Walks you can reach from West Croydon by train

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

Recommended: An accessible East London route mostly through green spaces and back roads, along the River Lee and past the marshes and with some rough ground beside the river. There are steep ramps over footbridges and a low bridge (about 1.5m) to duck under near Coppermill Lane.

Walthamstow Marshes: One of the last remaining floodplain marshlands in London, home to over 400 plant and animal species.

Time: 2h–4h30

Lunch: Plenty of refreshment stops at either end and in Clapton Village.

Warnings: A third urban. A low bridge (around 1.5m) at the marshes end of Coppermill Lane means many walkers will need to stoop.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A route through woodland coverts and commons and following lanes and footpaths past the Stew Ponds on Epsom Common and a pond at Stamford Green into Epsom.

Woodland: two thirds under tree cover.

Time: 2h–4h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Flat urban riverside parks, Wandle Trail, small ornamental ponds, residential streets and south London green corridors.

Time: 3h

Source: An alternative variant of Mitcham Junction to Colliers Wood – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Flat urban riverside parks, Wandle Trail, small ornamental ponds, residential streets and south London green corridors.

Source: An alternative variant of Mitcham Junction to Colliers Wood – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Flat riverside pavement, converted Victorian wharves, residential riverside developments, industrial heritage and pocket parks.

Source: A shorter variant of Westminster to Greenwich via the south bank – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Ashtead Common, open heathland, woodland, riverside meadows, farmland and ancient parkland.

Source: A longer variant of Chessington to Cheam – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

North Downs ridge, parkland, open heathland, racecourse downland and residential streets into Epsom town centre.

Time: 4h30

Warnings: Race days restrict access.

Source: A variant of Merstham to Tattenham Corner – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).