A day spent with nature is never wasted; a good pair of shoes and a day away from the city are all that is needed to have a few of the best hikes of your life, and the best part about it is that it doesn’t require to walk kilometres away to find best scenic hikes.
Hiking is a great way to spend a reasonable amount of time with your loved ones, whether on a family day, with friends or on a date. Hiking is the best escape; if you want to spend quality time with your partner, there are many romantic places to visit in London.
Below are a few adventurous and easy hikes that take total time and are within a distance of the central city. You can find the transportation for each below, so take your hiking boots, pack lunch and fill your water bottles because now the walk begins.
Check out these six best places where you will surely enjoy hiking:
1. The Chess Valley Walk
It takes 10 miles, around 16 kilometres, from London City to the Chess Valley Walk. It takes approximately 5 hours to reach, including the breaks and capturing photographs.
The Chess Valley Walk is one of the best hikes near London. The walk begins in the town, but the hiking trails cover the countryside. It’s one of the most adventurous hiking spot in London. One can count it as a great way to spend a day trip with loved ones.
The walk is not considered one of the most challenging paths for hiking. There are a few steep hill areas and hiking trails turn muddy during rainy weather, but other than most, the hiking trail is flat.
There are signs and route markings to follow along the path. It is always advisable to take an offline map as one cannot depend on the internet during hiking trails.
It is always worth taking your map of the area as you never know when technology could let you down.
It’s one of the most relaxing hiking escapes, and hikers can explore various aspects while climbing. There are different sections to explore: The first section of the walk begins from Rickmansworth to Loudwater. The second section of the walk starts from Loudwater and goes to Sarratt Bottom. After covering roughly half, the third section of the walk begins from Sarratt Bottom to Latimer. The fourth section of the walk starts from Latimer to Chesham.
There are two options to reach:
Take the Metropolitan Line from Baker Street or any other station. The journey takes almost 38 minutes. Or one can head towards Marylebone Station and take the Chiltern Railways service to Aylesbury (via Amersham). This train takes around 22 minutes.
While returning, take a Metropolitan Line tube from Chesham back to London. Trains run every 30 minutes, taking around 50 minutes to go from Chesham to London.
If arriving by car, park at the Rickmansworth Station and get a train from Chesham to Rickmansworth.
2. Seven Sisters Cliff Walk (From London Victoria to Eastbourne)
This distance from the central city to the Seven Sisters Cliff Walk is 14 miles to 22.5 kilometres. It takes approx 7.5 hours to complete the hikes near London.
The Seven Sisters is a series of white chalk cliffs at the edge of the coast of Sussex South Downs National Park, South of London. The seven sisters’ walk has stunning sea views, fresh air, and green grass.
The Seven Sisters Cliff Walk is magnificent and can also be considered a strenuous walk due to the frequent unleveled hiking trails; one with good physical fitness should only opt for this hike; otherwise, it can cause problems ruining all the hiking fun.
It’s an excellent route for all those who enjoy watching coastlines, as the road is an entire coastline area.
Also, having an offline map with you about the Seven Sisters cliff can be an advantage as one could cover the route adequately and enjoy all the magical views of the hike.
It is one of the fantastic walks near London to get the best of the views and is a must if you plan to go hiking. The exquisite beauty of the seven sisters makes it a magnificent and unique hiking option.
The seven sisters’ walk begins from Seaford Beach with stunning coastal views; this is one of the hiking trails, which is a big yay for all the beach lovers out there.
There are frequent trains from London Victoria train station to Lewes where you have to change for Seaford, with a switch at Lewes. The journey takes almost exactly an hour and a half. The return train is more convenient from Eastbourne to London, Victoria, which takes roughly an hour and a half.
3. Hassocks to Lewes Walk
The distance from the central city is 11.2 Miles- 18 Kilometers. It’s one of the most beautiful hikes near London. It takes Approx. 6 Hours to complete the hike.
The hike begins from Hassocks, a large village in West Sussex; the hike starts from the steep hills to the Clayton Windmills.
The hiking trail consists of all the ups and downs in the South downs. As one proceeds on the hiking trails, there comes a tower mill, post mill, and the roundhouse of a former post mill, all grade II listed buildings. On the way up the route, the hikers pass through Butcher’s Wood and can visit a church in Clayton.
On the way to South Downs, hikers pass through Iron Age Fort and Dew Ponds. Before a final walk towards Lewes alongside the River Ouse, explore the Norman castle and the ancient High Street. This is an easy walk with less number of ups and downs. It’s an easy hike and one of the best hikes near London.
Take a train from London Victoria Station to Lewes; also, hikers can take direct trains from London Bridge. The journey takes almost 50 minutes and takes around 1 hour to return.
Hikers travelling in the car can park them at Hassocks station, and while returning, they need to change the trains at Wivesfield station to get back to the car.
4. Lewes Via West Firle Circular Walk
Distance from the central city is around 14.5 miles-23.3 Kilometers. It takes approximately. 6 Hours.
It’s among the most beautiful spots for hiking. It is considered a long, steep walk broken into three sections. The following are three sections
The first section starts from Lewes and goes to Glynde. The Second section starts from Glynde to Southease. The Third section starts from Southeast and goes back to Lewes. Hikers can explore the magnificent towns of Lewes and castles.
Also, a beautiful valley is surrounded by soft green grasses, making the whole environment green. The primary walk begins in the historic village of Lewes, and the final distance is covered by returning to Lewes.
Due to low daylight, it is advised not to take the main walk during December and January.
Take a direct train from London Victoria to Lewes; it would take about an hour; one can also take a train from London Bridge and change at East Croydon to take a train from London Victoria. People travelling by car can park at Lewes station.
5. Walk to the Box Hill
This distance from the central city is 9.2 Miles-14.8 Kilometers. It takes approx. 4 hours to complete the hike.
Box Hill is one of the most accessible spots for hiking. It’s a convenient plan for great outdoor day trips. A box hill is a perfect place for country walks near London; also, it makes up an area of north downs.
The natural hiking trail at Box Hill surprises children, as one can make a den and practice balancing, and it is an excellent place for toddlers to have some adventurous activities. But always check on the rain because the hiking trails become muddy during the rainy weather and are a bit tough to walk.
Hikers can use the take a bench, enjoy the beauty, and catch the planes taking off.
One can take a train from London Victoria to Box Hill and Westhumble station, and those living in south London can take a train from Vauxhall.
6. Hike to Leith Hill
This distance from the central city is 2.5 Miles- 3.9 Kilometers. It takes approx 1.5 hours to complete the hike.
To feel on top of the world, one can take this hike near London, which is known as the second-highest point in South East England. After climbing 74 steps of spiral stairs to reach the Leith Hill Tower, check the London Eye and Wembley Stadium arch through the telescope.
The beautiful Leith Hill tower displays a magnificent view from up above. London landmarks, such as the English Channel in the south, are also visible through the free telescopes at the top. Large numbers of sandstone were used for constructing the wall.
The Leith hills are covered with several footpaths, which help the hikers explore the landscapes around them.
It’s one of the most accessible hiking walks in London. Then, move towards Leith Hill’s circular walk, which is a 1.5-mile walk around the summit of Leith Hill. The view everywhere around is stunning.
While passing the Leith hill tower, the hikers will dive towards the woodland and then walk towards Coldharbour; the hikers can notice the scenic views.
Catch the train at South Western Railway Station to Dorking, from Leith Hill, and it takes 2.5 miles from Holmwood station.
Those who prefer a bus can take Metrobus route from Leith Hill.
Key Takeaways
It’s always better to put on your hiking boots and walk in the great outdoors of London. Next time you think about how to spend a holiday, get to the London Victoria train station and take a train to one of the stunning places mentioned above for hiking in London.
Take your cameras and capture the beautiful countryside, fantastic hiking trails, ancient woodland hills, Epping forest, and coastal areas and make memories for a lifetime.
Last Updated on May 8, 2024 by Arnab Nandi
