Denis Chin

If you want a long run that doesn’t fight you, this one is hard to beat. The route is about 33 km (20.75 miles) and nearly closes on itself, so you won’t need to plan a return trip. Almost all of it follows the Regent’s Canal towpath, and the terrain is flat from start to finish, which makes it a good choice for steady mileage, marathon-distance training, or a relaxed long run where you just want to keep the legs turning over. The scenery changes as you go. Early on you’ll pass the quieter, leafy stretch around Little Venice, where willows hang over the water and narrowboats sit moored along the bank. Further along, the path picks up energy around the bustle of Camden, with lock-side cafés, market crowds, and colourful street art. The canal itself is the star: you’ll spend a lot of the run watching barges, herons, and the odd cyclist weave past the locks.