With summer around the corner and the sun finally putting in an appearance, it’s an ideal opportunity to get to the countryside for a walk. And what could be best than finishing the stroll in a nice pub with a comfort meal and a refreshing pint of beer? Regardless of whether it is for a Sunday roast or a pub lunch, I have selected for you 10 of the best pub walks you can do near London ranged by difficulty.
The best pub walks near London
1 – Epping Forest
Epping Forest is a great walk to do if you are looking to leave the city … without leaving the city! So, take your Oyster card and jump on the Central Line with me for a walk through the magic Epping Forest ending with a comfort meal at the George & Dragon.
Logistic for the Epping Forest walk
- Distance: 12.12 miles (19.5km)
- Ascent: 270m
- Walking estimate: 3 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- How to get there: Central Line to Epping Station
- What to pack: Comfortable clothing and footwear (don’t forget the gaiters if you are going on or after a rainy day the path can get muddy), water (2 litres recommended)
Highlights of the Epping Forest Walk
- Epping town
- Epping Forest
- Eat at the George & Dragon
2 – Orpington to Knockholt
This is another walk that falls within the Oyster card catchment area. Both Orpington and Knockholt are in fare zone 6, so no need to buy train tickets. It is a fairly gentle stroll on a terrain that is mainly on concrete paths. However, the walk is a bit long as it takes 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete. It is perfect for a Sunday morning walk, ending at the Bo-peep for a Sunday roast.
Logistic for the Orpington to Knockholt walk
- Distance: 10.5 miles (16.9 km)
- Ascent: 286 m
- Walking Estimate: 3 hours and 45 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- How to get there: Train from and to London Bridge
- What to pack: Comfortable clothing, pair of trainers as you would be walking on concrete paths a lot, water (2 litres recommended)
Highlights of the Orpington to Knockholt walk
- Orpington
- Woodlands and valley
- Chelsfield Golf Club
- Eat at the Bo-peep
3 – Sole Street Circular
No need to go far for a walk in the countryside: Kent is right on London’s doorstep and offers a variety of walks from a stroll to something more challenging. The Sole Street Circular is easy and takes a reasonable time to complete. And the cherry on the cake, the walk ends at Charles Dicken’s favourite ale house in Kent, the Leather Bottle! A must-see.
Logistic for the Sole Street Circular walk
- Distance: 11.09 miles (17.84km)
- Ascent: 277m
- Walking estimate: 4 hours and 40 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there: Train for London Victoria. It takes 45 minutes
- What to pack: Suitable clothing and footwear, water (ideally 2 litres)
Highlights of the Sole Street Circular walk
- Kent countryside
- North Downs
- Darnley Mausoleum
- Eat at the Leather Bottle
4 – Otford to Eynsford
Looking for a nice morning walk ending with a traditional Sunday roast? I’ve got you covered with a walk from Otford to Eynsford in Kent. This hike not only takes you through the Kent countryside but you will also be passing by a castle, a viaduct and lavender fields. It is perfect if you are looking to mix sightseeing and physical exercise. You will end at the Castle Hotel where you can taste one of the best Sunday roasts in the region. I also added to this walk a drink stop halfway through at the King’s Arm, in the village of Shoreham.
Related Content: Best Pub Walks in Kent
Logistic for the Otford to Eynsford walk
- Distance: 9.61 miles (15.46km)
- Ascent: 137 m
- Walking estimate: 4 hours and a half
- Difficulty: intermediate
- How to get there: Trains from London Victoria. The plus side of this walk is that Otford and Eynsford are on the same line so you can buy a day return to Otford
- What to pack: Comfortable clothing and footwear, snack (you will need one as it is quite a long walk before reaching the pub at the end), water (2 litres recommended)
Highlights of the Otford to Eynsford walk
- Otford village
- Shoreham White Cross
- Shoreham village
- Drink at the King’s Arms
- Lavender fields & shop
- Lullingstone Castle
- Eynsford Viaduct
- Eynsford village
- Eat at the Castle Hotel
5 – East Grinstead Circular
I cannot turn water into wine but I can definitely take you on a walk from a reservoir to a vineyard in the East Grinstead area. And that is still a cool power to have! In this walk, the beauty of the High Weald, this Area of Oustanding Beauty stretching across Surrey and Sussex, unravels before your eyes. The only difference with the other walks is that the pub is located mid-way through the hike. The Cat Inn, located on the hilltop village of West Hoathly, is the finest dining in Sussex and an unmissable stop to make in your hike.
Logistic for the East Grinstead Circular walk
- Distance: 12 miles (19 km)
- Ascent: 360 m
- Walking Estimate: 6 hours 15 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there: Trains from London Victoria
- What to pack: Comfortable clothing and footwear, water (2 litres recommended)
Highlights of the East Grinstead Circular walk
- East Grinstead town centre
- The Weird Wood Reservoir
- Eat/drink at the Cat Inn
- The Gravitye Manor
- The Kingscote Estate
6 – Otford to Oxted
Let’s take you on a walk through the North Downs, this ridge of chalk stretching from Farnham to Dover. This hike goes through the rolling hills of Kent and its never-ending green fields. Finishing in Oxted, you can go for a traditional pub meal in the back garden of the Old Bell pub. A perfect way to end a long and quite challenging hike.
Logistic for the Otford to Oxted walk
- Distance: 12.48 miles (20.08km)
- Ascent: 260m
- Walking estimate: 6 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there: Trains from London Victoria and back to London Victoria or London Bridge. Please note that Otford and Oxted are not on the same line so you cannot get a day return and you would have to buy both journeys separately
- What to pack: Comfortable clothes and footwear, water (2 litres recommended)
Highlights of the Otford to Oxted walk
- Otford
- North Downs
- Oxted
- Eat at the Old Bell
7 – Lewes Circular
The Lewes Circular is quite a challenging walk as you will be ascending 3 hills surrounding the pretty historical town of Lewes. A piece of general advice for this walk is that you go on a good day. I know you will tell me that there is no bad day, just bad gear. Notwithstanding, this walk, is an unquestionable requirement. The hike is mainly uphill, in the open with no trees to shield you from the rain and wind. And trust me, it is windy up there! Also, the main purpose of this hike is the panoramic view so why go up there if you cannot see anything? Once back in the town, end the walk at the Brewer’s Arms pub for a rewarding meal after all this climb.
Logistics for the Lewes Circular walk
- Distance: 15 miles (24km)
- Ascent: 630m
- Walking Estimate: 5 hours and a half to 6 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there: Train from London Victoria. It takes 1 hour
- What to pack: Comfortable clothing and footwear, a hairband or beanie to cover your ears as it can get extremely windy, water (2litres recommended)
Highlights of the Lewes Circular walk
- Lewes historical centre and Castle
- Mount Caburn hill fort & burial site
- Glynde Place and Parish Church
- Monk’s House
- Ashcombe Mill
- Eat at the King’s Head
8 – Marlow Circular via High Wycombe
Perfectly located between the hills of the Chilterns and the river Thames, Marlow has a lot to offer for hikers and walkers of all levels. The Marlow loop via High Wycombe is an intermediate/challenging walk through the beauty of the Chiltern Hills, forest carpeted in bluebells and lush green glades. You will be rewarded at the end by a Sunday roast at the Marlow Donkey. Great service and big portions, it was all worth it at the end!
Logistic for the Marlow loop walk
- Distance: 15.76 miles (25.36km)
- Ascent: 1438 feet (438 m)
- Walking estimate: 5 hours and a half to 6 hours depending on pace
- Difficulty: intermediate/challenging
- How to get there: There are no direct trains from London to Marlow. You would have to get a train from Paddington Station to Maidenhead Station and change in Maidenhead for a train to Marlow
- What to bring: comfortable clothing and shoes as you will be climbing hills, snack, packed lunch, water (2 litres recommended)
- Additional information: There are no toilets on this walk
Highlights of the Marlow loop walk
- Marlow
- Marlow Bottom
- Chiltern Hills
- High Wycombe
- Bluebells
- Eat at the Marlow Donkey
9 – Tunbridge Wells Circular
The Tunbridge Wells circular walk is no stroll in the park, so on the off chance that you are looking for a long and hilly walk, you came to the right place! This challenging hike takes you from the magnificence of the Kent slopes to woodlands covered in bluebells passing by old villages. It is perfect if you are looking to mix long-distance, hill-climbing and scenic views in the same hike. The Claremont Pub is the perfect way to end the walk with a traditional pub food meal and a few drinks. You deserve it!
Logistic for the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk
- Distance: 18.75 miles (30.15 km)
- Ascent: 529 m
- Walking estimate: 7 hours and 15 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate/challenging
- How to get there: Trains from Charing Cross Station. The journey takes just under an hour.
- What to bring: Comfortable clothing and footwear as you would be climbing hills yet in addition some parts of the trail are in woodlands so it can get muddy, water (2 litres recommended), snack, packed lunch, a headcover as it gets really windy at the top of the hills
Highlights of the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk
- Tunbridge Wells
- Pembury village
- The Old Church of St Peter in Pembury
- Tonbridge town
- Southborough town
- St Peter’s Church in Southborough
- Speldhurst village
- St Mary’s Church
- Rusthall village
- Eat at the Claremont Pub
10 – Thames Path: Twickenham to Windsor
For the last one of our pub walks near London, what could be better than following the Thames Path? This 184 miles (294km) trail along the river Thames crosses London from Richmond to Dickensian. For this long-distance walk, we are going out of London, starting in Twickenham and ending in Windsor. We are passing by Kingston-Upon-Thames, Hampton Court, Walton-on-Thames and Runnymede. Please note that even though this is a flat walk, you would need to be in good physical condition to be able to complete it due to the distance. If you make it to the finish line, you will be rewarded with a traditional pub meal at the Carpenter’s Arms in Windsor.
Logistic for the Twickenham to Windsor walk
- Distance: 27.96 miles (45 km)
- Ascent: 29m
- Walking estimate: 9 hours and 15 minutes at an average speed of 4.8 km/hour
- Difficulty: Hard
- How to get there: Trains to Twickenham Station which is located in fare zone 5 or local buses to Twickenham Station (281 and H22)
- What to pack: Comfortable clothing and footwear (even if it is mainly on concrete paths I would not recommend that you wear trainers as some part after Hampton Court can get muddy if it has been raining). As it is a long hike you will need to bring a snack that contains carbs such as dry fruits, dates, bananas and granola bars, a packed lunch and a protein snack for the end such as fruit cakes. Take sunscreen and headcover if you are going on a bright day as you are exposed. For the drinks, I would recommend that you carry with you water with electrolytes (3 litres recommended as this is a long walk) as well as a bottle of full-fat Coca – Cola for fast-released sugar
- Additional information: Public toilets are located at Hampton Court lock and Shepperton lock
Highlights of the Twickenham to Windsor walk
- Twickenham
- Thames Path
- Kingston-Upon-Thames
- Hampton Court Palace & Gardens
- Walton-on-Thames
- Runnymede & the Magna Carta
- Windsor Castle
- Eat at the Carpenter’s Arms
I hope you enjoyed reading about the best pub walks near London. If you have any suggestions for walks ending in a nice pub, please drop me a message below.
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