Nothing beats a crisp autumn walk surrounded by towering trees dropping red, gold and amber leaves. Luckily, you don’t have to travel far from London to find pretty incredible walks which show off the autumn colours. If you’re looking for a wholesome day out from the city, here are my top five recommendations of fiery forests and peaceful arboretums where you can soak up the season. Lace up your boots, grab a pumpkin spice latte and head out for a hefty dose of autumn magic.
If you’re after peak autumn vibes, Winkworth is hard to beat. This National trust spot is packed with winding woodland paths, reflective lakes and plenty of brightly coloured trees. There is a small cafe on site and toilet facilities (a new much larger visitor centre is currently being built). I recommend following the long route around the exterior to see as many colours as possible.
Getting there: You can easily drive and park. If you want to use public transport, trains run regularly from London Waterloo to Godalming station, where you can catch the no 42 bus to the arboretum.
If you want somewhere a bit more formal than Winkworth, but equally as beautiful – check out Sheffield Park. It showcases the true technicolour of autumn! Towering trees, glassy lakes and paths carpeted with leaves. It is a National Trust garden so is well maintained and has plenty of facilities like shops, cafes and toilets.
Getting There: There is plenty of parking on-site. If you’re coming by train, take a Southern service from London Bridge to Uckfield station. Then walk to Uckfield Bus station where services to Sheffield Park operate.
You can’t go wrong at Bedgebury, it is the perfect spot for a longer autumn walk that feels wild but still easy to explore. There are plenty of peaceful forest trails where you will be surrounded by fiery maples, golden larches and towering trees. There’s an abundance of marked walking routes, but I have linked my favourite below. Bedgebury Cafe is on site which has toilets and on weekends an additional kiosk opens.
Getting There: There is a large visitor centre car park. If you’re visiting by train, the nearest station is Etchingham which you can get a short taxi from. If you get a train to Tunbridge Wells, you can grab the Number 254 bus to Flimwell Corner farm which is the closest one stop to the forest.
If you want to swap city noise for golden beech trees and gorgeous Chiltern Hills views, Wendover Woods is your spot. There are plenty of trails to choose from, ranging from shorter strolls to longer forest loops, all surrounded by rich autumn colours. There is a small cafe at the starting point of the trail I have linked below.
Getting There: It is easy to drive, with plenty of parking on-site. The nearest train station is Wendover which you can walk from and join the trail I have linked above.
Knole Park will always be one of my favourite spots near London, regardless of the season. But it is especially magical in autumn with ancient oak trees, rolling parkland and herds of friendly deer wandering around. It is the perfect day out if you want to see subtle autumn colours combined with a gorgeous well kept country estate. There are cafes and toilets available on site.
Getting There: Take a Southeastern train from London Bridge to Sevenoaks, then walk around 20 minutes from the station to the park entrance. There is also a large car park if you’re driving.
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Enjoy,
Zanna xx
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