The Best Running Routes in East London

For routes across the rest of the city, see our full London running guide.

Victoria Park

Distance: 4.3km (perimeter loop) | Difficulty: Beginner | Start: Cambridge Heath station (Overground) or Mile End station (Central/District) | Terrain: Flat, mix of tarmac and compacted gravel, well-lit |

Victoria Park is as straightforward as park running gets. The perimeter loop is 4.3km on a well-surfaced mix of tarmac and compacted gravel, clearly marked and flat the whole way round. There are no trail sections to catch you out and no hills or navigation decisions to make. If you’re new to running, this is a good place to start.

And if you fancy a little post-run treat (because who doesn’t?), the south side of the park has a few cafes you can stop at. The Pavilion Cafe is popular with locals, not just for its delicious food but also for its view across the lake. You can find it near Old Ford Road.

As you get fitter, the perimeter loop might start feeling a little too easy - that’s when you should consider adding a few extra kilometres to your run by extending into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park via the canal towpath. That route is covered in the next section.

Once you feel ready to take things up a notch, the Victoria Run Parkrun provides the most direct route from training on this route to racing. It’s free to enter, and it takes place every Saturday morning at nine. Find it on Find a Race.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Distance: 3-5km (park loop) | Difficulty: Beginner | Start: Stratford station (Central/Jubilee/Overground/Elizabeth line) | Terrain: Flat, fully paved, excellent wayfinding signage |

No other park in London looks quite like this one. It was originally built for the 2012 Olympics, and no matter how cool you are, it’s hard not to get at least a little bit giddy when you run through it. The route is fully paved and well signposted, taking you past the Velodrome, the Aquatics Centre, and the London Stadium.

Unlike most other parks in the city, which have specific opening times, the Olympic Park is open 24 hours a day - great news for those of us who like to run at less sociable hours.

If you want to extend your run, the Greenway picks up just south of the park. It’s an elevated path built on top of a Victorian sewage pipe running towards Stratford and Bow. It might not sound particularly appealing, but it’s an interesting way to add a few extra kilometres and is definitely worth it for the dramatic view of the stadium.

Victoria Park also connects to the Olympic Park via the canal towpath, so you can combine the two for a longer run, with both sections together providing a distance of around 7km.

Runners with a competitive streak will be pleased to know that the Olympic Park hosts various running events throughout the year, including a parkrun every Saturday. Find this and other events on Find a Race.

Regent's Canal to Limehouse Basin

Distance: 5-6km (Victoria Park to Limehouse) or 10-12.5km (Little Venice to Limehouse) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Start: Mile End station (Central/District) or Warwick Avenue station (Bakerloo) for the full length | Terrain: Flat towpath, paved in most sections, some surface variation near Limehouse |

This run uses a point-to-point route (meaning you won’t end up back where you started), so you’ll need to plan your way home before you set off. You can either finish at Limehouse (DLR) or Shadwell (Overground), depending on where you’re heading next.

The stretch from Victoria Park to Limehouse covers approximately 5km and is the natural starting point for most East London runners. The canal takes on a different character here compared to park routes; it’s narrower and slightly industrial in some places, with converted warehouses and street art lining the path, while other parts are quieter and leafier, taking you past colourful narrowboats. It’s a great place to go to clear your head.

Road shoes are perfectly fine for this route, which has a mostly paved and flat surface, though it gets a little rougher as you head towards Limehouse Basin.

If 5km is too short, you can pick up the towpath heading west all the way to Little Venice via Camden, which takes the distance past 10km. This is widely regarded as the most picturesque section of the canal. For everything west of Victoria Park, see our North London running routes.

Thames Path East London Bridge to Greenwich

Distance: 14km (one way) | Difficulty: Advanced | Start: London Bridge station (Jubilee/Northern) | Terrain: Flat, riverside path, mix of paved and compacted surfaces |

The Thames Path to Greenwich is the longest route in this guide. While it’s suitable for anyone fit enough to run 14km, it’s particularly great if you’re building towards a marathon or half-marathon because it provides a sustained flat effort without any navigation decisions. It also follows a similar stretch of the Thames to the eastern section of the London Marathon course, making it an ideal training location.

Running alongside the river the whole way, the path takes you past converted wharves and old warehouses, with the surroundings quieting as the city thins out and Greenwich’s maritime buildings come into view as you approach the finish. When you spot the Cutty Sark, you’re almost at the end of your run (and after 14km, you’ll probably be glad for it).

Maze Hill station is a five-minute walk from the Cutty Sark and gets you straight back to London Bridge. The other nearby option is Greenwich station. Check the timetable before you head out if you’re running in the evening.

Practical notes for running in East London

East London’s flat, connectable running routes make it the ideal location for working on your pace or building distance. If you want to make the most of it, try adding some interval sessions, long runs, and tempo runs to your training mix.

The canal towpath is where you need to pay extra attention to your surroundings; it narrows in places, so you might have to go single file or give way to cyclists. The stretch between Victoria Park and Limehouse is the widest and easiest to run freely.

If you’re heading out in the evening, remember to check your return train times before you set off, because the last trains come earlier than you might expect.

Toilets are available in Victoria Park near the Pavilion Cafe (West Side) and at various points throughout the Olympic Park. Once you’re on the canal towpath between Victoria Park and Limehouse, there are no more facilities, so plan accordingly.

East London running events

Parkrun events take place every Saturday morning in Victoria Park and the Olympic Park, providing a free, friendly way to dip your toes into the world of racing without taking it too seriously (unless you want to).

The Race for Life Victoria Park 10K is a great option if you like the idea of your running doing some good. It raises money for Cancer Research UK and has the kind of atmosphere that will make you glad you signed up.

When you’re ready to step up the distance, the scenic RUN Victoria Park Half-Marathon will put your training to the test.

Find more running events in East London on Find a Race.