Revel in peace and nature — weekend walks to escape London

Hiking Collection by Kit P

Tours

25:23 h

58.2 mi

4,175 ft

Living in London can become overwhelming; something from which you need to escape every now and then. If you find yourself craving countryside, pining for trees and old villages, this Collection is your ticket out for the weekend.

The hikes in Dedham Vale, Cambridge and Alton give you the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of giants including Charles Darwin, Sir David Attenborough, Emma Thompson and Stephen Hawking. You can see the sights that inspired Jane Austen to write Pride and Prejudice, visit the tearoom that poet Rupert Brooke lodged in—drinking tea as he awaited visits from E.M. Forster and Virginia Woolf by boat— and walk amid landscapes that inspired John Constable to create his quintessentially English paintings.

The strolls around Saunderton, Ashridge and Runnymede will take you back in time hundreds of years to some truly groundbreaking periods in British history. You'll step foot where the document that preceded all written law was signed, stumble across Second World War installations and secret intelligence bases, and find the opportunity for quiet contemplation at beautiful memorials.

If you're feeling adventurous, the ups-and-downs of the Box Hill hike will get your heart pumping. You'll be rewarded with beautiful views of southern England and a feeling of achievement as you arrive back in London.

All of these hikes have been designed to start and end at or near train stations that are easily accessible from London. Most will take less than an hour of travel to escape the city and you'll find relevant advice in the route descriptions.

For train times and prices, visit: thetrainline.com.
For information about Transport for London, visit: tfl.gov.uk

On The Map

Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Ashridge to Ivinghoe Beacon — weekend walks to escape London
Intermediate
04:17
9.63 mi
2.2 mph
875 ft
875 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The Ashridge Estate is steeped in history; from Iron Age farms to the famous landscape gardener Capability Brown. This walk takes you on a loop from Tring Station, a well-connected train station with hourly trains from London.

On this hike, you can enjoy magnificent views over the rolling chalk hills…
by Kit P
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Box Hill loop — weekend walks to escape London
Intermediate
02:17
4.68 mi
2.0 mph
825 ft
825 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
With its large selection of varied walks, long bike rides and breathtaking views, Surrey's Box Hill is a perfect location for your London escape.

After arriving at Box Hill train station, an easy journey from London, the loop starts with a great walk across a set of stepping stones spanning the River…
by Kit P
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Runnymede Circular — weekend walks to escape London
Intermediate
02:33
6.04 mi
2.4 mph
250 ft
250 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Famous for the signing of the Magna Carta, this peaceful and introspective meadow is just 25 miles (40 km) from West London, yet feels a lifetime away. As you wander along the paths, you'll see various memorials scattered throughout, each invoking a different feeling and memory.

You'll start with a climb…
by Kit P
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Saunderton via West Wycombe Circular — weekend walks to escape London
Difficult
05:05
11.4 mi
2.2 mph
1,050 ft
1,050 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
This walk takes you through the beautiful chalk landscape of the Chiltern Hills. Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you can expect plenty of views of rolling hills, lush valleys and quaint villages. As you walk, you constantly encounter jewels from history, from Victorian mausoleums…
by Kit P
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Alton Literary Circular — weekend walks to escape London
Difficult
05:56
13.7 mi
2.3 mph
900 ft
900 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Hampshire is a county known for its literary connections from Jane Austen to Charles Dickens. Inspired by the lush verdant landscape and postcard villages, it's easy to understand how they wrote with the beauty found in their novels.

This walk is your opportunity to tread in their footsteps, see the sights…
by Kit P
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Cambridge to Grantchester along the River Cam — weekend walks to escape London
Easy
01:51
4.54 mi
2.4 mph
50 ft
50 ft
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
This walk starts in Cambridge, a city famous for its stunning university resplendent with cyclists in capes. You will walk along a river overflowing with punts and rowboats vying for space before heading out of the city and into the Cambridgeshire countryside.

There are plenty of lush spots along Skater…
by Kit P
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Dedham Vale — weekend walks to escape London
Intermediate
03:24
8.19 mi
2.4 mph
225 ft
225 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Dedham Vale is famous for being John Constable's muse. The naturalistic landscape painter grew up around here and as you walk through the valley, you feel as though you're walking through each one of his paintings. It's easy to imagine him as a young man walking these same paths and getting inspiration…
by Kit P
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