London the biggest sprawling urban metropolis in the UK, just a concrete jungle with a couple of well known parks, or is it? Grab your outdoor clothing jacket and see a different side of London that could be a real legacy of last year’s Olympics and see people getting more exercise as a result.

Did you know that 95% of the population of London live within a five minute walk of a green space, but if you live somewhere whatever is on your own doorstep you tend to take for granted and don’t use. A project set up prior to last year’s Games, Legible London, aimed to help Londoners get around by foot to ease traffic congestion, and to just get more people walking. With an excellent series of signposts placed it is possible to use London’s hidden paths and green areas to walk from Wembley Stadium to the Olympic Stadium and more. At a distance of 21.5 miles this particular walk is probably best spread over two days, just so you can take your time and enjoy some of the sights along the way.

Day One starts at Wembley then you pass through Fryent Country Park, Barn Hill Pond, Gotfords Hill, Welsh Harp Nature Reserve, Hendon Park, Brent River Park, Dollis Valley Green Walk, Little Wood, Hampstead Heath Extension, Hampstead Heath ending on Parliament Hill.

Day Two starts at Parliament Hill then onwards to Highgate Cemetery, Parkland Walk, Crouch Hill Park, Finsbury Park, New River, East Reservoir, West Reservoir, Clissold Park, Abney Park and Cemetery, Springfield Park, Walthamstow Marshes, River Lee Navigation (canal), Olympic Stadium.

Other shorter walks are available utilising London’s green areas and historic landmarks, which are suitable for a leisurely stroll or powerwalk. However, there is the 78 mile Capital ring walk which utilises London’s green spaces, paths and tracks and is split into 15 sections if you don’t fancy attempting to complete it one go. So whatever it is that takes your fancy from finding the Wombles on Wimbledon Common to exploring the Great North Wood or watching the deer in Richmond Park it’s all there. So grab that outdoor clothing jacket and make use of those parks and paths you didn’t realise were there on your doorstep.