London to Amsterdam - Day 1 - London to Epping

Rating: 4.0 / 5

Distance: 23.7 miles

The date is 19th July 2026 and I have started my longest hiking adventure yet from London to the Dutch capital, Amsterdam. It was a cracking first day. The route went from London Bridge to Epping and it was 23 miles long.

I caught the train to London Bridge Station in the morning. I then hiked along the Thames Path, and I walked over the picturesque Tower Bridge. I carried along the River Thames until I reached Limehouse Basin, where I followed the Regent’s Canal. It was pretty busy along the canal but then again it was a Sunday in the summer. I took a little detour off the canal to visit Victoria Park. There was a Chinese Pagoda in the park that I wanted to film.

The Regents Canal then joined the River Lea Navigation. I walked along the towpath for a few miles, until I cut across suburban London to get to the Epping Forest Trail. I passed through a reservoir and Walthamstow. There was a picturesque house in Walthamstow Village that is referred to as the “The Ancient House”, built in the 15th century.

I reached the Epping Forest Trail. Epping Forest is ancient woodland that is thought to have existed for over 3000 years. The forest became a Royal Forest for hunting by English monarchs after the Norman Conquest.

There were some beautiful lakes in Epping Forest (Connaught Water and Highams Park Boating Lake). They looked very picturesque with all the Purple-loosestrife. The Epping Forest Trail was a great way out of London.

There were lots of cyclists in Epping Forest and I also saw lots of wildlife. Just before I arrived in Epping, I spotted three deer wandering around in the trees.

I reached Epping in good spirits. I had a great first day of this trip. I had walked out of London into Essex.

I caught the Central Line train back into London.

I completed the first stage (London to Harwich over five weekends in July and August) then during my annual leave in late August I caught a ferry to the Netherlands and hiked the remainder of the trip to Amsterdam.

To watch my short 5-minute film of my London to Amsterdam see the YouTube video below the photographs :)