Region: West London — Richmond upon Thames & Hammersmith
Places To Stay: Base yourself in Richmond for easy river access and iconic views, or stay near Hammersmith if you want an inner city vibe and leafy walks along the River Thames. Looking for more London walks? Head to my ‘Tube Trekking Guides‘ page.
Below are a few ideas for day tours and experiences in London, perfect if you want to combine this walk with museums, river cruises or historic attractions along the Thames + see more here. I have reviewed the Tower of London, it’s a brilliant day out and I did really enjoy it.
For a bigger selection of Central London accommodation, Booking.com has plenty of hotels, apartments and quirky stays to browse in Shoreditch, Brick Lane and beyond.
This Tube Trekking Thames walk from Kew to Hammersmith is one of those routes that quietly surprises you. It’s very London, but without the hustle and bustle. It’s calmer, greener, and far more local than the big-ticket central stretches of the river, you feel like you are one of the locals on this walk.
You’ll follow the Thames through leafy towpaths, past rowing clubs, elegant riverside houses, quiet pubs, and long open bends in the river where London slows right down. It’s flat, easy-going, and ideal if you want a proper walk without the crowds, noise, and constant stopping that comes with Zone 1.
Getting There: Directions, GPX and Map
- Start: Kew Gardens Underground Station (District line / London Overground)
- Finish: Hammersmith Underground Station (District, Piccadilly, Hammersmith & City lines)
- GPX: Download the GPX file here.
- Route Finder: Follow this route on my Outdooractive profile.
Travel Data: I use eSIMs to stay connected – handy if you’re visiting London from overseas and want maps and Tube apps without roaming faff. Sim Local has been solid in Europe and the UK with good prices and coverage.
Walk Profile
- Distance: ~6 km (3.7 miles)
- Duration: 2–2.5 hours at a relaxed pace
- Ascent/Descent: Flat throughout.
- Difficulty: Easy.
- Terrain: Riverside paths, pavements, towpaths
Route Overview (Kew → Hammersmith)
| Section | From → To | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kew → Strand-on-the-Green | Leafy riverside paths, rowing clubs, and long quiet stretches of water. |
| 2 | Strand-on-the-Green → Chiswick Eyot | Classic Thames scenery with elegant riverside homes and one of the prettiest pub-lined sections of the river. |
| 3 | Chiswick Mall → Barnes Bridge area | Wide river views, houseboats, and a real sense of West London calm. |
| 4 | Barnes → Hammersmith Bridge | The river bends tighten, the skyline nudges closer, and you start to feel London creeping back in. |
| 5 | Hammersmith Bridge → Hammersmith Station | Urban again, but still right by the water, finishing with great transport links and plenty of food options. |
Flying into London? Quick Skyscanner Checker
If you’re flying into London, you can use Skyscanner to find flights, then jump on the Tube / Overground to Kew Gardens Station to start the walk.
Walk Description
From Kew Gardens Station it’s a short wander towards the Kew Gardens entrance, then you cut across to Kew Bridge to pick up the Thames Path heading east, so you’re going away from Richmond and into a quieter, more local stretch of the river.
Once you reach the area around Kew Gardens, one of London’s green crown jewels, the atmosphere shifts again. Even before you drop down onto the Thames Path, the area feels noticeably calmer than most parts of the city. As soon as you reach the river and turn onto the towpath, that calm deepens — wide water, open skies, and the steady rhythm of the Thames setting the tone for the rest of the walk.
The first stretch is classic West London river walking: you’ll see rowing clubs and rowers rowing up and down the Thames, with their coach blaring out instructions from a megaphone. It’s perfect for them as there are long stretches of river, with far more birds than buses, and long curved bends with bridges to navigate.
As you head toward Strand-on-the-Green, this is where the character of the walk really happens. This is one of the most picturesque riverside streets in London, lined with historic pubs and houses that sit almost right on the waterline. At low tide, the Thames pulls back dramatically here, exposing mudbanks and giving the whole place a timeless feel, but at the same time, this area of the walk suffers with floods at certain times of the year.
Approaching the Barnes area, the river bends and tightens and you’ll see the beautiful greenery on the opposite bank. As you look down the Thames you can in places see the silhouette of the city but it still feels very distant, at this point I was wondering how long it would take me to walk to Westminster, I just didnt want to leave the water in honesty.
Eventually, the outline of Hammersmith Bridge comes into view. It’s one of the Thames’ most distinctive crossings and this is where you leave the Thames and walk back into busy city streets and head towards Hammersmith Tube Station, which isn’t far away.
It’s a satisfying finish to this beautiful walk, as you leave the Thames and walk back into busy streets and also walk past the world famous Apollo Theatre. You can either choose to go directly to the tube station, or as we did walk up Hammersmith high street and found an independant cafe and had some lunch.
Places to Stay near Kew and Hammersmith
For a wider choice of accommodation around Kew, Richmond & Hamersmith, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through, from boutique hotels and serviced apartments to bigger chain places if you just want an easy base.
Recommended Stays
Stay in Kew near Richmond – Coach & Horses Hotel
This 17th-century inn is located by Kew Green, across from the Royal Botanical Gardens. Enjoy a great location, fine food and good public transport to Central London.
Stay in Hammersmith – Holiday Inn Express London
This modern hotel in West London is conveniently located and gives great access to Central London attractions such as The London Eye, Buckingham Palace and the Natural History Museum. Hammersmith Tube Station gives access to central London and Heathrow Airport. Guests are a five-minute walk from shops and the Hammersmith Apollo concert venue.
AllTrails: It’s not just for mountains – you can also find and record city walks. AllTrails ‘Plus’ 30% OFF – Read my ‘Full Review‘ for more details.
Practicalities
- Season: All year. Spring and summer are especially good for greenery and river life.
- Footwear: Trainers or light walking shoes are perfect
- Food & Drink: Excellent riverside pubs and cafés, especially around Strand-on-the-Green and Hammersmith.
- Toilets: Limited directly on the path — pubs and cafés are your best bet.
- Dogs: Fine on lead; popular with dog walkers but still busy in places.
- Good for: Relaxed walking, photography, first-time Tube Trekkers, post-work strolls.
Kew to Hammersmith Thames Walk FAQs
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Walk this route yourself in 3D!
The video is a 3D walkthrough of this Tube Trekking route; it’ll give you a great idea of what to expect before you set foot on the streets.
I’ve created 3D-style videos of my walks and shared them with the Outdooractive and Welsh Man Walking communities.
Tube Trekking: Monument to Westminster along South Bank Walk – 3D Walkthrough
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