Buggy Friendly Walks North London: N19, N6 and NW5

When you have a baby, the walk is often the whole plan for the day. It gets them to sleep, it gets you out of the house, and on a good day it is the only exercise you will manage. The problem is that North London is hilly, the pavements are narrow, and nothing ruins a walk faster than discovering a flight of steps halfway along with a sleeping baby in the pram. So here are the buggy friendly walks North London parents keep asking me about, focused on N19, N6 and NW5, with the smooth bits, the steep bits and the steps clearly flagged.

I coach lots of new parents in Archway, and these are the routes they actually use.

Before you go: postnatal check first

Gentle walking is usually fine soon after birth, but before returning to more structured exercise, the NHS advises waiting for your postnatal check with your GP, usually around 6 to 8 weeks after the birth. You can read more on the NHS page about your 6-week postnatal check. If you had a caesarean, recovery takes longer, and the NHS caesarean recovery page explains what to expect. Check with your GP or a physio before steep hills if you are unsure, and stop if anything hurts or you notice leaking or heaviness.

Buggy friendly walks North London parents can rely on

1. Whittington Park, N19 (flat and easy)

Surface: smooth paths. Steep bits: none to speak of.

A short walk from Archway station, Whittington Park is the easiest option on this list. Do a few laps of the paths for a 20 to 30 minute walk. Good for the first weeks, when you want to stay close to home.

2. Tufnell Park Playing Fields, N7 (flat, open)

Surface: paths around open grass. Steep bits: minimal.

Islington’s Tufnell Park Playing Fields offer big open space on the flatter side of Archway. Great for brisk laps without fighting gradients.

3. Highgate Wood, N6 (mixed, pick your path)

Surface: some tarmac, some rough tracks. Steep bits: gentle slopes.

The City of London notes that some Highgate Wood paths are tarmacked while others are unmade tracks that get muddy in wet weather. Stick to the firmer main paths with a standard pushchair. Bonus: there is a café, a playground and accessible toilets. Getting there from Archway means pushing up Archway Road, which is a long gradual climb, or you can take the 43 or 134 bus. My guide to Highgate Wood with kids has more detail.

4. Parliament Hill and the lower Heath, NW5 (smooth below, steep above)

Surface: mostly firm paths around the lower Heath. Steep bits: the climb to the top of Parliament Hill.

The flatter paths near the playground and the athletics track are easy pushing. The walk up the hill itself is a serious workout with a buggy and can be slippery when wet. Gospel Oak Overground station has a lift, and the C11 bus runs from Archway. Treat the summit as optional.

5. Waterlow Park, N6 (lovely but hilly)

Surface: paths through gardens. Steep bits: yes, flagged.

Waterlow Park is beautiful, with a play area and the café at Lauderdale House, but it sits on the side of Highgate Hill, so expect slopes inside the park as well as the steep climb up from Archway. Fine with a sturdy pushchair and fresh legs, but not ideal in the first weeks after birth.

6. Parkland Walk, N6 to N4 (choose your entrance carefully)

Surface: generally coarse. Steep bits: several entrances.

The Parkland Walk access page says the Oxford Road and Blythwood Road entrances near Finsbury Park are almost level, and the stretch between them is reasonably firm. Other entrances, including Holmesdale Road in Highgate, are steep slopes or steps, and the surface can be muddy after rain. Best with an all-terrain buggy, starting from the Finsbury Park end.

Turn the walk into a postnatal workout

Once your GP has cleared you, the buggy becomes a training tool. Here is a 30-minute plan for any of the flatter walks:

1. 5 minutes easy walking to warm up, shoulders relaxed.
2. 20 minutes of intervals: 2 minutes brisk walking, then 1 minute of an exercise with the brake on and the baby in view:
   • Round 1: 10 squats
   • Round 2: 10 incline push-ups on the buggy handle (brake on, wheels locked)
   • Round 3: 8 reverse lunges each leg, holding the handle
   • Round 4: 10 calf raises, then gentle pelvic floor squeezes while you walkRepeat the four rounds.
3. 5 minutes easy walking to cool down.

Keep your elbows soft and your body upright when pushing uphill rather than leaning heavily on the handle. The NHS guide to keeping fit and healthy with a baby has more ideas, including pelvic floor exercises. My post on running after baby covers the next step if you want to go further.

Practical tips for buggy walks

• Check your tyres. A pumped-up or all-terrain buggy makes Highgate Wood and the Heath far easier.
• Carry a sling as backup for paths with steps or mud.
• Plan toilet and feed stops: Highgate Wood and the Heath cafés are reliable.
• Avoid narrow pavements on Archway Road at rush hour if you can, side streets are calmer.

Where a bootcamp class fits in

Walking is a fantastic base, and later on many parents want to rebuild strength properly. My classes run indoors in a church hall in Archway, max 10 people, with easier and harder options for every move. Once you have your GP’s go-ahead, my SYP Unlock hip and back mobility class is a gentle way back in, especially if feeding and carrying have left your back tight. For more routes, see my guide to family walks in North London.

FAQs

When can I start walking after having a baby?

Gentle walking is usually fine soon after birth if you feel up to it. For more structured exercise, the NHS advises waiting until after your postnatal check, usually around 6 to 8 weeks. Check with your GP first, especially after a caesarean.

Is Hampstead Heath buggy friendly?

Parts of it are. The lower paths around Parliament Hill are firm and easy, but the hills are steep and some paths get muddy. Choose your route and bring a sturdy pushchair.

Is the Parkland Walk suitable for prams?

Some sections are. The Finsbury Park end has almost level access and a reasonably firm surface. Elsewhere the surface is coarse and several entrances are steep or have steps.

What exercises can I do with a buggy?

Brisk walking, squats, lunges holding the handle, incline push-ups with the brake on and calf raises are all simple options once your GP has cleared you to exercise.

Book your first class

When you are ready for a bit of time for yourself, come and try a class. SYP Bootcamp runs 45-minute small-group sessions in Archway N19, maximum 10 people, all levels, for £15 a class. The timetable is sent when you book. Book your £15 class here, or call or WhatsApp me on 07301 512215 to chat about where you are at. If you would rather rebuild with 1-1 support, here is how my personal training for women in Archway works.

About the author

Artem Olekhnovych is a personal trainer in Archway and the founder of SYP Fitness and SYP Bootcamp. He has coached clients in Archway, Highgate and across North London for over 10 years, and runs small-group bootcamp classes for busy mums and dads. Read reviews from his 1-1 clients.