Transport for London (TfL) has published London’s first plan to boost the level of walking for leisure. The new action plan will enhance and expand leisure walking routes and connect London's communities, building on increases in leisure walking seen since the pandemic.    

As part of the Leisure Walking Plan, TfL has partnered with Go Jauntly to digitise the Walk London network and make it available through the Go Jauntly app. This will ensure that everyone in the capital can have access to high-quality leisure walking routes and have the opportunity to connect with nature. Digitising the network means that people will be able to use the Go Jauntly app to navigate all seven routes, including the Thames Path and London LOOP. Accessible by public transport, these walking routes pass through 28 London boroughs, with each route split into sections to make them easier to navigate.   

The plan will help to ensure London's streets are accessible and inclusive for the diverse range of people who live, work and visit the capital. Since the pandemic, walking for leisure has become the top reason for Londoners walking more. In a 2022 survey, of those who said they walk more in London than they did the previous year, 39 per cent cited leisure as the reason, compared to 37% who walked more to travel somewhere and 31% who walked as part of a public transport journey.     

Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: "London is already a great place to explore on foot but as Londoners grapple with the impacts of climate change, a child inactivity crisis and spiralling cost of living, it is vital that we do more to improve London's leisure walking network. Walking provides people with an affordable, easy way to maintain their mental and physical wellbeing while protecting and improving the environment. 

"Our action plan will enhance and improve the Walk London Network making London much more walkable and in doing so improve Londoners health, reduce health inequalities and increase access to green space - contributing to building a better, greener London for everyone."