8 Of The Best Hikes Just A Train Away From London
Few things top escaping the city for an afternoon, lacing up your boots, and soaking in the countryside before settling down for a well-earned pint and a Sunday roast. That is exactly where you will find me most weekends this autumn. If that sounds like your ideal day out too, here are the absolute best hikes you can reach in just a quick train ride from London.
Ouse Valley Viaduct circular
Hop off the train at Balcombe in West Sussex, and you are just a short stroll from one of the country’s most striking pieces of Victorian engineering. This easy circular route loops past the tranquil waters of Ardingly Reservoir before delivering you right beneath the grand, repeating brick arches of the Ouse Valley Viaduct.
It is an easy afternoon escape from the capital, best rounded off with a well-earned pint at the local pub back near the station.
Hop off the train at Balcombe in West Sussex, and you are just a short stroll from one of the country’s most striking pieces of Victorian engineering.
40 minutes from London by train
Box Hill
Catch a forty-minute train from London Waterloo down to Box Hill & Westhumble, and you will be immediately tossed into the steep, wooded slopes of the Surrey Hills. The stiff climb to the top rewards you with massive, uninterrupted views across the Weald, alongside plenty of grassy space to roll out a picnic blanket. End your loop by picking your way across the river’s famous stepping stones before ducking into the local pub for a drink.
40 minutes from London by train
Seven Sisters
Perhaps the most Instagrammed hiking route in the country, Seven Sisters is a great starting point for those looking to get into hiking this Autumn. It’s scenic, beginner-friendly and has some great pubs and pit stops en route.
Catch a direct train from London down to Seaford, where you can follow the dramatic coastal path over the rolling white chalk cliffs all the way to Eastbourne.
Two hours from London by train
The Chess Valley Walk
Catch the Metropolitan line out to Rickmansworth for a gentle, scenic trail that follows the crystal-clear waters of the River Chess all the way to Chesham. Along the way, you will weave past historic watercress beds, classic Chilterns farmland, and grand country estates. Because both ends sit right on the Tube network, it is easily one of the most accessible countryside walks you can do from London.
30 minutes from London by tube
Shere and Gomshall loop
Perhaps a lesser-known Surrey walking route to add to your list, Shere and Gomshall is just a short train ride from London and has a lot to offer.
Hop off the train at Gomshall station in the heart of Surrey and step right onto a tranquil loop through ancient woodland, rolling downs, and picturesque villages. The trail takes you through Shere, famous for its half-timbered cottages and babbling stream, making it ideal for a halfway pub lunch or a quick cafe stop. It is a wonderfully relaxed day out that gives you a classic taste of the English countryside without forcing you to travel far from London.
1 hour and 30 minutes from London by train
Westerham Chartwell circular
Catch a short train to Oxted and take a quick local bus to Westerham, the starting point for an idyllic loop through the Kentish countryside.
The trail weaves through ancient woodland and rolling parkland before bringing you to Chartwell, the former family home of Winston Churchill, now cared for by the National Trust. You can explore the historic house and terraced gardens before making your way back to Westerham for a pint in the market square.
Roughly two hours from London by train
Hassocks, Devils Dyke, and Wolstonbury circular
Board a direct train from London Bridge or Victoria to Hassocks, the gateway to a classic South Downs adventure.
The route takes you up to the dramatic V-shaped chasm of Devil’s Dyke and across the grassy crest of Wolstonbury Hill for breathtaking, far-reaching views. It is a rewarding hike that balances rolling chalk hills with quintessential Sussex countryside.
Board a direct train from London Bridge or Victoria to Hassocks, the gateway to a classic South Downs adventure.
1 hour and 30 minutes from London by train
Dover to Deal
Take a high-speed train from St Pancras down to Dover Priory to start a breezy ten-mile trek along the top of the famous White Cliffs. The trail leads you past South Foreland Lighthouse and down through quiet bays before flattening out along the shingle shoreline near Walmer Castle. You finish up at the seaside town of Deal, where you can grab fish and chips on the pier before catching the train straight back to London.
1 hour 30 minutes from London by train
