London Walks

Hampstead and the Royal ParksGreen City Spine

2007-04-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Route:
Hampstead Heath - Primrose Hill - Regent's Park - Hyde Park - Green Park - St.James' Park -The River Thames

Brief description:
You start in the wilds of Hampstead Heath and end by the Houses of Parliament on the River Thames with a maximum of ten minutes on roads between each park. Who would have though you can spend 2 hours walking in green spaces in the heart of the city. Forget the remote London Ring and London Loop, this is central London at it's best.

Length:
Estimate of about 6 miles / 10km

Time to walk:
2.5 hours, without breaks. (But an ice-cream, pint and picnic on the way help immeasurably.)

Submitted by:
Bridget

The Royal ParksHyde Park, Green Park, St James Park and Kensington Gardens

2007-03-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

These 4 Royal Parks are all in Zone 1, and are all connected. Just use the A-Z to devise a walk.

For example, starting at High Street Kensington tube:

Kensington Gardens,
the Serpentine,
Hyde Park,
cross Hyde Park Corner
Green Park
pass Buckingham Palace
St James Park
under Admiralty Arch
finish in Trafalger Square

The complete circumference of the parks is 8 miles (12 km).

River Wandle

2007-03-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

This path follows the River Wandle, from the Thames near Wandsworth (train station) south to Colliers Wood (tube), Morden (tube) and on to Croydon (train).

The route is well signposted. Its ok to cycle.

While individual sections are nice, as a whole, there are nicer walks in London.

Capital Ring

2007-03-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

The Capital Ring is an inner London version of the London Loop. It links parks and open spaces together with stretches of street walking between them.

London Loop

2007-03-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

The London Outer Orbital Loop is, as its name suggests, a loop around London in about 20 stages.

It joins together parks and open spaces with stretches of street walking between them. Each stage is accessable by public transport. Some are nicer than others.

This website contains details of the walk, and photos of each section.

Wey Navigation

2007-03-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Wey and Goadalming navigation (canal) joins the Thames at Weybridge.

You could start the walk at either Weybridge or Byfleet and New Haw stations. However, Webridge is not close to the canal. Further along, Byfleet station is right next to the canal.

The navigation heads from Weybridge towards Byfleet [map of start] Follow the red chevron'ed "navigation" path, not the "river wey". Weybridge station (bottom right) has 4 trains an hour from Waterloo.

At Byfleet, the canal splits [map].

One branch (turn right) heads west past West Byfleet and then Woking stations (10+ trains an hour to Waterloo) and on towards Farnham.

The recommended Goadalming branch heads south (i.e. the left hand branch), and soon enters countryside. It pass a nice pub at Pyford Lock, and then the remains of Newark Priory. After a short industrial area, it goes through central Guildford (station, 4 trains an hour to Waterloo).

After Guildford, the canal heads on south, through a pretty valley, and eventally reaches Goadalming (station, 2 trains an hour to Waterloo).

Thames Path

2007-03-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

The Thames Path is a National Long Distance Trail which runs all the way through London, from Thames Barrier in the south east, past Greenwich and Tower Bridge, through central London, then out to the west past Hammersmith, Putney, Kew, Richmond, Hampton Court, Walton to Weybridge and beyond.

All this places have tube or train stations, and there are many tourist attractions along they way (e.g. Tower Bridge, St Pauls, Kew Gardens, Ham House, Syon Park, Hampton Court Palace). Just use the London A-Z and try a stretch. There are many riverside pubs along the way.

Outside the London A-Z area is the stretch from Hampton Court to Walton (station) to Weybridge (station). The stretch after Weybridge is less interesting. It starts to get pretty again after Windsor.

For a different walk, start from Tower Hill tube. Go past the Tower of London and over Tower Bridge. Turn right and follow the southbank along the river to Westminster Bridge (Parliament). Cross the bridge to Westminster tube.

Another nice stretch is walking west from Hammersmith. The river is 5 mins walk from the tube. Continue to Putney, Kew or Richmond.

The route is well signposted, and its hard to get lost - just follow the riverbank.

Knockholt

2007-03-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

SWC Free Walk 7: Knockholt Circular.

Knockholt is in south east London, just south of Orpington.

Travel: By train from Charing Cross to Knockholt (zone 6).

North Downs Way and Epsom Downs

2007-03-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

SWC Free Walk 4: Merstham to Tattenham Corner.

The walk starts along the North Downs Way and then climbs steadily through Gatton Park and the National Trust's Nut Wood to some popular viewpoints above Reigate. The last of these, Colley Hill, is an excellent picnic spot. The walk then crosses the motorway to the isolated village of Mogador for a pub lunch. Afterwards the way continues across Banstead Heath and Walton Downs to finish with panoramic views of the London skyline from Epsom Downs. You end by crossing the famous racecourse, so the full walk is probably best not attempted on Derby Day!

This walk is best for train travellers, but car drivers can connect at East Croydon

Chilterns

2007-03-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

Time Out Country Walks Book 2
Walk 4b: Chesham Circular.

Chesham is in Underground Zone D and currently you can only get a One-Day Travelcard covering this zone from Underground stations.

The walking directions for this variation on Walk 4, Chesham to Great Missenden, are available as a download (pdf file). NB You will need the book as well.

Happy Valley and Farthing Down

2007-03-28T11:47:00.001-07:00

Time Out Country Walks Book 2
Walk 15's South Coulsdon Circular

This walk covers Farthing Down (hill) and Happy Valley, but you can explore the area on your own:

via South Coulsdon Station (Zone 6, from Victoria, London Bridge, Clapham Junction or East Croydon)
by parking on Farthing Down. The roads behind (east of ) the station are residents parking between 11am and 12noon.
by starting from Riddlestown (walk 15b in the book), Whyteleafe or Upper Warlingham

Richmond Park, Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath

2007-03-23T01:55:00.000-07:00

Richmond Park, Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath are adjacent to one another in south west London. Each has a different character. Together they can make a good walk

Richmond Park [map]

Open grassland with low hills, and several enclosed woods.
Travel: There are several car parks in the park, or a 15 minute walk from Richmond train/tube station. NB The Robin Hood Gate (A3) is currently closed to cars.
Tea room with a terrace and very pretty view of the Thames at Pembroke Lodge.
Just north of Pembroke Lodge is the very over-hyped King Henry VIII mound, the highest point in the park with a 'keyhole' view of St Pauls (which you need a telescope to appreciate)
The Isabella Plantation is worth a visit.
The running track around the park is about 8 miles.

A footbridge over the A3 (busy road) links Richmond Park to Wimbledon Common.

Wimbledon Common

less manicured than the Royal Park, mainly 'natural' woodland.
car park and cafe by the Windmill (marked on the London A-Z)
10 mins walk from Wimbledon train/tube station
easy to get lost as there are many paths, a compass helps
at the southwest edge of the common is the pretty Cannizario Park (free)

Putney Heath

north east of Wimbledon Common, on the north side of the A3, linked by 2 underpasses
not so pretty, but contains a nice pub, The Telegraph (on Telegraph Road)

Thames Path

Using the A-Z as a guide, follow the Thames south from Richmond, and then enter the park via Petersham.

Bushy Park and Hampton Court Park

2007-03-23T01:20:00.000-07:00

Bushy Park : [website] [map]

Bushy Park and Hampton Court Park are both large Royal Parks. They are adjacent to one another, with a busy road running between them. Both are flat grassland with deer.

Bushy Park has bracken in summer in (it dies down in winter) and a few areas of enclosured woodland.

Hampton Court Park also contains Hamton Court Palace (unlike the park, the Palace Gardens are not free). South of the park is the river Thames and the Thames Path.

To link between the parks, exit Bushy park via the Hampton Court Gate, cross the road, turn left, and go through a gate in the Park's wall. This avoids the Palace Garden which has an entrance fee.

Walks: Use the London A-Z to devise a walk linking the Thames and the 2 parks.

Travel:

Kingston, Teddington and Hampton Wick stations (Zone 6, 4 trains an hour from Waterloo and Wimbledon).
Hampton Court (Zone 6, 2 trains and hour from Waterloo and Wimbledon)
There is a free car park in Bushy Park.

West End Common and Esher Common

2007-03-17T03:21:00.000-07:00

West End is a lovely Surrey village (pond, ducks, cricket green, nice pub). The adjoining common is a forest (although Elmbridge Council is trying to spoil it by cutting it down and using heavy equipment to change the shady forest trails into muddy swamps).

South of West End Common is Esher Common which leads to Oxshott. Nearby is an NHS Garden (Claremont).

The commons have a very different feel in Summer and Winter when the trees are leaf-less.

Car drivers can park in West End, or 1 of the car parks along the Porstmouth Road, or between the A3 and Esher.

By Train : Walk from Esher Station (1 stop outside Zone 6, 2 trains an hour from Waterloo, 25 mins) to join the main walk. Claygate Station (from Waterloo) is even closer

Walk Map - Map from Esher Station

Walk From Esher Station to the 2 Commons

Turn left out of main exit of Esher Station (i.e. not under the railway bridge), and walk down to the end of the road. Cross the road, and carry on in the same direction across Littleworth Common.
Join a quiet residential road, and carry on walking for 500m (crossing a main road) until you reach Arbrook Common
Follow the path, towards the A244 and the National Grid Power lines.
Cross the road, and follow the path under the powerlines. Aftern a small incline, turn left, down an incline on a car wide track. At the bottom of the incline, turn right onto the horse wide trail at point [20] on the main walk. NB there are 2 parrallel paths at this point. Either are fine.

Main Walk, starting from the pub at West End Common.

Follow the quiet narrow road, with the cricket green and pub on your left.
Pass the entrance to the garden centre
Follow the road. It becomes a track with a farm field on your right
After entering the forest bear right up a small hill to a steep drop
Follow the ridge (same direction as before) until you reach a wooden footpath sign
Follow the sign into the woods. Continue until you reach a small carpark on the Portsmouth Road
Cross the road, and enter the woods by 3 parking spaces and a signpost
Follow the path, pass a crossroads, pass under some powerlines and pass a lake (Black Pond) on your right hand side.
Bear to the left and reach a bridge over the A3
Cross the bridge and take the first major left hand path
Follow the path, it turns left and end in a T junction
Turn right and follow the path to a minor road (Sandy Lane)
Cross the minor road, and head into the woods.
Continue more or less straight on. Eventually you will reach a steep drop with a view. Go left until you reach a war memorial.
Pass the memorial, and follow a wide path back into the forest (back the way you came).
Skirt around a depression (a sandpit!)
Continue and reach the minor road (Sandy Lane again)
Cross the road by the car park and continue into the woods
Continue through them (there are many trails) until you come out on a 2 car wide track. Turn right until your reach the A3 bridge
Cross the bridge and after 100m, take the first horse wide track on your left. NB there is a parrallel path 25m further on, it ends in the same place.
After 200m, at the junction go 'to the left, then straight on' in the same direction as before.
Turn right to re-join the trail you were previously on. Pass back under the power cables to the main road.
Cross the road, and head straight into the woods. You will eventually come out on the cricket green at West End

Alternative walk via Ardbrook Common to Epsom Station

From Ardbrook Common (marked on the OS map and point 3 on the link walk), head southwest (footpath marked on the OS map), past Ardbrook farm under the A3 and the railway line (waterproof shoes needed in wet weather as underpass can flood)

At the next junction head south to explore Princes Coverts (Crown Land), or carry on, through 100 Acre wood (no proper path, not marked on the OS map, but route is marked on the Surrey streetmap), south of Chessington World of Adventures, towards Epsom Common (Corporation of London land). Continue towards Epsom (station outside zone 6)

map 1 - map 2 - map 3

Mitcham Common

2007-03-17T01:53:00.000-07:00

Mitcham Common is in medium sized open space (1 mile by 1 mile) in south London. It is a bit run down and unloved. Good for a stroll if you live nearby, but not worth a long journey.

Travel: Zone 4 : Mitcham Junction has

Trains from Victoria
Trams from Wimbledon (Tube and Train) and East Croydon (Train)

Map - Mitcham Common Website

There are noticeboards/maps at the entrance to each region of the common, but take care crossing some of the roads between them!

Don't follow this walk religiously - take time to explore.

Exit the train station via the tram platform exit, walk to the main road and turn left.
After 20m turn left again into the woods. Follow the same path for 500m with a railway line visible to your left.
Cross the railway bridge, and continue for 300m with the golf course on the left.
At the tram track, follow it to the right untl you reach Beddington Lane station.
Pass the station, at the road, cross the tracks then cross the main road. (Brookmead Road is now on your right)
Walk into the common towards the low hill. From the summit carry on towards the Petrol Station (400m total)
Cross the A236, and enter the next part of the common.
Head towards the summit of the low hill then turn left (parrallel to the busy road) 300m
Cross (now closed) Watneys Road, and continue in the same direction for 400m
Pass a large low rise building on your right
Cross Windmill Road (or turn left for a pub)
Continue in the same direction along a low hill for 500m until you reach a pond.
Bear Left until you reach the corned of the common. There is a roundabout with a pub (the Rawensbury Arms with poor food).
Cross the road, walk past the pub and the small building, and head southfor 500m (with the golf course on your left) to reach the train station