Walking in Tower Hamlets
The Tower Hamlets Health Walks programme is known as Walk Tower
Hamlets. There are currently seven walking groups across the
Borough, all based at local health or community centres. These
weekly walks typically last about 60-90 minutes, ending back at the
centre, and some of the groups also have monthly walks using the
DLR to explore further afield. Full details can be found by
clicking on this link.
Other walking projects
You can also find out more about walking from Get Walking Keep
Walking, a lottery funded charity project, hosted by the
Ramblers, promoting urban walking throughout England.
It's often quicker, not to mention more pleasant, to walk than
drive or take public transport. To find a walking directions visit
http://www.walkit.com/. You
can also increase the time you're willing to walk for by using the
TfL Journey Planner.
Why walk?
Walking regularly is a simple, accessible way to get some
exercise and enhance your health. It's free, easy to do and
provides many health benefits. For example, it can help
you control your weight, and reduce the risk of diabetes,
heart disease, arthritis, stroke and high blood pressure. It’s
also a great way to relieve stress, become more confident in
exploring the neighbourhood, and meet new friends. Walking is the
cheapest, most environmentally friendly means of getting around. If
you live in the Tower Hamlets area, you may well be surprised by
how easily and quickly you can walk around. In fact it’s often as
quick to walk as it is to catch a bus or sit in traffic in your
car.
How much?
For good health and wellbeing adults should aim for 30 minutes
of activity (including walking briskly) on 5 days a week. Children
should undertake 60 minutes of activity a day.
How fast?
Walking briskly means walking at a pace where you're a little
out of breath but can still hold a conversation, but you couldn't
sing a song!
Walking at a good pace most people will cover at least 1.5miles
in 30 minutes.
How many calories?
Everybody is different and calories burned depends upon your
walking speed, the terrain, your weight, metabolism and a number of
other factors but walking a mile will burn off around 100
calories.
Walking further afield in
London
London has a great variety of walks that you can do in your
leisure time.
The London LOOP is almost like an M25 for walkers, but much more
scenic. The Capital Ring is a surprisingly green inner circle of
London. Both paths are broken into short stages all accessible by
public transport.
Taking in Tower Hamlets are also the Lea Valley
Walk, Jubilee Greenway and the Thames Path. Free maps and
directions for all of these routes can be downloaded from
Walk London, though the routes are
mainly well waymarked.
Cycling and walking newsletters
Find out more about the latest cycling and walking schemes in
Tower Hamlets:
Links:
- BigWalk - local group
organising walking events for families to encourage healthy
lifestyles. The group also runs a walking club every Tuesday (term
time only).
- Walk England - national
walking organisation
- Walk London - oversees the
Strategic London Walking Routes
- The Ramblers - national
walking organisation, campaigns and group walks
- Living Streets - national
walking organisation campaigning for better walking environment and
organising workplace walking
- Change4Life walking
website - it is very important for children to walk
and get their recommended 60 active minutes. Have a look for ideas
and tips on getting the whole family walking more.
- Walk East - a social
enterprise in Tower Hamlets offering photo-walks, heritage walks
and other walk-based projects to local residents and community
groups