Walks you can reach from Streatham by train

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).

Urban streets, open common, wooded paths, golf fairways, parkland and quiet roads.

Time: 2h30

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).

Flat urban riverside parks, nature reserves, chalk stream, industrial heritage and south London commons and green corridors.

Time: 3h30

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

Suburban streets, open common, landscaped park, woodland riverside path, Royal Park grassland, suburban roads and riverside Thames path.

Time: 3h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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

Reverse direction: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

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).

Common heathland, woodland, royal deer park, formal gardens, Thames riverside path and open grassland.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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

Reverse direction: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

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).

A wonderful and very varied walk, lots of surprises, lots to see. A wonderfully varied route following the Grand Union Canal, then quiet lanes, holloways, woodland, open fields and farmyards. Terrain ranges from wide rocky holloways to flat concrete to narrow woodland dirt paths and field-side tracks and with several uphill stretches. Muddy in places even in summer and likely a wet walk in winter; stiles and narrow paths. Passes Munden House on the Munden Estate and crosses the River Colne. Apsley marina near the canal has cafes, a pub and shops; Bedmond village has shops and a pub.

Time: 4h30–9h30

Lunch: Shops and a pub in Bedmond village roughly midway, and cafes, a pub and shops at Apsley marina.

Warnings: Several long uphill slogs on muddy paths and lanes. A short section on Bucknalls Lane runs along a main route, though with a separate footpath. With little lighting it is not suitable for after dark.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A direct yet pleasant, largely off-road route following the River Ver across meadows and managed wetlands, then field edges, woodland, fields and tracks to the outskirts of Radlett, finishing on a quiet private road. The Ver meadows are boggy and may flood in winter (gaiters or waterproof boots advised); some steps and narrow paths and a small bridge. Passes the site of a Roman villa and fishing lakes at Frogmore that can encroach over the path.

Time: 2h30–5h

Lunch: Refreshments at Park Street, with a hotel by the M25 useful for those on a long journey.

Warnings: The Ver Valley water meadows are boggy and likely to flood in winter — waterproof boots or gaiters needed. Some steps and narrow paths. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Beautiful woodland. Quite stunning in the mist. Leaves Watford alongside the River Colne through parks and winding riverside tarmac paths, a short narrow verge on Berry Grove Lane, then quiet Otterspool Lane under the A41 and M1 into beautiful woodland. A track past a golf course leads through Aldenham and across fields and with cut-through paths and quiet suburban roads into Radlett. No steps but bicycle barriers and kissing gates; some parts muddy. Passes Aldenham church and its graveyard.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 2h–4h30

1 lunch spot: Battlers Green Farm café

Warnings: A 200m stretch of narrow verge along Berry Grove Lane (may be temporarily affected by roadworks, easy to walk around). Bicycle barriers and kissing gates, and some parts can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A fairly direct route making the most of wooded footpaths and quieter streets at both ends, with field boundaries, a golf-course edge and a track under the M25. There is around a mile to a mile and a half alongside the noisy A1 and plus a stretch of road without a verge; a few muddy patches and a tunnel under the motorway that may flood. Follows part of Cycle Network 12; South Mimms services, passed en route, has all facilities and picnic benches for a break. Passes Elstree Studios.

Time: 3h–6h30

Lunch: South Mimms services, passed en route, has all facilities.

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk. About a mile and a half is spent alongside the noisy A1 (on a safe cycle path), and there is a half-mile stretch of road with no verge; the tunnel under the M25 may flood occasionally.

Walk details: Slow Ways.