Best walks near East Croydon by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in South East England and plan your next day of green.
Guildford Station Circular via Watt’s Chapel (Surrey)
45m from East Croydon, with one change.
13km. Moderate ascents. 3h30–6h.
Beginner-friendly: No coast or river to follow, but pretty straightforward long lines nonetheless, and Watt’s Chapel provides a lovely reward for reaching the midpoint of the circuit. The lunch stop is a simple café in the vicinity of Watt’s Chapel, so no messing around with booking a table in advance.
A rambler favourite!
Highlights: Watts Chapel, Watts Gallery, St Catherine's Chapel Ruins, and Guildford.
Lunch stop: Watts Gallery café (1h30–2h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Withies Inn, Ye Olde Ship Inn, the Britannia, the White House, or the George Abbot.
East Grinstead Station Circular via Standen House (Sussex)
45m from East Croydon, with one change.
Easy: 8km, moderate ascents. 2h30–4h.
Beginner-friendly: This short walk is nearly all National Trust territory and signposted. If you want to make it even shorter and simpler, just skip the detour through the woods. The lunch stop is a simple café, so no messing around with booking a table in advance.
An essential walk! Mostly secluded.
Highlights: Standen House.
Lunch stop: Standen House café (1h–2h in).
Windsor and Eton Riverside Station Circular via Windsor Great Park (Berkshire)
1h from East Croydon, with one change.
18km. Gentle ascents. 5h–8h.
Beginner-friendly: A gigantic well-signposted park. It’s completely fine to deviate from the suggested route — explore as you like! The lunch stop is a simple café, so no messing around with booking a table in advance.
Highlights: Windsor Great Park, Windsor Castle, and Windsor.
Lunch stops in Windsor Great Park (2h30–4h30 in): the King And Castle, or Savill Garden Visitor Centre Cafe. Other lunch stop: Water Lilies at Windsor Great Park (3h–5h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Two Brewers Pub, the Prince Harry, or the Royal Windsor.
Borough Green & Wrotham Station to Sevenoaks Station (Kent)
45m from East Croydon, with one change.
16km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–7h30.
An essential walk! Greensand hills, apple orchards, woodland paths, streams, deer park, open parkland, and historic manor grounds. Mostly secluded. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Ightham Mote (14th century manor; a visit easily fits into a walk schedule), Knole House (enormous aristocratic estate, associated with the Bloomsbury Group; well worth a visit but consumes a day in itself), and Knole Park.
Lunch stops: the Plough (2h–3h in), or Ightham Mote café (2h–3h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Chequers, the Restoration, or the Sennockian.
Balcombe Station Circular via Nymans (Sussex)
30m direct from East Croydon.
15km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–7h30.
A rambler favourite! Fields, woods, stream valleys, grassy hillsides, estate parkland, a fine old village, and stately home. Mostly secluded. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Nymans and the Ruins of Slaugham Place.
Lunch stops in Handcross (2h–3h in): Nymans café, the Red Lion, or JO.CO cafe.
End-of-walk reward: the Victory.
Otford Station Circular via the Darent Valley (Kent)
45m from East Croydon, with one change.
Tough: steep ascents. 13km. 4h–6h30.
A rambler favourite! North Downs hills, chalk woodland, bluebell woods, open commons, grassy fields, disused golf course, Darent Valley riverbank, and quaint village. Can be muddy.
Lunch stops in Shoreham (1h30–2h in): the Samuel Palmer, the Kings Arms, or the Mount Vineyard.
End-of-walk rewards: the Crown, the Bull, or the Woodman.
Farnham Station to Godalming Station (Surrey)
1h from East Croydon, with one change.
Tough: 22km. Moderate ascents. 6h–10h.
A rambler favourite! River valley, forest tracks, sandy bridleways, open parkland, country houses, and wooded valleys. Can be muddy.
Lunch stop: the Barley Mow, Tilford Green (2h30–4h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Cyder House Inn, the Rose and Crown, the Richmond Arms, the Fox & Finch, or the Star.
Milford Station to Haslemere Station (Surrey)
1h from East Croydon, with one change.
17km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–8h.
A rambler favourite! Remote heathland, pretty lakes, sandy bridleways, ancient woodland, heather and gorse commons, and a dramatic natural amphitheatre. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Devil's Punch Bowl.
Lunch: Nowhere to eat en route — pack lunch!
End-of-walk reward: the Harper's Steakhouse.
Harpenden Station to St Albans City Station (Hertfordshire)
45m direct from East Croydon.
17km. Gentle ascents. 4h30–7h30.
Mostly fields and country lanes. Some beautiful new bluebell woods, stunning historic city streeets, commons, golf courses, and parkland. Best in April (bluebell season). Some sections are busy.
Highlights: Heartwood Forest, St Albans Cathedral, and St Albans itself.
Lunch stops in Sandridge (2h–3h in): the Green Man (excellent; reservations recommended), Heartwood Tea Rooms (busy!), the Rose & Crown, or the Queens Head (not great).
End-of-walk rewards: the Lower Red Lion, the Mad Squirrel Tap, the Peahen, the Snug, or the Boot.
Hurst Green Station to Oxted Station (Surrey)
15m direct from East Croydon.
11km. Moderate ascents. 3h–5h.
Greensand hills, woodland, open country, and village paths. Can be muddy.
Lunch stops: the Carpenters Arms (1h–1h30 in), or the Grasshopper Inn (1h30–2h30 in).
End-of-walk reward: the Oxted Inn.
Garston Station to St Albans City Station (Hertfordshire)
45m direct from East Croydon.
13km. Gentle ascents. 3h30–6h.
Common woodland, farmland tracks, river meadows, water meadows, quiet residential roads, and historic city streets. Can be very muddy.
Highlights: St Albans.
Lunch stops: Moor Mill Watermill & Inn (1h30–3h in), the Overdraught (2h30–4h in), or Rumbles Fish Bar (2h30–4h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Horn, or the Robin Hood.
Gomshall Station to Guildford Station (Surrey)
45m from East Croydon, with one change.
16km. Gentle ascents. 4h–7h.
Fields, wooded valley, pine woods, heathland common, stud farms, and canal and riverside path into a historic town. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Shere and Guildford.
Lunch stops in Shere (30m–1h in): the Dabbling Duck Café (excellent), Hillys Tea Shop, or the William Bray. Other lunch stop: the William IV (1h–1h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Britannia, the White House, or the George Abbot.