Today I want to share my list of the best circular walks near London with you. I love walking in the English countryside, and I’ve enjoyed sharing my country walks with you over the years. Given it’s more fun to hike without retracing one’s steps, I thought I’d share my top picks for circular routes near the UK capital. I’ve included a map, too.
Best Circular Walks Near London
From coast to countryside, there are lots of great circular walks near London. Whether you’re looking for picturesque routes through the Cotswolds, circular pub walks in Sussex, or the best short walks in England, there’s a path (or three) for you.
I’ve personally done all the walks on my list, and I can recommend them from firsthand experience. Whether they’re coastal walks in Kent or walks near London by train, they’re all easy day trips from the UK capital.
I hope to share many more walks with you in the future, and I’ll add all the new ones to this blog post as I write about them. From rambles through beautiful villages near London to hikes that cover parts of famous long-distance routes, they’re all fun to do.
If you want to bookmark this blog post or pin it on Pinterest, you can use it as an easy reference to find all my past, present, and future circular walks near London.
You can also read about more walks and get additional ideas in the book Time Out Country Walks: 52 Walks Near London. You can get it here.
In the meantime, you can find the details and links to each one of my country walks below. From coastal walks near London to gentle hikes in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, they’re some of the best circular walks in England.
1. Moreton-in-Marsh Walk in the Cotswolds
I’ll start my list of the best circular walks near London with one in Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire. This walk in the Cotswolds is a relatively flat 7-mile (11-kilometer) route.
It’s the perfect way to get out into the countryside in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK, not least because of the unbeatable scenery in the Cotswolds.
As you walk through the Evenlode Valley, you’ll pass everything from picture-pretty Cotswolds villages to country pubs, eye-catching stately homes, fluffy sheep, and an arboretum.
This ramble is for you if you want to explore the Cotswolds without a car, as it starts and ends at the local train station.
It’s worth staying a night to experience more of the town of Moreton-in-Marsh, too. There are lots of great places in and around the center. You can book one here.
If all that appeals, you can find the full route, map, photos, and video on my Moreton-in-Marsh walk blog post.
2. Tring Circular Walk in Hertfordshire
Next on my list of the best circular walks near London is one that starts and ends in the Hertfordshire town of Tring. It’s in The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it’s worth a special trip.
This 8.5-mile (14-kilometer) route is perfect for getting outdoors and into the region’s unique chalk grassland scenery. There are panoramic views over the countryside, too.
While on the walk you’ll go through nature reserves, hike up and over rolling hills, and make your way out to the famous Ivinghoe Beacon.
There are great pubs for lunch in the town of Tring, too. They make this one of the best pub walks in England. I had lunch at The Akeman when I did this ramble, and it was delicious.
It’s worth staying overnight to experience more of the town of Tring, too. There are great places to call home-away-from-home in and around the center. You can book one here.
This country walk is for you if you’re looking for something relatively close to London, you’d like to travel by train, and you enjoy a few hills. You can find the full route, video, and photos on my Tring circular walk blog post.
3. West Chiltington Walk in West Sussex
Another of the best circular walks near London is one from the village of West Chiltington. A 5.7-mile (9.2-kilometer) route, this ramble is the perfect introduction to the West Sussex countryside.
After leaving West Chiltington, you’ll walk through fields of cows and up gentle hills covered in vines. You’ll go past some of the best vineyards near London, too.
You’ll also spot thatched-roof cottages and country houses, ramble past ponds, and hike through enchanted woods adorned with flowers.
This country walk features a range of terrain, a handful of easy hills, and lots of pretty scenery. It’s one of my top picks for the best circular walks in southeast England.
If you want to stay overnight (and you should), you can book a place to stay in West Chiltington here. There’s a range of options to choose from, including lodges and homes.
This hike is just the thing if you want to soak up the beauty of the English countryside. You can get the details and see photos on my blog post about the top circular walks in West Sussex.
4. Burford Circular Walk in the Cotswolds
Next on my list of the best circular walks near London is one that starts and ends in the market town of Burford in the Cotswolds. It’s a flat 5-mile (8-kilometer) route that will guide you across open fields and along the River Windrush.
As you go, you’ll take in thatched-roof cottages, old churches, and plenty of waterfront scenery. You’ll also walk through pretty villages in Oxfordshire.
This country ramble is for you if you want to discover the Cotswolds on foot and take in some of the less-visited places in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It’s worth staying overnight to experience more of the town of Burford, too. You can book a place to stay here. There are plenty to choose from in and around the center.
I spent a night at the Burford House hotel when I did this walk. It’s in a great location on the high street, and the historic interiors and four-poster beds are a dream. You can book a room here.
If this sounds like your kind of ramble, you can find the route, map, video, and photos on my Burford circular walk blog post.
5. Overton Circular Walk in Hampshire
Another of the best circular walks near London is one that starts and ends in the country village of Overton in Hampshire. This route goes past peaceful rivers, through barley and wheat fields, and by woolly sheep.
It will also lead you through the village where Jane Austen was born. It’s a great way to pay homage to one of the United Kingdom’s most famous writers.
This walk is for you if you’re after a combination of countryside and villages, and you want a fairly quick train ride from London.
The route for this ramble is pretty flat, too, so it’s ideal if you like even ground. It’s one of my favorite country walks near London.
It’s worth staying overnight to experience more of the town of Overton, too. There are great places to call home-away-from-home. You can book one here.
If this ramble appeals, you can find the details and photos on my blog post about an Overton walk.
6. Knepp Red Walk in West Sussex
Next on my list of the best circular walks near London is the Knepp Red Walk. This one will take you around the Knepp Castle Estate, a 3,500-acre (1,416-hectare) parcel of land just south of Horsham. It’s one of my favorite West Sussex walks.
The 5.8-mile (9.3-kilometer) Red Walk route will guide you past everything from cows, piglets, and deer to ponds, stork nests, and castle ruins. You’ll even see a windmill as you go.
This circular walk features flat terrain and it’s an easy route to ramble. There are lots of unusual details along the way, too, so it’s a great hike if you like something a bit different.
It’s worth spending a night to experience more of the area, too. There are lots of great places to choose from. You can book one here.
You can even camp (or glamp, if you prefer) on the Knepp Castle Estate. I did that with friends when I went on this walk, and it was a lot of fun.
If all that sounds like your cup of tea, you can find the details and photos of this route on my West Sussex circular walks blog post.
7. Charlbury Circular Walk in the Cotswolds
Another of the best circular walks near London is one in Charlbury. This 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) route will take you into the English countryside and through the old Wychwood Forest in Oxfordshire.
The route starts and ends in the charming town of Charlbury in the Evenlode Valley. Much of the walk follows the Oxfordshire Way, a famous long-distance walk from Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire to the Thames in Henley.
This walk is for you if you’re looking for a mix of classic village scenery and pastoral landscapes. It’s not as long as some of the others, so it’s a good one if you’re looking for something to do in an afternoon.
This is also a great one if you don’t have a car, as there’s a train station in Charlbury near the starting point of the walk. There are direct rail services from London, so it’s an easy day trip from the city.
It’s worth staying longer to experience more of the village and surrounding countryside, though. If you have time to spend a night here, there are some great places to stay in Charlbury. You can book one here.
You can find the full route, map, video, and photos for this country ramble on my blog post about a Charlbury circular walk. There’s more in my post about spending 3 days in the Cotswolds without a car, too.
8. Marlow Circular Walk in Buckinghamshire
Next on my list of the best circular walks near London is one that takes place in and around Marlow. This pretty town is full of shops, restaurants, and pubs, and it’s right on the Thames.
The route is a 6.3-mile (10.1-kilometer) hike in Buckinghamshire, and it’s an ideal choice if you want a flat walk that’s a quick and easy rail journey from the UK capital.
This walk starts in Marlow and follows the River Thames. It then veers off into woodland areas where you’ll come across Tudor houses, footbridges, and old churches.
This country ramble is for you if you want to explore the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and see some of Marlow as you go.
It’s worth spending a night to experience more of the area and eat at the famous Hand and Flowers pub (it has two Michelin stars). There are plenty of great places to choose from. You can book one here. You can even stay in the rooms above the pub.
If that all sounds good, you can find the full route, map, video, and photos on my Marlow walk blog post.
9. Goring Circular Walk in Oxfordshire and Berkshire
Another of the best circular walks near London is one that starts and ends in the village of Goring on the border of Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
The route will take you into villages, through fields of purple flowers (depending on the season), and into shaded woodlands.
This hike has varied terrain, so it’s perfect for you if you like a few hills and bit of a challenge. There are great riverside pubs at the end, so it’s a fun one to do on a sunny day.
Best of all, you can get to and from this ramble by rail from London. It’s an easy train ride from the UK capital, and it makes this walk even more appealing.
It’s worth spending a night to experience more of Goring, too. There are some great places to rest your head in town. You can book one here.
If that all appeals, you can get the details and photos on my Berkshire walk blog post.
10. Cissbury Ring Walk in West Sussex
Next on my list of the best circular walks near London is one that goes around Cissbury Ring. The second largest hill fort in England, this place is known for its Iron Age history and ancient Neolithic flint mine. It’s also a famous place to spot butterflies.
Situated on the South Downs near Arundel Castle, Cissbury Ring is an ideal location for a ramble in the countryside. The 2.1-mile (3.4-kilometer) circular walk around the hill is packed with ancient history and panoramic views.
From the top of Cissbury Ring you can spot places in East Sussex like the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters, the beaches of Brighton, and the waters of the English Channel.
This hike is perfect if you’re looking for a short route with a combination of ancient history, hills, horses, and vista points.
It’s worth spending a night to experience more of the surrounding area, too. There are some great places to call home-away-from-home nearby. You can book one here.
The route, map, and photos are on my blog post about circular walks in West Sussex.
11. Kingham Circular Walk in the Cotswolds
Another of the best circular walks near London is one in Kingham in Oxfordshire. This 10.5-mile (17-kilometer) walk will take you into the English countryside, through pretty villages, and to famous towns.
Along the way you’ll go up gentle hills, through stiles, over culverts, and past ha-has.
You’ll also walk by the unique Bliss Tweed Mill, a historic building that looks like it can’t decide whether it’s a stately home or a factory.
This walk is for you if you’re looking for a longer route with lots of countryside scenery, classic towns, and pretty villages. It’s also perfect if you don’t want to drive, as there’s a train station in Kingham not far from where the route starts.
There are great places to stay in Kingham, and the village is worth a visit. You can book accommodation here. My favorite is the The Kingham Plough. I stayed here when I did this walk, and I loved it. You can book a room here.
You can find the full route, map, and photos for this hike on my blog post about a Kingham circular walk.
12. Oak Trail in Epping Forest Walk
Next on my list of the best circular walks near London is one in Epping Forest. The Oak Trail is one of nine official waymarked trails in this ancient woodland on the border of Greater London.
Best of all, it’s so close to the city you can take the tube to get here. The route starts at the Theydon Bois Underground station. When you arrive you’ll walk through the local village and out into the English countryside.
The trail will take you to pastures and through forest land, and there are cafes and pubs along the way if you want a rest.
The route will also take you past the Epping Forest Deer Sanctuary, so make sure to keep your eyes out for the animals as you go.
This ramble is for you if you want to do a country walk that’s really close to London. It’s less than 30 minutes from some tube stations in the city, and it’s one of the easiest walks to get to from the UK capital.
The route is mostly flat, so it’s one of the best choices if you want a gentle ramble. You can find the details, map, photos, and video on my blog post about the Oak Trail in Epping Forest.
13. Circular Walk Near Cambridge
Another of the best circular walks near London is one that’s close to Cambridge. It starts and ends in Wendens Ambo, which you can get to by train from the city.
This route will take you through some of the prettiest villages in England. There are idyllic cottages and quiet streams everywhere, not to mention a thatched-roof country pub for lunch.
This hike is for you if you like storybook scenery and pretty houses. You can get the details here.
Best Circular Walks Near London Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive map of all the circular walks near London on my list. You can see it here. If you click on the pins, you can find my blog posts about each one.
Circular Walks Near London
I hope you enjoy these country rambles as much as I do, and that you get a chance to explore all the amazing routes near the UK capital.
The countryside is one of my favorite things about the United Kingdom, and these walks are the perfect ways to get out and enjoy it. Happy hiking!
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