail that goes around the park is signposted from any of the entrances or car parks. There are also options to cut across the park too. A beautiful place to run!
3) Ashridge National Trust Estate, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
Start and Finish: The Ashridge Estate visitor centre at Bridgewater monument. Green 'Boundary Trail' circular signs mark the route.
Distance: 16 miles for the Boundary trail (though there are lots of options for deviations and alternative routes)
Set in the Chiltern Hills, Ashridge is a 5000 acre estate that has a huge variety of landscapes - from oak forests to heaths to commons and chalk fields, all populated by a variety of animals ranging from butterflies to deer - a beautiful part of Britain and an amazing place to run.
The National Trust give free access to Ashridge and the Boundary Trail follows a 16 mile route alongside the perimeter fence. There are lots of things to look at on the way round + the enchanted forest trail will entertain family (with you or while you are running elsewhere...!)
The Daily Telegraph 'Britain's Best Running Routes' supplement was a nice supplement with some useful information - I recommend exploring these routes further!!!! (I'll try and photoblog the Thames 7 Bridges run in another post shortly.)
...and if you try any of these, leave a comment to let me know how you got on!
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| Britain's Best Runs - Daily Telegraph / Vitality |
1) The Thames Seven Bridges, central London
Start: Vauxhall Bridge, South Side
Finish: Tower Bridge, North Side
Distance: 10 miles
"The 'seven bridges' route, from Vauxhall to Tower Bridge, makes for a medium-length, versatile run that tourists and Londoners alike will adore."
 |
| London - Thames 7 Bridges running route |
- Bridge 1 - from Vauxhall train station, run down Albert Embankment then cross Lambeth Bridge.
- Bridge 2 - run down Millbank and cross at Westminster.
- Bridge 3 - after a quick visit to the South bank, time to come back North, this time crossing Waterloo Bridge
- Bride 4 - Next, take the Victoria Embankment to Blackfriars Bridge and cross the river, going to the South side once more,
- Bridge 5 - run along the bank to Southwark Bridge and cross it
- Bridge 6 - then run along the road to London Bridge and cross the river again
- Bridge 7 - run the final stretch along to Tower Bridge, then cross Tower Bridge and finish!
This route and the bridges give you some great opportunities to sight see too. On your way around this Thames Seven Bridges route you will pass the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the London Eye, Temple, Tate Modern, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Mayor's office, HMS Belfast and many more... (and mornings will be quieter with fewer tourists to run around!)
2) Richmond Park, South West London
Start: Pembroke Lodge car park and follow the Tamsin Trail route in either direction
Distance: 7.35 miles
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| Richmond Park running route map |
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| Daily Telegraph / Vitality - Richmond Park running route |
3) Ashridge National Trust Estate, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
Start and Finish: The Ashridge Estate visitor centre at Bridgewater monument. Green 'Boundary Trail' circular signs mark the route.
Distance: 16 miles for the Boundary trail (though there are lots of options for deviations and alternative routes)
 |
| Ashridge Estate - running route map |
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| Ashridge Estate - running |
The National Trust give free access to Ashridge and the Boundary Trail follows a 16 mile route alongside the perimeter fence. There are lots of things to look at on the way round + the enchanted forest trail will entertain family (with you or while you are running elsewhere...!)
The Daily Telegraph 'Britain's Best Running Routes' supplement was a nice supplement with some useful information - I recommend exploring these routes further!!!! (I'll try and photoblog the Thames 7 Bridges run in another post shortly.)
...and if you try any of these, leave a comment to let me know how you got on!
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