Walks you can reach from Norwood Junction by train

Recommended

St Albans Cathedral (30 mins in)

Verulamium Roman City Walls (45 mins in)

Ruins of Gorhambury House (2h in)

St Albans (2h in)

1 lunch spot: Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (30 mins 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 (1h30 in)

St Albans Cathedral (4h in)

St Albans (3h30 in)

4 lunch spots: Sandridge (2h 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).

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

St Albans (2h in)

The Devil's Dyke: A legendary beauty spot on the South Downs (National Trust).

3 lunch spots: the Swan (1h in), the Bull (1h15 in), or the Wicked Lady (2h 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).

Common woodland, farmland tracks, river meadows, water meadows, quiet residential roads and historic city streets.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

St Albans (3h15 in)

3 lunch spots: Moor Mill Watermill & Inn (1h45 in), the Overdraught (2h15 in), or Rumbles Fish Bar (2h15 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Horn, or the Robin Hood

Warnings: Can be very muddy.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

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.

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).

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

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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).