The 10 Best Pub Walks in London’s Green Belt

London’s Green Belt is a designated area of open land encircling the city, intended to prevent urban sprawl and preserve the countryside. It’s roughly 486,000 hectares, includes land within outer London boroughs and extends into neighbouring counties like Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent and Surrey.

London’s Green Belt is also its ‘climate safety belt’ protecting the capital from floods and high temperatures and is a place for nature, leisure and local food production.

One way to appreciate what the Green Belt offers is to walk parts of it – and visit one of the many excellent pubs along the way. These walks are all accessible from public transport and you can often use your Oyster card.

Many sections of the Thames Path are within London’s Green Belt and you can also walk the entire Green Belt Way which is a 238.4m long distance path around London’s Green Belt.

Most trails are open for walking and cycling, while these websites will also point to more accessible sections suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Here are our top ten pub walks in London’s Green Belt:

Epping Forest is a glorious, ancient forest with numerous trails. Highlights include the Royal Gunpowder Mills. You can also visit Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge or explore the remains of two large Iron Age Hill forts. End your walk at the George and Dragon a traditional country pub recommended for its Sunday roasts.

The Wandle Trail is a 20km (12.5 mile) route along the River Wandle which offers a mix of urban and green spaces, allowing you to enjoy the heritage, flora, and fauna of this typical chalk stream in the heart of some of South London’s most industrialised landscape. There are no challenging sections, and the Woodman Pub in the picturesque village of Woodmansterne is recommended. Check here for more information.

Capital Ring Walk (Section 6) takes you from Wimbledon Park to Richmond Bridge, passing through Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. Very near the Common is The Hand in Hand on Wimbledon Common. Also, in both Richmond and Wimbledon, you’re spoilt for choice with wonderful pubs. Why not try The Hand and Flower which is easily reached from the park’s perimeter? You can also explore best pub walks in Richmond Park with hand-curated trail maps available here.

Regents Canal (Little Venice to Camden) offers a unique perspective of London with plenty of pubs to choose from in Little Venice and Camden. Look out for The Warrington – a traditional Victorian pub and boutique hotel built in 1857, now Grade II listed and lovingly restored to its former glory near the canal in Maida Vale.

Orpington to Knockholt Station combines countryside and charming villages, offering a taste of the Kent countryside. While Orpington is within the boundary of Greater London, the walk extends into areas that are designated as part of the London Green Belt, especially as you move further east towards Knockholt. Try The Bo-Peep pub 20 mins from Knockholt station – a lovely country pub.

Green Chain Walk (Section 11: Crystal Palace to Nunhead) starts at Crystal Palace station and ends at Nunhead Cemetery, and can be very steep and hilly in parts. Before you leave Crystal Palace park, it’s worth going to find the dinosaurs that were created in 1854. At the end, you can explore Nunhead Cemetery – another Victorian marvel which opened in 1840 and is now a Local Nature Reserve. Look out for The Wood House pub on Sydenham Hill, which is directly on your route, with its huge beer garden.

Thames Path (Staines to Windsor) is a 8-mile (12.8km) walk that passes through the redeveloped riverside out to the meadows of Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was signed. Why not try Windsor’s only pub on the river, the Boatman.

The London Loop (Section 15 of 24 Hatch End to Elstree) is a 9.3-mile (15.0 km) walk that follows the Green Belt on the fringe of Greater London crossing the Hertfordshire border several times. Along the way, you will see Grim’s Dyke, which is believed to be at least 2,000 years old and Watling Street built by the Romans, which ran from Dover to Wroxeter in Shropshire, a distance of 250 miles. Pubs in Elstree include the Battle Axes, a former 19th-century inn.

Lea Valley Walk (Section 6 Three Mills to East India Docks) stretches 2 miles (3.2km) and provides great views of the O2. There are several pubs near the East India Docks. The Grapes in Limehouse and the Prospect of Whitby are both known for their historic charm and riverside views.

Sole Street Circular is an 11-mile (17.7km) walk that takes you through the Kent countryside, including pastures and woods. In Sole Street, visit The Leather Bottle, Charles Dickens’ Favourite Ale House in Cobham, which was built in 1629 and featured in “The Pickwick Papers”. See here for more information.