How long is the cactus route in London?

The cactus covers 15.8 km. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 95 minutes plus stops. This route's GPX has no elevation recorded, so the climbing is not known.

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, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.

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 2.6 km east to west and 2.8 km north to south across London.

Where does the route start?

The start point is at 51.51054, -0.1232 — roughly 1.6 km east-north-east of the centre of London. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.

United Kingdom › London › GPS art route

Cactus GPS Art Running Route in London — 15.8 km

A 15.8 km loop through London that draws a cactus when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths and covers a footprint about 2.6 km wide by 2.8 km tall.

Navigate it in the app

Distance15.8 km

Elevation gainNot recorded

Elevation lossNot recorded

Estimated time95 min

DifficultyChallenging

Average gradientNot recorded

Route map

Start point: 51.51054, -0.1232 — about 1.6 km east-north-east 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
km 1	Runs north-north-east
km 2	Runs north-north-east
km 3	Runs east
km 4	Runs north
km 5	Runs north-west
km 6	Runs north-west
km 7	Runs west-north-west
km 8	Runs south-west
km 9	Runs south-west
km 10	Runs south-south-west
km 11	Runs south-south-east
km 12	Runs east
km 13	Runs north
km 14	Runs north-east
km 15	Runs south
km 15.8	Runs south-east

Turn-by-turn outline

The 24 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.

0.01 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
0.17 km — turn right, then continue north-east.
0.55 km — turn left, then continue north.
0.73 km — turn right, then continue north-east.
1.26 km — turn right, then continue north-east.
1.45 km — turn right, then continue north-north-east.
1.72 km — turn sharp right, then continue south-south-east.
1.97 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
2.09 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
2.28 km — turn left, then continue east.
2.45 km — turn sharp right, then continue east-south-east.
2.58 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
2.88 km — turn left, then continue north.
3.04 km — turn left, then continue north-north-west.
3.20 km — turn sharp right, then continue east.
3.35 km — turn left, then continue north-north-east.
3.47 km — turn left, then continue north-north-west.
3.67 km — turn right, then continue north-east.
3.83 km — turn right, then continue north-north-east.
3.97 km — turn left, then continue north-west.
4.15 km — turn left, then continue north-north-west.
4.29 km — turn left, then continue west.
4.61 km — turn left, then continue west-north-west.
4.74 km — turn left, then continue south-south-west.

Difficulty and terrain

Challenging. Graded on distance alone: 15.8 km. This route's GPX carries no elevation data, so the amount of climbing is unknown — check the map for hills before you commit to a pace.

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 cactus appears on your activity map.

Questions about this route

How long is the cactus route in London?: The cactus covers 15.8 km. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 95 minutes plus stops. This route's GPX has no elevation recorded, so the climbing is not known.
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, elevation profile and kilometre splits on this page are free to view.
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 2.6 km east to west and 2.8 km north to south across London.
Where does the route start?: The start point is at 51.51054, -0.1232 — roughly 1.6 km east-north-east of the centre of London. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.