Running in Highgate: Hills, Woods and Routes Worth Knowing
Highgate is one of the best places in London to run, if you like variety. Within a short jog of Archway Road you have the Parkland Walk, a flat, traffic-free old railway line; Highgate Wood and Queen’s Wood for soft, rooty trails; Hampstead Heath for long, rolling loops; and some genuinely steep streets for hill work. The trick is to match the route to the session: flat and steady for easy miles, woods for changes of pace and ankle strength, the Heath for long runs, and the hills when you want short, hard efforts. Here is how I would use each one.
The Parkland Walk: flat, quiet and easy to pace
The Parkland Walk follows the line of a railway that once ran between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace. It is now a local nature reserve and comes in two sections, a longer southern stretch between Finsbury Park and Highgate, and a northern stretch from Cranley Gardens towards Muswell Hill and Alexandra Palace. Because it was a railway, gradients are gentle, which makes it the best local choice for steady, conversational running.
Good for: easy runs, first runs back after a break, tempo efforts where you want a consistent surface.
Watch for: it is shared with walkers, dogs and cyclists, the surface can be muddy after rain, and it is not lit. It is a pleasant out-and-back rather than a loop, so plan your turnaround point.
Highgate Wood and Queen’s Wood: trails on the doorstep
Highgate Wood, looked after by the City of London, has a network of wide, well-kept paths under old trees. It is gentle enough for an easy run and big enough to string together a loop without repeating yourself too often. Across Muswell Hill Road, Queen’s Wood is steeper, narrower and muddier, with short climbs and drops that feel more like proper trail running.
Good for: soft surfaces that are kinder on the joints, runs where you deliberately change pace with the terrain, building ankle and foot strength.
Watch for: roots and wet leaves in autumn, and opening hours. Both woods have gates and are not places to run after dark. Check current opening times before an early or late run.
Hampstead Heath: the long run
The Heath is the obvious choice for longer runs. From Highgate you can drop in near Kenwood or via Highgate West Hill and build loops of almost any length across open grass, wooded paths and the climb to Parliament Hill, where the view across London is the reward for the effort.
Good for: long, steady runs, mixed terrain, and hills you can fold naturally into a route rather than repeating one slope.
Watch for: it is easy to get turned around the first few times. Some paths become very muddy in winter. Carry your phone and know a couple of exits.
The hills
Highgate sits on a ridge, so almost any run that leaves the village involves climbing back up. A few well-known slopes are worth knowing for deliberate hill work: Highgate Hill rising from Archway towards the village, Swain’s Lane alongside Highgate Cemetery, and Highgate West Hill. They are steep, and they are roads with traffic and pavements, so choose your time of day carefully. For short repeat efforts, a quieter grassy slope on the Heath is often the better choice. Our guide to hill sprints in North London covers how to do them safely.
Matching the route to the session
| Session | Best local option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Easy run | Parkland Walk or Highgate Wood | Gentle gradients, soft or even surfaces |
| Long run | Hampstead Heath loops | Distance without traffic, varied terrain |
| Hill repeats | A grassy Heath slope, or a quiet street at off-peak times | Consistent climb, safe walk back down |
| Trail practice | Queen’s Wood | Roots, short climbs and descents |
| Back after a break | Parkland Walk, run-walk intervals | Flat, easy to stop and walk |
Mistakes I see from local runners
- Making every run hilly. Living on a ridge means easy runs often end with a climb. If every run is hard by accident, you never get true easy days. Walk the final hill home if you need to.
- Running downhill too fast. Steep descents load the quads and knees heavily. Shorten your stride and keep your feet under you.
- Wrong shoes in winter. Road shoes on muddy woodland paths are slippery. A trail shoe with more grip is worth it if you run the woods often.
- Running in the dark on unlit paths. Use lit roads in winter evenings, and save the woods and the Parkland Walk for daylight.
- Doing no strength work. Hills and uneven ground demand strong calves, hips and feet. Two short strength sessions a week reduce the niggles that stop people running.
Where strength training fits in
Most runners I coach do not need more miles. They need stronger legs and hips so the miles they already run stop hurting. A runner’s strength session at our Highgate studio usually includes a squat or split squat, a hinge such as a Romanian deadlift, single-leg work, calf raises and some upper-back pulling, kept short enough that it does not wreck the next run. You can read more in our article on strength training for runners, and if you would like a programme built around your running week, that is exactly what 1-1 personal training in Highgate is for.
If you are coming back to running in your forties or later, start gently. Our piece on getting back into running after 40 lays out a sensible build-up, and the NHS Couch to 5K plan is a good structure for complete beginners.
Before you start
Check with your GP first if you have a heart condition, chest pain or dizziness on exertion, high blood pressure, are pregnant, have a current injury, or are returning after a long break. Build up the hills and the distance gradually, and treat sharp or worsening pain as a reason to stop rather than push on.
Questions we get asked
Is Highgate good for running?
Very. You have flat paths, woodland trails, open heath and steep hills within a short distance, which is unusual for an inner London area.
Is the Parkland Walk safe to run alone?
It is well used in daylight. It is unlit, so most people avoid it after dark. Tell someone your route if you run alone early or late.
Can I combine running with personal training?
Yes, and many runners should. Prices are on our personal training page, and sessions can be planned around your long run and hard days.
How many times a week should I run hills?
For most recreational runners, one deliberate hill session a week is plenty, alongside easy running.
Book with The Highgate House
Ready to start training properly? Email us at [email protected] with the service and the day that suits you, and we will come back to you with times.
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