3 Most Tranquil Ways to Explore London

The madness of cities has its own appeal. The non-stop pounding of feet on pavement, the hustle and bustle of crowds, the laughter and noise of a hundred bars and pubs rising into the neon air – these are the very reasons so many people visit England's capital.

But we all need a moment or two of stillness, and tranquillity can even be found in the middle of this metropolis by the Thames. Even when you are being bustled from place to place in London, shuttles, buses and trains can deliver you to certain islands of serenity.

A Walk by a Canal

From Regents Canal to the Grand Union Canal, the city has a number of man-made waterways that feed off the Thames. In London, shuttles, buses, and trains rule the day when it comes to travel, but these canals and their accompanying paths offer a more peaceful, almost bucolic route. The tube and the traffic around the city centre is always packed, as a testament to this being the world's busiest city (especially at peak hour), but from Camden to Islington, the North to the East, there is ample opportunity to avoid all this. The canal walks take time, but they can get you from one place to another with a much-needed sense of rustic ease.

A Picnic in a Park

The bustling hubs of Soho and South Bank, the ever-flowing stream of commuters on the the tube, the bar and foodie culture intrinsic to London, shuttles and taxis flooding the streets – this can all make you yearn for relief. And there's no better relief from the hubbub of the world's most hectic city than a picnic in a park. From the unassuming elegance of Regent's and Hyde Parks, to the wide-open spaces of Richmond Park, to the woody seclusion of Hampstead Heath and the jogger's paradise that is Clapham Common, there are plenty of picnic options. It is surprising to realise that a city so old and so emblematic of industrial and urban development can give you a moment of space amongst the trees, birds and gentle breezes.

An Amble in the Woods

If you're looking for more than just a nibble on a tweed mat under some trees, you may need to head to the woods on the outskirts of London. Shuttles and taxis are probably the best way to reach these green edges; many locals seem to have forgotten that there is life beyond the suburban enclaves and business spine that straddles the Thames. From Epping Forest in the north to Addington Hills in the south, there are several havens of farmlands, forests and marsh, which can make you feel like the busiest city on earth is another world away.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for London shuttles, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.