Green Link Walk
Background
In 2024, Footways published the Green Link Walk map, to accompany a new long-distance leisure walking route across London, developed in collaboration with TfL, Living Streets, Ramblers, Sustrans and CPRE London. The 16-mile route connects green spaces and waterways across five boroughs via historic and attractive low-traffic streets, highlighting councils’ latest improvements.
Our Objective
As the walk proved hugely popular, we conceived the idea of producing a paper map that would accompany it, and provide a satisfying physical alternative to the digital version. A route built on the principles at the heart of the Footways project demanded a special design approach.
Our Approach
Although Footways originated this map, we were able to undertake the project by securing generous support from TfL and the Alan Baxter Foundation. Unlike most Footways area mapping, this linear route required a different treatment; inspiration struck in the form of 17th-century travellers’ strip maps devised by John Ogilby, where a route was cut into sections, and rearranged side by side for ease of use. In keeping with the hand-drawn source material, we forewent our usual digital mapping, and commissioned London-based artist Rachel Morris to create beautifully illustrated street maps for the route, tied together with a thread of Footways fluorescent pink.
Our usual focused historical and cultural background information puts points of interest along the way in context for walkers, all packaged in a handy concertina format alongside Rachel’s stunning illustrations. To distribute the printed map, we supplied copies to libraries located along the route. At a successful event to celebrate the launch, Footways co-founder David Harrison led a group on a guided walk along a section of the Green Link through Central London. Representatives from Islington and the City of London spoke on how they plan to enhance the Green Link route with public realm improvements and traffic reduction schemes – a concrete example of the Footways approach delivering tangible improvements.