New Green Link Walk launches with Clerkenwell an integral part of its route

A new leisure walk, the Green Link, was launched by the Mayor’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, on March 1^st in Spa Fields.

By Dr. David Harrison, Co-founder, Footways

Blue sky and sun on Clerkenwell Green. A paved path and a white church in the background — The walk goes through Clerkenwell Green which has recently seen major improvement work.

Joining the Walk London Network as an addition to the Capital Ring, London Loop and Thames Path, its route stretches 15 miles from Peckham to Epping Forest going through the City, Smithfield, Clerkenwell and Finsbury on its way to Walthamstow.

This Walk has everything: marshes and forest, squares, parks and canals, and buildings from the 12th to the 21st centuries. A route map with a guide to buildings and places of historical interest is available on Footways London’s Green Link Walk web page. New signs mark the way. Local residents need no longer get on the train or tube to stroll along an official TFL path.

In the EC1 area, the route offers a journey through time, with some many places of historic interest including an ancient market, early medieval monasteries, a Georgian hospital and terraces, Victorian houses, pubs and warehouses, sites of early 19^th century riots and radical meetings, Modern Movement architecture, pedestrianised streets and 21^st century buildings.

From St Paul’s the Walk will enter Smithfields, the site of a livestock market described in the 12^th century and the sublime, atmospheric church St Bartholomew the Great of the same period. We leave the area through Spa Fields and Exmouth before entering the succession of leafy early 19^th century squares: Wilmington, Lloyd and Myddelton. Other highlights include the medieval gatehouse to St John’s Priory and its ancient crypt on the other side of Clerkenwell road, the Marx Library, where Lenin edited Iskra, the Finsbury Health Centre, a key Grade 1, Modern Movement building (a short detour).

looking towards Islington from Smithfield with the arch of the market in the foreground and several buildings in view — Into Islington from Smithfield. Photo: David Harrison

The Walk is built on the Footways network of low pollution, attractive walking routes, and benefits from improved public spaces like Clerkenwell Green. It will be the first of the new ‘Greenways’ through the capital, following proposals by the Ramblers, London Living Streets, CPRE London and others.

Further planned improvements are making the route more accessible for wheelchair users and greening the streets. Personally, I hope this will include a pocket park at the south end of St John Street marking the entrance to Islington.

Whether you plan to visit the marshes or the forest, or walk into the City for work or leisure, this is the walk for you.