Walks you can reach from West Croydon by train

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).

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).

Through South London's best parks to the Thames; Putney Heath, Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, Ham House, Teddington Lock.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Ham House and Garden: A unique 17th-century treasure trove (National Trust; 2h30 to visit).

Wimbledon Windmill: An 1817 windmill on Wimbledon Common, now a small museum.

Richmond Park: A vast royal park home to herds of red and fallow deer.

1 lunch spot: Ham House and Garden café

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).

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.

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.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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 (Saturday Walkers Club).

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 (Saturday Walkers Club).

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

Source: A shorter variant of Mitcham Junction to Colliers Wood (Saturday Walkers Club).

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

Source: A shorter variant of Mitcham Junction to Colliers Wood (Saturday Walkers Club).