Hikes for Londoners

Escape the city with ease.

London is great but from time to time, you'll need to scratch that nature itch a city just can't satisfy. It might seem at first hiking is just not a thing Londoners can do without having to travel half the country, but there are actually a bunch of amazing trails only a train ride away. Here are our top picks if you are in need of some green.

The Seven Sisters Cliff Walk

• Distance: 14 miles (5 hours)
• How to get there: You can take regular trains between London Victoria and Seaford, which involves changing at Lewes. The journey usually lasts for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Starting off with an absolute banger, get some of the best coastal views in the UK through the Seaford to Eastbourne trail. It's a full day out so prepare to get your steps in but there are plenty of nice spots you can stop at for food and drink. Just be wary of the unpredictable sea breeze which can pack a punch and sun exposure as there isn't really any cover on the walk. 

The Box Hill Hike

• Distance: 9 miles (4 hours)
• How to get there: There are regular trains from London Victoria and London Waterloo to Box Hill Park. The journey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes (usually).

This is definitely a tough hike with the number of steep hills you will have to go up and down but if you're feeling up to the challenge, then you'll be rewarded with gorgeous panoramas and cool landmarks (such as the Broadwood’s Folly). You can stop off at the Running Horse pub about halfway through the hike if you need a break from the hills as well.

The Mole Gap Trail

• Distance: 6 miles (3 hours)
• How to get there: Get a train to Leatherhead station and then back to London from Dorking station (meaning you don't have to loop back on yourself). Trains from London Victoria typically take about 45 minutes, and multiple trains run throughout the day.

Shorter but just as sweet,  the mole gap trail starts at Leatherhead and ends at Dorking with a bunch of sweet scenery in between. It's a pretty straightforward walk but has a nice amount of variety - open fields, forests, and cute villages. You can even visit a vineyard if you want a fun activity to break up the day, with the price of a tour around £10 so you won't be breaking the bank either.

The Chess Valley Walk

• Distance: 10 miles (4 hours)
• How to get there: Take the 22-minute overground train from London Marylebone to Rickmansworth (on the Metropolitan line). The return journey is just as easy as it's on the same met line.

This is definitely the simplest (and cheapest) walk to get to, so if you're short on time then this is the one for you. Even though it's a small distance away, this walk still packs a punch with lots of beautiful countryside scenery to soak in. It's clearly marked so you won't get lost and you can stop off at The Chenies Manor which has a cute garden open to the public (£7.00 entry).

These were just a few options we'd recommend but there are loads more out there if you're willing to travel a little further afield. Escape the city with one of the above first, you won't regret it.