Once crossing the A315, the walk then follows the Grand Union Canal (photo #8, #9), and passes through a series of parks (photo #10, #12) (and Northfields station, photo #11) before finishing through busy Ealing to and up at Ealing Broadway station with good connections....

Derick Rethans

- accessibility problem: there are stairs by the exit of the canal path part (going from Southall to Ealing): all the steps are tall, so they could be a problem not only for pushchairs and wheelchair users but also for people who walk but don't have enough knee mobility...

GoodGym Kash

As mentioned in a previous review, there is a flight of stairs up to Elthorne Park from the Grand Union Canal and on the canal path, some of the tarmac is uneven or has tree branches running under the surface which will affect pushchairs and wheelchairs....

GoodGym Sevan

Accessibility - The route has some beautiful leafy streets, which occasionally makes the path narrower or a bit bumpy where the tree roots have spread....

Roch

Walking through Turnham Green was nice, but then once you got onto Barley Mow passage, Bourne Place, and Linden Gardens, there were quite a few cars in the way and no dropped kerb on either side....

GoodGym Emily O

As previously mentioned, the crossing point on the A4 is fine on the northern carriageway for those who can move quickly. On the southern carriageway, there is no crossing, only a railing at the indicated point which prevents pedestrians from crossing the road. The crossing from the southern to northern side of Chiswick High Road also did not line up with a pedestrian crossing, which is available 50m to the west....

GoodGym Sevan

- there are a few trees with protruding roots on the pavements between Ealing Broadway and Gunnersbury park making the passage uneven and narrow - usually, the other side of the road is flatter and safe to use in those places - just after exiting Gunnersbury Park the wire netting along the pavement on the left is damaged by overgrown plants - very incautious walkers can potentially get caught by the sharp wire (foot and head level) - there is a toilet in the sports centre in Gunnersbury Park left from the designated path...

GoodGym Kash

I live in the middle of the walk, so not best placed to comment on ease of route-finding, but as mentioned by another reviewer, when travelling East to West (Ealing to Southall), the two public footpaths across the golf course aren’t completely clear. The first golf course, direction of crossing is aided by the large “beware of flying golf ball…” signs – including the rear of the sign in the distance (see photo)....

Martin McHugh

Compared to Routes Two and Three I think this is a poor choice as it uses the busy Uxbridge Road and Windmill Lane too much at the Southall end....

Martin McHugh

Using Southall Park and Glade Park is far nicer than walking the busy Uxbridge Road and Windmill Lane....

Martin McHugh

A wonderfully varied walk that could take you all day if you were to wander through the parks and stop to see the exhibitions. Quaint villagey courtyards to wide open parks, busy streets to quiet waterways....

Strider

I walked this from Ealing to Chiswick (really, Turnham Green), on a freeze Saturday afternoon. The ground was frozen, with some snow and slipperyness in places. It's a mostly residential route, with some good parks, Ealing Common, and the bit near the end....

Derick Rethans

It's a fairly residential route, but the sections through Osterley Park were lovely (and deserted)....

Derick Rethans

The route takes you across the grass on Ealing Common, but there are paths around the edge if this is a problem for wheels (it can get very soft when in winter)....

Strider

But as a railway enthusiast, he'd presumably approve of the Elizabeth Line depot and HS2 construction which currently make the access to the exact Old Oak Common Slow Ways terminus impractical....

Martin McGovern

Except to say that the works at Ealing Broadway are mostly complete, and the Elizabeth Line is running from there now....

Martin McGovern

Quiet suburban streets give way to park land through the Bunny Park and then through a golf course to Southall....

Slow Ways Darren

Great walk through Ealing residential streets and through the Bunny park and golf course. Only disappointing bit was the last km that was along the edge of the Uxbridge road. Would have been better if it had been through southall park for the last bit....

Alison Moore

Across the busy A4127 to the other half of the golf course, a small passage takes you to the A4020, a short section of busy road which takes you to the Three Horseshoes in Southall....

Strider

Ealing Road on the approach to Wembley is a lively high street full of South Asian shops, mosques, temples and restaurants full of interest....

Strider

Old Oak Common is not accessible as a node yet but there are places of interest nearby (Wormwood scrubs Park, East Acton Tube, Hammersmith Hospial and Linford Christie Stadium, so the walk may be worth your while....

Strider

Only dinged a star because there’s a long middle stretch along a somewhat large and somewhat industrial road that was just slightly less than pleasant to walk along....

mtormey

Maybe because it was a Sunday morning, but the large road into Southall actually was pretty quiet and very comfortable to walk along with wide pavements separated from traffic....

mtormey

It's a good direct route between Ealing and Wembley, not a part of London I know well so there were some surprises....

Jane Taylor

Excellent route, with a good combination of rural and urban walking. Direct, easy to navigate, and plenty of food and drink options at either end of the walk. One slightly dull section of pavement walking along Windmill Lane in the middle, but either side of that a thoroughly enjoyable walk....

jamiekirk

I'm not sure that the canal section is nice enough to be worth the unpleasant walk through the industrial estate, so a more direct route would probably be better....

jamiekirk

There's some pavement walking of course, mostly through residential streets, with a short stretch through an industrial estate (watch out for HGV drivers); but as well as Osterley Park and Warren Farm, there's Brent River Park, Elthorne Park and Walpole Park to ensure no shortage of greenery....

Jane Taylor

The route skirts around the outside of Gunnersbury Park, this is so it can claim to be a 24 hours route, but as the gates were open I walked round on the inside path for a bit of extra greenery....

Jane Taylor

The crossing of Northfield Avenue as marked isn't possible due to being through a construction site - would also be safer using the crossing slightly further North than marked. Also the final part of the route along Windmill Lane and Uxbridge Road is pretty unpleasant. Might be a nicer slightly less direct route to use....

jamiekirk

Excellent route - well marked and easy to follow, as well as being a very enjoyable walk. Slightly longer than the alternative Richmond Ealing route, but a much nicer walk with very little road walking....

jamiekirk

Almost entirely along roads, so not the most scenic walk, but accessible for all and does manage to avoid main roads for the most part....

jamiekirk

Yes, there's a lot of main road, but the route makes the best of the Ealing Common part, although the route line may be a bit optimistic about finding a good path across the common between the North Circular and Ealing Common station. The real treat for me - and what elevates this route to a 5 star - is the street market at King Street in Acton....

Jane Taylor

Riceal Two is an improved version of this route, so if you are reading this wondering which route to pick I am guiding to Riceal Two! This route is well conceived - riverside, parks, canal, extremely enjoyable and reasonably direct-ish - but has some inaccuracy at Boston Manor (pointed out in the first review) and can be improved with less road and more riverside at Isleworth (pointed out in the second review). I also found when I walked it that the safe road crossing at Pitzhanger (near Ealing) was not properly indicated....

Jane Taylor

The route picks out some green highlights of South West London, including the river Thames, the Grand Union canal, and a stack of parks including Syon, Boston Manor, Lammas and Walpole....

Jane Taylor

We're amazingly fortunate to have such a wealth of green spaces in Ealing and Richmond and this route takes you through six parks and along the River Thames....

Slow Ways Darren

Scenic walk along the Thames through the edge of the Syon estate and along the Grand union canal. Not wheelchair friendly. Potentially cycle friendly in good weather and with patience in toe paths....

Neil Reynolds

The route line goes straight across the North Circular from Crossland Avenue to the common - you will be exceptionally lucky if you can do this. The route finishes with a walk through Acton Green Common, and then goes under a railway bridge to Chiswick Common....

Jane Taylor

There are some good parts of the route - I especially liked the passageway behind Chiswick High Road, and also the relatively quiet residential approach to Ealing Broadway. - Chiswick High Road (twice): in Chiswick, and especially at Kew Bridge. I'm not sure that, for me, this route quite captures the spirit of Slow Ways, being so indirect, and in addition I felt provoked to a bit of a grump when I had to backtrack to the safe road crossing, which I'd already passed by, at Kew Bridge - so for these reasons I've given only two stars....

Jane Taylor

I had some issues navigating through the market at Acton's King Street, but only because there was a market on....

Derick Rethans

It's all right along the canal, but the part through the industrial/business estate was unpleasant. It's also not the most direct route....

Derick Rethans

I walked this as part of my tube walking project, as part of the Central Line walk. It is quite pleasant, although very residential. Easy access and walking on pavement....

Derick Rethans

The Slow Ways network is future proofed and this Slow Ways node will be ready in 2026....

Slow Ways Cristie

To avoid the grass, when coming from Richmond, take the footpath directly in front of you once you cross the bridge, and turn left after the parking lot onto the main footpath that takes you past the tennis courts and Manor House, to the pond. You could alternatively, if you like unpaved stretches, take the signposted "nature trail" (if coming from Ealing, you'll find it at the bottom end of the pond you encounter when you first enter the park, which takes you down some earthen steps to a dirt track alongside the creek, and will take you out next to the grass section mentioned above. However there is no signpost if coming from Richmond, follow the angle of river until a side creek turns inland), where this end of the nature trail starts. For the Isleworth section, the Slowways route follows Richmond Road for a section - you can detour off this to follow the riverside path for most this section too, apart from very briefly having the rejoin the road to cross the River Crane....

Canadian in London

I would also suggest that there is an option for the walk (if done from Ealing Broadway to Richmond) that takes you past a range of pubs and cafes at the end of your walk.......

Richard Baker

There's a slightly industrial section in the middle which is not particularly pleasant, but nothing dangerous or difficult to navigate....

jamiekirk

Nice route that avoids main roads, and is definitely more scenic that ealchi1, although slightly more difficult to navigate. A couple of things to watch out for. Firstly, the route goes right past Brentford fc's stadium, so might be worth avoiding on match days....

jamiekirk

Route may look windy but is actually quite straight forward in person....

Bendablob

Good amenities either end of the route, but you don't pass too many in the middle of the journey. When going through Gunnersbury Park via the north entrance, crossing straight over the field isn't possible due to temporary works, I suggest taking the path on the west side of the park down....

Bendablob

I'm looking forward to walking this route....

SlowDaren

Most of the route is along a reasonably major road, so it's not the most scenic route, but there is wide pavement throughout so no issue with safety. Possibly a nicer route available through some of the back-roads, but this is definitely the most direct route available....

jamiekirk