Walks you can reach from Norwood Junction by train

Recommended

St Albans Cathedral

Verulamium Roman City Walls

Ruins of Gorhambury House

St Albans

Time: 4h–8h

1 lunch spot: Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (30m–1h in)

6 end-of-walk rewards: the Six Bells, the Lower Red Lion, the Snug, the Boot, the Mad Squirrel Tap, or the Peahen

Warnings: A third urban.

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Recommended: Mostly fields and country lanes. Some beautiful new bluebell woods, stunning historic city streeets, commons, golf courses and parkland.

Heartwood Forest

St Albans Cathedral

St Albans

Time: 4h30–9h

4 lunch spots: Sandridge (2h–4h in) — the Green Man (excellent; reservations recommended), Heartwood Tea Rooms (busy!), the Rose & Crown, or the Queens Head (not great)

5 end-of-walk rewards: the Lower Red Lion, the Mad Squirrel Tap, the Peahen, the Snug, or the Boot

Best months: in April (bluebell season).

Warnings: A quarter urban.

Source: Trains2Green.

Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

First stage of the Vanguard Way, from suburban East Croydon out through Selsdon Wood and the North Downs to Oxted.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 5h30–11h

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

Gentle greensand ridge, pasture, arable fields, woodland, bluebell woods, escarpment views and low-lying meadows.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

A walk through London's history around the square mile, past the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral and the Guildhall.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: Two thirds urban. Several sets of steps, cobbled streets and narrow alleys.

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

Nature reserves, wetland lakes, restored sand quarries, Greensand Ridge, farm fields, wooded commons, suburban streets and pedestrianised town centre.

Time: 5h

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

St Albans

Time: 3h30–6h30

3 lunch spots: the Swan (1h–2h in), the Bull (1h–2h30 in), or the Wicked Lady (2h–4h in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Marquis of Granby, or the Amble Inn

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Suburban parks, ancient woodland, leafy avenues, Victorian gardens and urban pavements.

Time: 3h30

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Out of the suburbs and up the North Downs; Mayfield Lavender fields, ancient Banstead Woods, rolling commons.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Mayfield Lavender Farm: A lavender field on the North Downs near Banstead, open to walkers.

Banstead Woods: Ancient woodland and former medieval deer park near Chipstead.

Time: 3h–6h

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

Walk through surviving fragments of the ancient Great North Wood, from Streatham Common via Crystal Palace Park to One Tree Hill.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 3h–6h

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

South London green-chain walk from Streatham's Rookery through Dulwich Woods, Horniman Gardens and Nunhead Cemetery to East Dulwich.

Time: 3h–6h30

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

Flat riverside paths, open meadows, farmland, ancient parkland and wooded country park.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).