Hammersmith, Chiswick, Shepherds Bush & Kensington’s Best Running Routes

Joe Gilbert
2 days ago
3 min read

If you live in Hammersmith, Chiswick, Shepherds Bush or Kensington, you’re lucky.

West London offers some of the most scenic and versatile running routes in the capital — from peaceful riverside stretches to sharp hill efforts and track sessions.

At REVIVAL Personal Training in Hammersmith, many of our members use running to support strength training, HYROX preparation, fat loss, or simply mental clarity before work. Below are the routes we regularly recommend to clients — based on real coaching experience, not generic “Top 10 London Runs” lists.

1. The Thames Path Loop (Hammersmith to Chiswick)

Distance: 5–10km Best for: Steady aerobic runs, beginners, Sunday long runs

Start at Hammersmith Bridge, head west along the Thames Path towards Chiswick, cross at Barnes or loop back.

Why we like it:

Flat and uninterrupted
Minimal traffic crossings
Scenic (especially early morning)
Easy to extend distance

For clients training in our Small Group Personal Training (SGPT) programme, this is ideal for Zone 2 aerobic work — conversational pace, low stress, high return.

Common mistake:Running this route too hard. Most people turn an easy aerobic session into a threshold workout because it’s flat and tempting.

2. Chiswick Riverside & Dukes Meadows

Distance: Flexible (3–12km) Best for: Tempo efforts, interval sessions

Head further west into Chiswick and use the open paths around Dukes Meadows.

Why it works:

Wide paths
Less congestion than central Thames stretches
Easy to structure intervals

We often programme:

3 x 8-minute tempo efforts
5 x 1km repeats
20-minute controlled progression runs

This is particularly useful for clients preparing for HYROX or half marathons.

3. Shepherds Bush Green to Holland Park

Distance: 4–8km Best for: Mixed terrain, gentle hills

From Shepherds Bush Green, head towards Holland Park in Kensington.

Benefits:

Soft ground options
Rolling inclines
Quieter than expected early mornings

The mild hills make this a great strength-builder for runners who spend most of their time on flat Thames routes.

Common mistake: Avoid over-striding on the downhill sections — it’s a common cause of knee irritation we see in clients from Fulham and Shepherds Bush.

4. Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park Extensions

Distance: 5–15km Best for: Long runs, race simulation

Kensington Gardens links easily into Hyde Park for extended mileage.

Why it’s popular:

Measured paths
Predictable surfaces
Ideal for structured pacing

For clients working with us on 1-1 personal training, we often combine:

Strength sessions at REVIVAL
Structured long runs here
Targeted mobility to reduce overload

How to Use Running Properly (Without Ruining Your Progress)

Most people in West London fall into one of two categories:

They run too hard, too often.
They run randomly without progression.

Running should support your training — not sabotage it.

If you’re strength training 2–3 times per week at a gym in Hammersmith or Chiswick, your running should be:

1–2 structured sessions
Mostly aerobic
Progressively loaded

Not daily high-intensity efforts.

We regularly see:

Shin splints from sudden mileage jumps
Tight hip flexors from poor mobility
Fatigue impacting strength performance

The solution isn’t to stop running. It’s to programme it properly.

Why Local Runners in West London Train at REVIVAL

We’re not a generic commercial gym.

REVIVAL Personal Training in Hammersmith works with:

Busy professionals commuting into central London
Parents balancing school runs in Chiswick
HYROX competitors
First-time 5km runners

We offer:

1-1 Personal Training for fully tailored programming
Small Group Personal Training (SGPT) for structured, coached sessions in a motivating environment

Our approach blends:

Strength
Conditioning
Mobility
Intelligent aerobic work

Running becomes part of a system — not an afterthought.

Want to Run Better — and Stay Injury-Free?

If you’re using the Thames Path, Holland Park or Kensington Gardens regularly but feel:

Plateaued
Tight or niggly
Unsure how to balance strength and mileage

We can help.

Whether you’re in Hammersmith, Chiswick, Shepherds Bush, Fulham or Kensington, our coaching team will build a plan that fits around your work, lifestyle and goals.