Where To Feel Like You're In The Countryside In London

By Kyra Hanson Last edited 89 months ago
Where To Feel Like You're In The Countryside In London
Nope not a country path in the Cotswolds, it's Hampstead Heath. Photo: Laura Nolte (2011)

When your only glimpse of the sky is the mottled reflection in the glass office blocks opposite your desk, and the manic rush of traffic and people begins to irritate, you know you need to plan your escape.

Luckily, in London, you can feel like you're in the countryside without leaving the city. Just pack a picnic and grab your oyster card. It's time to swap the chewing-gum-stained-fag-strewn concrete for green grass and the cornflake-crunch of leaves and twigs underfoot.

Woodland Walks

Richmond Park. Photo: Alan Habbick Photography. (2015)

Epping Forest

There's nothing like taking a leisurely stroll or a vigorous hike under a luscious canopy of ancient oak, beech and hornbeam trees. Epping Forest — London's largest open space, stretches from Manor Park to the north of Epping. Its 2,400 hectares provide a habitat for 500 rare and endangered insect species, a herd of wild fallow deer, and a cluster of stressed city dwellers looking to get back in touch with nature.

Aside from the usual activities — hiking, horse-riding and cycling, the forest holds workshops in identifying herbs, pond dipping, and kids bushcraft activities, such as wood whittling and shelter building.

The best place to spot deer is from Long Street, Upshire, but watch out for them on the roads too. Country living means you can't really be squeamish about where your meat comes from. In autumn the forest keepers host venison butchery and cookery courses. Keep an eye on the events page for more details. Use the map to plan your journey.

Country bites:

If you're looking for a pub with a view head to The Owl in Loughton, a cosy, wood-panelled affair with open fires in winter and a massive beer garden overlooking the forest. There's also a play area to keep the little ones occupied and a car park. Lippitts Hill, Waltham Abbey, Loughton IG10 4AL

Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve

If you find the scale of Epping Forest daunting, stop off a few stations earlier, at Buckhurst Hill instead. The mostly flat, winding pathways of Roding Valley are perfect for tearing around on bikes. We have fond childhood memories playing in the park and paddling in the gully while attempting to catch tiny fish with buckets and spades. The nature reserve contains shady, wooded areas, open fields, a lake and streams — loved by dogs and people alike.

Straddling the river Roding is a 160-acre reserve containing the largest remaining water meadows in Essex. It's home to many beautiful wild flowers, such as southern marsh orchids and yellow watercress, which flourish at this time of year. There's a small free car park at the David Lloyd Centre off Roding Lane. Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve, Grange Farm, Chigwell, Essex IG7 6DP

Country bites:

We've heard The Railway Tavern in Buckhurst Hill provides good pub grub in a comfy, homely setting. Alternatively, pack a picnic and enjoy it at the reserve. We recommend setting up among the kingfishers and dragonflies at the secluded Andrew's pond.

Richmond Park

If the deer at Epping Forest were feeling shy, you might be able to catch a sighting of the Red and Fallow breeds at Richmond Park instead — the largest of the capital's eight Royal Parks.

You'll be walking among hundreds of rare and unusual species: wild flowers, fungi and ancient oak trees which date from the 1830s. Notice the sun dancing on the leaves, breathe in the rich smell of soil and cut grass, listen to the birdsong and relax. You could even try our weekend walk from Richmond to Twickenham.

Country bites:

Head up to Pembroke Lodge, a Wisteria-covered mansion situated at the highest point of the park. Its elegant Georgian tearooms offer a selection of delicious dishes. Richmond Park, Richmond, TW10 5HX

Rolling Hills

Keep the city at arm's length atop Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath. Photo: Matt Brown (2015)

Horsenden Hill

If you'd rather be out in the open air with a picnic blanket than hiking through dense foliage, journey to Perivale and begin your ascent of Horsenden Hill. Once you've huffed and puffed your way up 276ft, you'll be rewarded with superb views of the city. The area is the largest open space in Ealing and one of the highest points in the capital.

At some stage in its past, wild boar, bears and wolves roamed round formerly dense woodland - now you're more likely to bump noses with the butterflies that flit around the meadows and grassland. In spring the oak and willow trees of Perivale Wood are rooted in a bed of bluebells. Nearby Paradise Fields is a wetland area for swans, herons and goldfinches.

Country bites:

At Horsenden Farm there's a rustic farmhouse cafe serving delicious homemade cake, with a play area for the kids. Alternatively, if you're after a pint and simple pub food, The Ballot Box Pub (so called because of its use as a polling station for canal boatmen in the 19th century) has just had a colourful refurb and is now part of the Hungry Horse chain - though there's debate over whether this is a good thing. Horsenden Lane North, Perivale, UB67PQ, London

Hampstead Heath

The Pergola promenade at Hampstead Heath. Photo: Matt Brown (2014)

Once you've basked in the suntrap of Parliament Hill there are numerous winding trails you could take — stroll over freshly-mown hills, through dense woodland or alongside Hampstead's many ponds and up to Kenwood House. Once you're in the midst of it, the sounds of the city can't be heard above the bird song. Here you can take a deep breath without feeling like you're choking on the black stuff that lines every tube rider's nostrils. Don't forget to visit the Pergola and Hill Garden, a stunning, vine-covered walkway which overlooks West Heath.

Use the map to plan your visit, or why not try our weekend walk? A leisurely two-mile affair from Highgate to Hampstead or if you're feeling energetic take our nine-mile walk that encompasses Hampstead Heath, Regents Canal and Primrose Hill.

Country bites:

The Spaniards Inn is a must for anyone visiting Hampstead. Approach from Spaniards Road and the smell of fish and chips wafts down from the traditional low beamed pub. The drinks are a tad pricey but you're really paying for the ambience of the beer garden. It's a jungle of backlit planting, fairy-lit trees and wooden pagoda's draped in greenery. There's cosy bamboo-lined seating too – if you can nab one quick enough. Oh and like any countryside setting: don't skimp on the mozzie repellent. Spaniards Rd, London, NW3 7JJ

City Farms

Mudchute Farm

Shed the city stress with a wander around Mudchute Farm. Photo: Joe Pepper (2013)

Vauxhall, Kentish Town, Stepney Green, Hackney and many other spots boast a small slice of countryside in the form of a farm. But our favourite has to be Mudchute. All manner of farmyard animals live together happily in the middle of the Isle of Dogs. Yes, you have to walk through an Asda car park to get there, but once you've left the fumes and shopping trolleys behind, the concrete opens up into 32 acres of east London countryside.

There's a pet's corner, stables, open grass and tree-lined pathways for exploring and best of all it's free. Despite the towering glass and steel of the City looming rather close, this farm has a secluded charm to it.

Country bites:

Nestled in the courtyard among the braying horses is Mudchute kitchen. It offers a seasonal menu with homegrown produce, perfect for breakfast, brunch or a tea and cake stop. Mudchute Park & Farm, Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, London E14 3HP

Surrey Docks Farm

If countryside to you conjures up traditional ways of working — by hand with natural materials, then check out the Blacksmiths at Surrey Docks Farm, located on the Thames Path at Rotherhithe Street. The Forge has been teaching the joy of metalwork for the last 15 years; head along to a workshop and fall in love with the personality of a one-off object over the sterile uniformity of mass production. It's also a working farm with all the usual animals to keep the kids occupied.

Country bites;

Piccalilli Caff offers the perfect pitstop after a hard afternoon spent welding metal. There's a good selection of pastry, artisan bread and cakes on offer. The cafe is closed on Mondays. The nearest tube is Canada Water. Surrey Docks Farm, Rotherhithe Street, London, SE16 5ET

Wetland Walks

Explore the canal-side walkways in Hackney. Photo: Magic Pea (2011)

One of the best ways to enjoy the city's natural environment without actually booking a holiday in the countryside is to head out to the marshes that surround the city. Hackney, Tottenham, Walthamstow and Rainham are all home to boggy wetlands, with snaking pathways that are ideal for a gentle stroll or afternoon cycle. The waterways are a haven for wildlife - you're likely to spot Heron, Kingfishers, Grebes and Moorhens along the river walkways, while buzzards have been spotted flying above. Plan your escape from the city with this weekend walk from Beckton to Hackney or through Lee Valley, where we spotted 35 species of bird, beat that?

Country bites;

The RSPB cafe offers scenic views over Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve and serves up a tasty menu with freshly prepared ingredients, which are locally sourced. Even the coffee is homegrown. Walk along Hackney canal and you'll come across a number of canal-side pubs. Purfleet Environmental and Educational Centre, New Tank Hill Road, Purfleet RM19 1SZ

For more inspiration for countryside walks, check out the rest of our weekend walks.

Last Updated 19 October 2016