Explore London’s Hidden Walking Routes with the New Footways Map

The coronavirus pandemic is changing the way we travel on a global scale, but it’s also changing how we navigate our cities. To encourage more people to get out walking, a new map of central London has been developed to highlight the city’s quieter and more interesting streets. The project, called Footways, is the result of 18 months of route development with input from local experts, neighborhood councils, businesses, and cultural organizations.

About the Footways Network

The network of walking routes covers all of Zone 1, which spans from Regent’s Park in the north to South Bank and from Whitechapel in the east to Hyde Park. It seamlessly links transport hubs with popular tourist spots, quiet roads, and green spaces. This makes it a much more intriguing alternative to simply following directions on Google Maps. The map is a collaboration between London Living Streets, a charity campaigning for safe and vibrant streets, and Transport for London, which manages the city’s transport system.

Reimagining Urban Walking

‘We aim for walking to regain recognition as a legitimate form of transport, so people will embrace walking more frequently on their daily journeys,’ announced London Living Streets in the project announcement. ‘However, for walking to become a habit, it must be safe, easy, and enjoyable.’

The routes traverse quieter corners of Soho, the backstreets of Southwark, and even include an over-water walkway in the striking Brutalist-style Barbican building. The mapmakers hope that both Londoners and visitors will venture further off the beaten track.

Accessing Footways Maps

Paper copies of the new Footways maps are available for free at various locations across the city, while map enthusiasts can also purchase and receive them through Urban Good or access them online.