Walking Route Calculator
Calculate walking routes between two UK addresses. Get distance, time estimates for different walking paces (slow, normal, brisk, fast) and an interactive map.
Route Details
Calculate How Long It Takes to Walk Between Two UK Addresses
Ordnance Survey's standard walking pace is 5 km/h (about 3.1 mph) for an adult on level pavement. The Walking Route Calculator routes between two UK addresses using OpenStreetMap pedestrian data, then returns the distance and walking time at four paces: slow (3 mph), normal (3.5 mph), brisk (4 mph), and fast (4.5 mph). Use it to plan a daily commute, work out whether to walk to the station or grab a bus, or scope a new neighbourhood before moving.
The route follows actual pavements, footpaths, and pedestrian-friendly streets where possible, so the result reflects how long a person on foot will really need rather than the as-the-crow-flies distance. Hilly routes will run slower than the calculator estimates because the standard paces assume level ground.
What Walking Pace to Use
Choose the pace that matches your walking style. Most people walking purposefully (commuting, running errands) cluster around 3 to 3.5 mph. Brisk walking, defined by NHS guidelines as the pace at which you can talk but not sing, is around 4 mph. Slow pace covers groups, kids, and older walkers; fast covers race-walkers and very fit pedestrians. Naismith's Rule, used by hill walkers, adds an extra minute for every 10 metres of ascent.
If you're using this for a school run specifically, the [School Run Calculator](/school-run-calculator) compares walking against driving and cycling for the same route. For a longer day out, the [Nearest Park Finder](/nearest-park-finder) can identify green-space starting points along your walking route.
Walking Time Estimates by Distance
| Distance | Slow (3 mph) | Normal (3.5 mph) | Brisk (4 mph) | Fast (4.5 mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 miles | 10 min | 9 min | 8 min | 7 min |
| 1 mile | 20 min | 17 min | 15 min | 13 min |
| 2 miles | 40 min | 34 min | 30 min | 27 min |
| 5 miles | 1h 40m | 1h 26m | 1h 15m | 1h 7m |
| 10 miles | 3h 20m | 2h 51m | 2h 30m | 2h 13m |
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the walking time estimate?
The route follows real pedestrian paths from OpenStreetMap, so the distance is accurate within around 5%. The time depends on your pace; expect to add 10% to 20% for hilly routes, congested city centres, or routes that cross several busy roads with traffic light waits.
Why is the walking route different from the driving route?
Walking routes use footpaths, alleys, parks, and pedestrian crossings that cars can't (or shouldn't) use, so they're often shorter than the equivalent driving route. They also avoid motorways and A-roads where pedestrian access is restricted.
Does the calculator account for hills?
No. The OSM router calculates flat distance and applies a level-ground pace. For hilly routes, add roughly 1 minute per 10 metres of ascent (Naismith's Rule). Most urban routes are flat enough that this isn't significant; rural and coastal routes can vary considerably.
Can I use the calculator for routes outside the UK?
Geocoding is biased to UK addresses (the search adds 'UK' to the query). For non-UK routes, the routing engine still works but address matches may go to the wrong country. Use full city, country names for non-UK searches if you do try.
Related Tools
School Run Calculator
Calculate the cost and time of your school run. Compare walking, driving and cycling options between home and school with annual cost estimates.
Pub Density Map
Discover how well-served your area is for pubs. Search any UK city or postcode and see all nearby pubs on an interactive map with density statistics.
Nearest Park Finder
Find parks and green spaces near you with our interactive map tool. Get accessibility information, dog policies and more.