4 Country Hikes Near London That Feel A World Away From The Big Smoke

As wonderful as urban hiking is, sometimes you just need to get out of the city. The joy of living in the capital is that almost every corner of the country is within reach thanks to the eight major train stations whisking millions of people here, there and everywhere, all day, everyday.

For a daycation, utilise these same tracks to head directly into the countryside, fill your lungs with fresh air and embark on a hike. Refuel with a pub lunch then head back home to sleep in your own bed, both mentally revived and physically exhausted by the excursion.

Wondering where to start? We’ve gathered five of our favourite countryside walks, easily accessible from London by trail, yet feeling a million miles away from the concrete jungle.

The Box Hill Hike, Surrey

• Best for: A challenge
• Estimated time: Up to 6 hours
• Length: From 7.5km to 13km
• Train: London Waterloo or Victoria to Box Hill & Westhumble (under 1 hour)

Box Hill lies within the Surrey Hills and offers several different walks. Some are slightly less demanding than others, so they cater to different fitness levels; you will spot plenty of families wandering along the more well-trodden paths with little ones in tow. You can go from the station straight up to the ‘summit’, or you can take one of the longer, circular routes. We would recommend stopping by the National Trust visitor centre for a bathroom break, water bottle refill and ice cream snack break. Because it is looked after by the National Trust, the trails and surrounding nature are well-preserved. The various different routes consist of woodland, chalk downland, farmland and riverside. At the top, you can enjoy some amazing and sweeping views of this beautiful part of the UK – all the way to the South Downs on a clear day. Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk

Seven Sisters, East Sussex

• Best for: Coastal views
• Estimated time: 4 to 7 hours
• Length: 22.5 km
• Train: London Victoria to Eastbourne (1.5 hours)

The best way to experience the Seven Sisters Cliffs is by walking the coastal trail from Seaford to Eastbourne, which takes about four to seven hours, depending on how fast you walk and how many pit stops you have. This route boasts some of the most scenic coastal views in the country. Along the route, you’ll get to enjoy wonderful views out towards the sea, walk along grassland, see lighthouses and enjoy high views of Seaford and Eastbourne. The cliffs are part of the South Downs National Park and contain 280 hectares of beautiful white chalk cliffs. There are a bunch of hills throughout the walk that really get your heart rate up, but they don’t go on for that long. Find out more at sevensisters.org.uk

Creative Quarter in Folkestone

Dover To Folkestone

• Best for: A swim at the end
• Estimated time: 4 hours
• Length: 14.4 km
• Train: London St Pancras to Dover Priory or Folkestone (under 2 hours)

The two harbours walk is another popular coastal trail, easily accessible from London. Most people begin at the picturesque and bustling Folkestone Harbour and walk to Dover, but if you’d rather reward your hard trekking with a sea swim at the end, then we’d recommend beginning at Dover and trailing to Folkestone. Once you’ve made the ascent to the top of the cliffs, you will quickly be rewarded with magnificent coastal views. Find out more at explorekent.org

Devil’s Punch Bowl, Surrey

• Best for: Crowd free
• Estimated time: 2.5 to 4 hours
• Length: 10.2 km
• Train: London Waterloo to Haslemere (1 hour)

Taking in grasslands and woodlands around Surrey’s Devil’s Punch Bowl, this tranquil walk is our top pick for any Londoner seeking a real escape. You’ll come across a few dog walkers on your trek but very few other people, and take in Gibbet Hill, the Temple of the Four Winds and some spectacular views at the walk’s highest points. Maintained by the National Trust, this walk is also known as the Roam 639 walk, named for Richard Overall, a local man who died from muscular dystrophy, and two local young brothers, Alfie and Arthur Marchant, whose lives were also affected by this condition. The ‘639’ represents the length of the walk (6.39 miles) as well as the number of muscles in the human body, reminding rambles how fortunate they are to enjoy physical exercise. Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk

Don’t want to leave the city entirely? Here are six more walks to try closer to home.