This route from Bethnal Green underground station to the west exit of Canary Wharf underground station (Jubilee line) deviates a little from a fairly direct course in order to take in a stretch of Regent’s Canal. Given that the route’s creator thought that the canal is worth the extra half-a-kilometre (which it certainly is), it would surely have made more sense to go down Roman Road directly to Regent’s Canal (as suggested in Porcovolente’s review) – which would hardly increase the total length of the route, but would treble the distance of the Regent’s Canal section.

The route begins at the west end of Roman Road by the steps where the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster of 1943 occurred, overlooked by the Stairway to Heaven memorial in the adjacent Bethnal Green Gardens (see photo). After walking east down Roman Road, the route takes a right turn down Globe Road at the next set of traffic lights. When the cherry trees are in blossom, Globe Road is beautiful, but I’d strongly recommend instead taking the detour mentioned above. To do this, rather than turning right into Globe Road, continue along Roman Road for about 600 metres to Regent’s Canal. This detour will take you past a (fictitious) crime scene: about 200 m after crossing Globe Road, look down Morpeth Street on your right to see the place where Stevie was murdered in the TV detective series River. Another couple of hundred metres further along Roman Road, a well-known local character can be seen on the left: Elisabeth Frink’s statue of the Blind Beggar and His Dog (see photo) in the fenced-off gardens of Tate House in the Cranbrook Estate. Soon after, Roman Road crosses Regent’s Canal where there is access to the towpath, which runs alongside Mile End Park (see photo). After 1.5 km along the canal (walking south, with the canal on your right) you will rejoin the route.

If instead you decide to follow the route and turn down Globe Road, it takes you past Stepney Green underground station, across Mile End Road, down White Horse Lane, and then left onto Ben Jonson Road. At this point, you can take the very short detour suggested in Porcovolente’s review and turn right down Stepney High Street to get to St. Dunstan’s (see photo). You might also consider popping into Stepney City Farm (entrance on Stepney Way, on the right), which has a popular café and a Saturday market.

Back to Ben Jonson Road. After around 500 m, the road crosses Regent’s Canal. Looking over your left shoulder, you will see the Ragged School Museum (see photo) and, as the road bends right, you can make your way to your right onto the towpath (see photo).

Just before Salmon Lane lock, the route follows National Cycle Network Route 1 off the towpath, bearing left up a ramp (see photo). However, it is hard to see why the route does not instead continue along Regent’s Canal as far as Limehouse Basin (see photo), avoiding the need to negotiate Commercial Road. It is also so much easier to find your way if you stay on the towpath: when you reach Limehouse Basin, walk around it clockwise until you reach the Limehouse Cut canal (if you wish to avoid a few stairs, then take the longer route anticlockwise around Limehouse Basin). Then walk along the south path of Limehouse Cut (the canal will be on your left) for no more than 100 m where there is a path to the right leading into Ropemakers Field (see photo). Immediately ahead of this turning is a footbridge over the Cut: this is the bridge you would use to cross the Cut if you were to follow the route and leave Regent’s Canal before reaching Limehouse Basin.

At the end of Ropemakers Field, the access to the Thames Path (where there are impressive views of the river – see photo) is a few metres to your left across Narrow Street, but you might wish to first turn right and pay a visit to The Grapes, about 100 m down Narrow Street.

One final detour suggestion: immediately before the Canary Wharf pier (and Royal China restaurant), take the lift or stairs (see photo) up to Westferry Circus (see photo). Continue directly through Westferry Circus (where there are public toilets) and along West India Avenue towards Cabot Square. Canary Wharf DLR station is straight ahead, and for the Canary Wharf Jubilee line station entrance (see photo), turn right after another 100 m.

I started this route at Canary Wharf underground station but DLR stations Canary Wharf and Heron Quays are both nearby. At the end of Bank Street I hit a problem as the direct route to the riverside walk is blocked off by hoardings around a building site. So I took a left and found another path after about 100 metres. Once on the river you get great views up and down the Thames although the first straight stretch is between high wire fences next to the aforementioned building site. After that it opens out and the paths are wide and easy. When you leave the river it is a short step to Ropemakers Field which is a lovely green space where you can catch a glimpse of the Hawksmoor church nearby.
After crossing Limehouse Cut I got lost (I had given myself the challenge of following a black and white printout) and left the route by turning left just before the railway arches (instead of going straight through) and then onto the canal just north of Limehouse Basin. After about 300 metres I rejoined the correct route where it hits the canal at the end of Lowell Street (following this avoids a very low headroom bridge on the canal path). From here it is a very pleasant canalside walk as far as Mile End Park where you cross the canal near the Ragged School Museum and onto Ben Jonson Road.
From this point the route follows quite busy roads – they are not main roads but are still quite busy with traffic (they are also bus routes). However unless you want to follow a very meandering route through housing estates they offer the best option. When you reach the junction with White Horse Lane it is worth taking a tiny detour around to St. Dunstans church which has a very lovely interior. At the other end of White Horse Lane on Mile End Road you pass the building that housed the Half Moon Theatre , Stepney Green underground station and then onto Globe Road which is lined either side with mature trees for most of its length. Finally there is a short stretch of Roman Road.
Food and drink can be found at various points on the route around Stepney and Mile End Road as well as at both ends of the route.
Like many London routes, how safe it is probably depends on the time of day and your familiarity with the area.
An alternative which would make the walk slightly longer but much greener would be to stay on the canal path as it runs through Mile End Park until it hits Roman Road.

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