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 near East Croydon and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from East Croydon.
Guildford Circular via Compton (Surrey)
45 minutes from East Croydon, with one change.
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.
Watts Chapel: A spectacular Arts and Crafts memorial chapel decorated by Mary Watts.
Time: 3h30–7h
1 lunch spot: Watts Gallery café (1h30–3h in)
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Withies Inn, Ye Olde Ship Inn, the Britannia, the White House, or the George Abbot
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: Walking Post (inc. GPX).
East Grinstead Circular via Standen House (Sussex)
45 minutes from East Croydon, with one change.
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. Extensive woodland. Mostly secluded.
Time: 2h30–4h30
1 lunch spot: Standen House café (1h–2h in)
Source: Trains2Green.
Windsor and Eton Riverside Circular via Windsor Great Park (Berkshire)
1 hour from East Croydon, with one change.
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.
Time: 5h–9h30
3 lunch spots: Windsor Great Park (2h30–5h in) — the King And Castle, or Savill Garden Visitor Centre Cafe; plus Water Lilies at Windsor Great Park (3h–5h30 in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Two Brewers Pub, the Prince Harry, or the Royal Windsor
Source: Trains2Green.
Balcombe Circular via Nymans (Sussex)
30 minutes direct from East Croydon.
Highly recommended: Fields, woods, stream valleys, grassy hillsides, estate parkland, a fine old village and stately home. Mostly secluded.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Time: 4h30–8h30
3 lunch spots: Handcross (2h–3h30 in) — Nymans café, the Red Lion, or JO.CO cafe
1 end-of-walk reward: the Victory
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Sevenoaks Circular via Ightham Mote (Kent)
45 minutes from East Croydon, with one change.
Highly recommended: Deer park, fields, woods, coppiced woodland, escarpment ridge, bluebell and wild garlic woods and Weald views.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Knole House: enormous aristocratic estate, associated with the Bloomsbury Group; well worth a visit but consumes a day in itself.
Time: 5h–9h30
1 lunch spot: Ightham Mote café
1 end-of-walk reward: the Bucks Head
Warnings: Some mud inevitable.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Gomshall Circular via Shere (Surrey)
45 minutes from East Croydon, with one change.
Highly recommended: Extensive woodland.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Saint James's Church: see the remains of where a devout anchorite was encased within the church walls.
Time: 3h–6h
7 lunch spots: Shere (1h–1h30 in) — the Dabbling Duck Café (excellent), the William Bray, Hillys Tea Shop, or the White Horse; plus the Drummond Arms (1h–2h in), Mandira's Kitchen at Silent Pool (1h–2h30 in), or Carb Up and Go (1h30–3h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Compasses Inn, or the Gomshall Mill
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Penshurst Circular via Chiddingstone (Kent)
45 minutes from East Croydon, with one change.
Highly recommended: Stately home.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 3h30–7h
4 lunch spots: Chiddingstone (1h–1h30 in) — the Tulip Tree, or the Castle Inn; Penshurst (2h–4h in) — the Leicester Arms Pub, or Penshurst Place café
1 end-of-walk reward: the Little Brown Jug
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Otford Circular via Shoreham (Kent)
45 minutes from East Croydon, with one change.
Highly recommended: Quiet country lanes, meadows, rolling wooded hills, and two very attractive villages.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 4h–7h30
3 lunch spots: Shoreham (1h30–2h30 in) — the Samuel Palmer, the Kings Arms, or the Mount Vineyard
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Woldingham to Oxted (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from East Croydon.
Highly recommended: North Downs woodland ridge, open chalk downland, M25 crossing, village green, Greensand Way farmland, small settlements and ancient churchyards.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 4h–7h30
4 lunch spots: Godstone (2h–4h in) — the Hare & Hounds, the Old Forge Deli, the White Hart, or the Bell
1 end-of-walk reward: the Oxted Inn
Warnings: Chalk paths can be slippery.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Lewes to Southease (Sussex)
45 minutes direct from East Croydon.
Highly recommended: Escarpments, three distinct downland ridges, wide open chalk paths, panoramic views, historic town streets and gentle valleys.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 4h30–9h
2 lunch spots: the Trevor Arms (1h30–3h30 in), or the Ram Inn, Firle (2h30–5h in)
1 end-of-walk reward: Courtyard Café at YHA Southease Hostel
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Borough Green & Wrotham to Sevenoaks (Kent)
1 hour from East Croydon, with one change.
Highly recommended: Greensand hills, apple orchards, woodland paths, streams, deer park, open parkland and historic manor grounds. Mostly secluded.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Knole House: enormous aristocratic estate, associated with the Bloomsbury Group; well worth a visit but consumes a day in itself.
Time: 4h30–9h
2 lunch spots: the Plough (2h–3h30 in), or Ightham Mote café (2h–4h in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Chequers, the Restoration, or the Sennockian
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Dorking to Box Hill & Westhumble (Surrey)
1 hour from East Croydon, with one change.
Highly recommended: Vineyard, wooded hills, chalk downland, open grassland, Mole valley views and North Downs.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Time: 4h–8h30
3 lunch spots: Mickleham (2h30–4h30 in) — the Running Horses, or the King William IV; plus Wild About Coffee at Norbury Park (1h30–3h in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: Box Hill Café, or the Stepping Stones
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.