As a London runner, I’ve spent hundreds of hours on the Regent’s Canal and River Lea but I still maintain that nothing beats the thrill of running in central London. Last weekend, I ran along the River Lea to meet the Thames at Wapping, coming into town by Tower Hill. Trotting along to London Bridge, up to St Pauls, by Farringdon and the Barbican, up Old Street and through Stoke Newington, I found myself back in the relative suburbia of Hackney in no time, thanks to the constant mental and visual stimulation of ticking off monuments, Tube stations and sites of interest.

You barely notice that you’re running when you run in those kinds of urban settings. It’s exciting. The people you pass, the buildings you clock – it’s so much more interesting than running in the countryside. And no hill is too great in London… unless you’re running in North London or up Box Hill.

Pre-pandemic, commute running used to be a big part of my regime. I’d pack my bag with spare clothes and breakfast, and set off on the eight-mile journey from my flat to the office. Back then, I lived in Highgate and my route would take me through Holloway, Islington, Barbican, Bank and finally to London Bridge. Gradually watching the landscape change, seeing shops opening and commuters on their way to work – the city waking up – was the highlight of my day. I’d be at work before I knew it, and my pace and times reflected that. I’ve never run so fast or free as I did when running through central London. These days, I have to go out of my way to run in the city but it’s always worth it when I do.

I discovered a whole new city when I took up running in London. I found green spaces that I’d never come across if I’d only taken the tube or walked the usual routes. Bakeries, pubs, cafes, canals, short-cuts, street art – these are all treasures that London throws your way if you run. I’m hoping to move into a new flat in a few months time – in an area I discovered on my long runs from Highgate to Wanstead.

London is a paragon of running – there’s a reason why the London Marathon is so oversubscribed and often hailed as one of the best road races in the world. If you’ve never tried it, why not make central London your next race target, running holiday or weekend adventure?

PUMA Europe’s independent data collection partner has analysed a number of different variables across 76 different cities in a bid to identify the best European city for runners. All views expressed are not those of PUMA Europe.

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