How long is the rocket route in London?

The rocket covers 4.5 km with 3 m of ascent and 3 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 27 minutes plus stops.

Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?

Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, climb figures and kilometre splits on this page are free to view; the interactive elevation profile is part of the subscription too.

How accurate is the drawing?

The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 1 km east to west and 1.2 km north to south across London.

Where does the route start?

The start point is at 51.52, -0.1434 — roughly 1.6 km north of the centre of London. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.

United Kingdom › London › GPS art route

Rocket GPS Art Running Route in London — 4.5 km

A 4.5 km loop through London that draws a rocket when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 3 m in total, and covers a footprint about 1 km wide by 1.2 km tall.

Navigate it in the app

Distance4.5 km

Elevation gain3 m

Elevation loss3 m

Estimated time27 min

DifficultyEasy

Average gradient0.1%

Route map and elevation

Elevation profile

Loading elevation…

Along the line: 3 m of ascent and 3 m of descent across 4.5 km, an average gradient of 0.1%.

Start point: 51.52, -0.1434 — about 1.6 km north of the centre of London. It is a closed loop, so any point on the line works as a start.

Kilometre by kilometre

Split	Heading	Elevation change	Range
km 1	Runs east-south-east	0 m	26–28 m
km 2	Runs south-east	-1 m	24–27 m
km 3	Runs south-west	-2 m	23–25 m
km 4	Runs north-north-west	+4 m	23–27 m
km 4.5	Runs north-north-west	0 m	27–28 m

Turn-by-turn outline

The 23 direction changes below are the ones that define the drawing. Hitting them accurately matters more than pace — the shape only reads well if the corners are sharp.

0.00 km — turn right, then continue east-north-east.
0.12 km — turn right, then continue east-north-east.
0.27 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
0.47 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
0.73 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
0.99 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
1.24 km — turn left, then continue east.
1.40 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
1.70 km — turn sharp right, then continue west-south-west.
1.97 km — turn left, then continue west.
2.09 km — turn left, then continue west-south-west.
2.28 km — turn left, then continue south.
2.42 km — turn left, then continue south-south-east.
2.59 km — turn sharp left, then continue east-south-east.
2.71 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
2.87 km — turn right, then continue south-south-west.
3.08 km — turn left, then continue west-south-west.
3.21 km — turn right, then continue north-north-west.
3.38 km — turn right, then continue north-north-east.
3.51 km — turn left, then continue north.
3.64 km — turn left, then continue north-north-west.
3.79 km — turn right, then continue north-north-west.
4.32 km — turn left, then continue west-north-west.

Difficulty and terrain

Easy. Short and nearly flat at roughly 1 m of climb per kilometre — comfortable as an easy run or a first attempt at drawing a shape.

Surface: Mostly urban roads and mixed city surfaces.

Safety: Check route details and local traffic conditions before running GPS art routes.

Best months: Depends on city weather and season.

How to run this shape

Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
Upload to Strava and the rocket appears on your activity map.

Other GPS art routes in London

All 29 GPS art routes in London

Questions about this route

How long is the rocket route in London?: The rocket covers 4.5 km with 3 m of ascent and 3 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 27 minutes plus stops.
Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?: Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, climb figures and kilometre splits on this page are free to view; the interactive elevation profile is part of the subscription too.
How accurate is the drawing?: The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 1 km east to west and 1.2 km north to south across London.
Where does the route start?: The start point is at 51.52, -0.1434 — roughly 1.6 km north of the centre of London. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.